Am I Doing This Mom Thing Right?

Parenting is one of the hardest jobs I have ever had. The hours are long and tiring. Most days I go to bed wondering “Am I doing this Mom thing right?” Though parenting has many ups and downs over the last ten and a half years, I wouldn’t trade being a Mom for anything.

God has used parenting to change and mold me to be more like Jesus. Maybe you can relate? One of the ways I continue to grow and change is by reading books. I read books that challenge and encourage me in my parenting. There are many great books out there. One of my goals this year is to read 6-8 parenting books. (Read about my 2017 goals in this post)

These are five of the books that have been helpful to me these past couple years. Under each one, I will share a snippet of what each one was about. My purpose is to encourage you and help you grow in being a Mom. Hopefully, this post will guide you to a book that reminds you that you are an awesome Mom and doing a great job.

What a Difference a Mom Makes 

The subtitle of What a Difference a Mom Makes by Kevin Leman is The Indelible Imprint a Mom Leaves on Her Son’s Life. We have two boys so this book caught my eye when I first saw it. There is so much great information in this book. My biggest take away came from the section called What Your Boy Needs Most From You. The three things were to be respected, be needed, and be fulfilled as a man. I want my sons Nathan and Caleb to know they are important to me. My prayer is that my words and actions will communicate acceptance. Caleb and Nathan both love to help and this book helped me to see why. Boys want to feel needed. And lastly, it is my job as Nathan and Caleb’s Mom is to provide opportunities for them to conquer and compete. They are boys and need this to be affirmed.

Why Can’t I Get My Kids to Behave?

Why Can’t I Get My Kids to Behave is one of my favorite parenting books of all time. It’s easy to read and you can implement the strategies right away. The authors, Joey and Carla Link, give you a clear picture of what obedience is and is not. They also share about the parenting toolbox which is packed with great thoughts on how to discipline your kids. My favorite part about this book is how the authors encourage you to take it one step at a time. After reading this book, I felt more hopeful and encouraged in my parenting.

Am I Messing Up My Kids?

I did Am I Messing Up My Kids? as a bible study with Proverbs 31 Ministries. I love Lysa TerKeurst and the way she writes. She is real and makes you feel normal. There is so much packed into this book and it’s hard to pick just one thing to share. There was one section in particular that challenged me.

taken from Chapter 8- How Can I Give Grace Now?

“Only God can prepare me with the wisdom and discernment necessary for each and every parenting moment. So I must stay close to Him, ask Him, rely on Him, cry out to Him, and make Him the basis for my parenting. My goal should never be to raise kids who make me look good. My goal should be to raise kids who love God and spend their lives making His goodness known in their corner of the world.” –Lysa Terkeurst

This section challenged me to make sure I am turning to God in every parenting moment. He must be the basis for my parenting. I’ll be totally honest, I do want my kids to make me look good. But, it’s not about me and I know that. It really is all about raising kids who love God and point to Him.

52 Things Kids Need From a Mom

I love the format of 52 Things Kids Need From a Mom. There are 52 short chapters that are so easy to read. You can read it all at once or one chapter per week. The author has some great insight into things that kids do need from their Moms. The one challenged me the most was Kids need their Mom to put down their phone. Guilty! I am distracted by my phone but this book helped me to change that. A couple other favorites were: To Watch Them Go out of Sight and Keep a Date Night with Dad.  If you want a quick, easy read that will impact your parenting immediately, check this book out.

No More Perfect Kids

No More Perfect Kids is co-authored by Jill Savage who is one of my favorite authors. I love how easy her books are to read. They are practical and challenging. She wrote this book with Kathy Koch, who I also greatly admire. The main focus of this book is loving your kids for who they are. No More Perfect kids takes you through seven questions our kids ask us each day. The questions aren’t necessarily asked out loud but asked nonetheless. A few of the questions are: “Do you like me? Am I important to you? What’s my purpose?” As parents, we need to be the ones answering these questions with God’s truth instead of the lies that society feeds our culture.

Hopefully, this post encourages you to grow in your parenting. There are so many helpful resources available. Do you enjoy reading parenting books? If so, what books have you read that have been helpful? Are there any books you would recommend? Please feel free to share in the comments below. Thanks!

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