Remaining You While Raising Them

April 24, 2023
Business coach Worthington (Standing Strong) addresses Christian readers struggling through motherhood in this down-to-earth guide. Studies reveal 56% of moms experience “mom guilt” more than once a week, she writes, but the solution isn’t better managing one’s children—it’s better caring for one’s own emotional health. Worthington dispels parenting myths, including that “good moms’ kids are obedient” and that good moms can “do it all,” and lays out “non-negotiables” that readers should prioritize, including sleep and prayer or breathwork. As well, she urges forging friendships with other moms, though it’s crucial to maintain boundaries, especially when it comes to others’ judgments: “If someone is trying to get you to stop being yourself... that person is toxic for you” and should be avoided. While the messaging can get repetitive, readers will be heartened by the counsel not to “sacrifice yourself at the altar of motherhood” and charmed by the author’s accounts of her own parenting disasters, whether nearly “pesto-poisoning” her son or the time her toddlers killed a neighbor’s koi fish. This is ideal for Christian moms seeking encouragement, understanding, and a laugh or two. (Aug.)2

August 1, 2023

High expectations are a common component of modern parenting, with mom guilt abounding in these social media-drenched times. Worthington (The Year of Living Happy) says the problem is that the concept of motherhood is broken. She says her guilt triggers include a nearly fatal mistake: accidentally giving food with cashews in it to her son with a nut allergy. The book, written from a Christian perspective, urges mothers to explore their own mental health and parent themselves first to find and provide what their children truly need. The end of each chapter incorporates discussion questions, action steps, takeaways, and a QR code linking to further assessments. The author probes myths of motherhood that lead to further guilt, such as thinking that children will be well-behaved if they have good parents. Worthington tells readers that she is the parent of an autistic son, and two other sons have chronic migraines; she describes the complications that arise as a result and ponders options. A bonus workbook is available for free online. VERDICT Chock-full of resources and ideas and written from a Christian lens, this book should appeal to many parents, regardless of their faith or beliefs.

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