8 Books you HAVE to read if you are a parent
Where are my "parenting books are stupid" people at? You are my people because I have said that 1 billion times! I always thought that people who wrote parenting books were super pompous and had crazy children who were too good to be true and sat quietly with their hands folded neatly on their laps and were secretly drugged with allllllllll the gravel so they looked perfect but were actually not. Spoiler alert - that's not true.Another spoiler alert - people are really smart and experienced and can help you feel normal on this journey called life. Here are the 8 books that I have read over the past two (ish) years that have really changed a lot for me and my family.
Grace, not Perfection - Embracing Simplicity, Celebrating Joy by Emily Ley
This was the book that started all the books for me. It's gorgeous and pretty and pink and tells the story of a mom just like you and me who tried to do all the things but realized that doing all the things was really really stupid. Read this if you are a new mom trying to figure life out, are craving something different and need to drop the idea of perfection. I repeat that line over and over daily - grace not perfection.
The Simplified Life - Tactical Tools for Intentional Living Emily Ley
After reading her first book and loving it so much this was a natural next step for me. Again, the book is so pretty and full of beautiful pictures that make you go "I can simplify my life" and not "this girl definitely hires help". The book is all about bringing simplicity into every single aspect of our lives and is broken down by topic - motherhood, meals, finances, relationships, faith ect. This book is definitely for the person wanting to take some real steps in simplifying yet keeping God and family at the center
.Raising Passionate Jesus Followers - The Power of Intentional Parenting by Phil & Diane Comer
Ultimately, our goal as parents should be to create and cultivate a life that leads our children into following in our footsteps, creating generations and generations of passionate Jesus followers. This book was such an amazing read and super helpful from two experienced parents who successfully raised passionate Jesus followers who are now carrying on the traditions with their own families. It gives some great practical tools and "how-tos" which are my absolute favourite!
The Common Rule - Habits of Purpose for an Age of Distraction by Justin Whitmel Ealey
This book is not so much about parenting and more about forming your life around simple practices that will keep you in constant connection with God. Which, ultimately, makes you a better person with a whole lot more patience and love and a little less I love you but I want to kill you - tracking with me? Justin teaches 8 practices, 4 daily and 4 weekly that you can start right away and see the difference in your life. Super practical and a great and easy read. I cried at the end of this book at my son's taekwondo class...like full-on cried...
Parenting. 14 Gospel Principles that can radically change your family by Paul David Tripp
I love this book because it is simple, straight-up Bible truths about parenting and (spoiler alert) if we want to see a change in our kids we absolutely have to change our parenting. You know how they always say there is no manual for raising kids, well I am slowly and surely starting to disagree with that - we have a manual, it's called the Bible and it teaches us a ton of practical parenting lessons. This book brings all those lessons into one package. You're probably going to feel like a bit (a lot) of a failure but he will build you back up just keep reading.
Introverted Mom - your guide to more calm, less guilt and quiet joy by Jamie C. Martin
I mean does that title not just speak to your soul? Less guilt? Sign me up! This is my most recent read and my new friend Jamie (yeah she doesn't actually know me) spoke right to my soul. I am an introvert who was told she was an extrovert until I was in my late 20s This book helped me realize that I am not a crazy bad mom when I want to hide in a closet or when I lose it on my kids because I am an introvert who needs to be intentional about stepping away to refuel. She also has some great information about marriage and some great tools to help navigate the extrovert world as an introvert.
Simple Tuesday - small moment living in a fast-paced world - Emily P. Freeman
This was a different read for me because Emily's style of writing is quiet and poetic where I am a bit louder and in your face but this was another book that spoke directly to my soul. The title says it all - we live in a really fast-paced instant results go go go world whereas God calls us to be slow and intentional and small. The best line in the whole book - sometimes moving closer to Jesus looks like a complete failure to worldly standards (I'm paraphrasing a bit). For someone who is always trying to push the envelope and move forward, this book was a great reminder that if I am to live like Jesus and point towards His kingdom I am probably going to look like a slow lazy failure but I'm ok with that!
Love Unending - Becky Thompson
Finally, I can't make a list of great parenting books without including one that cultivates your marriage - the relationship that is actually more important than your kids. Becky's book Love Ending speaks directly to moms like you and me who are tired, right in the middle of the busiest phase of life we will probably ever be in and are trying really hard to stay connecting to our husbands. She speaks love and grace and makes you feel normal but also gives you specific takeaways and challenges to do to create that unending love. Actually, as I am typing this I think I need to read this one again!
So there you go friends, pick one, read it, tell me about what you learned and see how reading and learning can really make a huge difference in your life. Yes, I still sometimes think there are a lot of stupid parenting books out there but the information and tools I have learned after reading these gems are invaluable! What would you add to the list?