Want to encourage a weary mom this coming Mother’s Day? Or just need some inspiration and motivation for your own mothering? Here are 7 of my favorite books for moms:
Surprised By Motherhood by Lisa-Jo Baker
My friend, Lisa-Jo Baker, is one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever met. She just oozes with love and grace. And she’s hilarious, too.
I loved her book, Surprised By Motherhood — and it’s what actually turned my life upside down and inspired me to fall hard and fast in love with South Africa.
Seasons of a Mother’s Heart by Sally Clarkson
I’ve been so blessed by Sally’s life and her books. She’s inspired me so much as a mother to enjoy my children, nurture my children, and give them a love of beauty and learning.
I had trouble picking just one of her books to put on this list here, but I finally decided on this one as I think it was my favorite of hers. It’s a great read for homeschool moms!
Pocketful of Pinecones by Karen Andreola
I adore Karen Andreola’s books. She inspires me as a mom, she encourages me to really invest in my kids, and she motivates me to raise kids who love life and learning.
In this fiction book, she really encourages homeschool moms with practical ways you can weave learning and the love of learning through all of life. There is a followup book, Lessons At Blackberry Inn, that I also enjoyed.
Desperate by Sarah Mae and Sally Clarkson
Okay, so I chose just one more Sally Clarkson book… because I couldn’t help myself. 🙂
If you’ve ever whispered the words, “I just can’t be a mom today!”, this book will encourage and uplift you. Sarah Mae and Sally have a passion to encourage and build up struggling weary mamas and they do just that in this book.
Parenting the Wholehearted Child by Jeannie Cunnion
I usually stay far away from any book that remotely resembles a system or method of parenting. Because I truly have come to believe that there are no one-size-fits-all plans.
At any rate, I was hesitant to start this book because it fell under the “parenting book” genre. But I’m so glad that I did because it was one of my favorite reads and challenged me in a deep level as a parent.
Don’t Make Me Come Up There by Kristen Welch
Kristen is an incredibly gifted writer who knows how to communicate spot-on truth in a laugh-out-loud-funny manner. Some of her stories in this book were so good I immediately had to go find my husband and read them to him and then we both busted up laughing together. 🙂
Loving the Little Years by Rachel Jankovic
I really enjoyed Loving the Little Years. It’s not a book with lots of practical, hands-on advice, but it’s a book the deals with the heart issues we moms face.
I didn’t agree with the author on all points, but I loved how these book challenges moms to really delve down to the heart of the matter. As the author says, “The state of your heart is the state of your home.”
Encouraging Articles for Moms
- 9 Practical Ways to Yell Less & Love More
- How Choosing Love Changed Our Home
- When You Feel Like You’re Failing at Everything
- 1 Corinthians 13 for Moms
- Why I Gave Up Trying to Be a Perfect Mom
- Dear Exhausted Mom of Littles
What are YOUR favorite books on mothering? What books would you add to my list?
P.S. You may have noticed that I’ve been doing more book round-ups lately. I plan to continue to do more of these in the coming weeks and would love to hear from you: what topics would you love for me to share my favorite books on? Leave a comment and let me know!
Hi .. relatively new to your site and wondered if you buy all the books you read? You seem to read a lot … and it would be a huge expensive to buy 50+ books in a year – even if you could get them second hand!
Just curious.
Thanks
Linda
As a working mother myself I have found that books about our struggle and the hardships/sacrifice involved with balancing family and work are books that I have been gravitating towards a lot. I recently finished a hilarious and heartfelt memoir called “Where’s My Award? How to Get Baby Barf Out of a Red Carpet & Other Tales from a Working Mom in Hollywood” (http://margotblack.com/). The book is written by Margot Black, a celebrity publicist with a new family and a new life. The struggle is very real but she injects humor into the mix which makes it a really light and enjoyable read. I have bought it for my mommy friends and they all love it. The book really does provide a very unique insight at the extraordinary demands placed on working moms in America today. I hope as you continue to add more books to your collection you will consider giving this a read. Thanks again!
I just bought Surprised By Motherhood. I was *surprised* that the kindle price is only $2.99!!!! I have read 4 chapters this morning and have run out of time, will have to continue later tonight or tomorrow. Totally worth buying!! Very encouraging and easy to read.
I would add Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids to this list! I added this list to my Goodreads list too – thank you for the suggestions!!
I will definitely add some in my TBR list .. thanks Crystal
I would love some good fiction recommendations.
I’ve recently read and really enjoyed The Good Girl by Mary Kubica, And Again by Jessica Chiarella, Inside the O’Briens by Lisa Genova (also Left Neglected by her), and probably anything by Amy Hatvany. It’s good to have a mental break and take time to read fiction too!
I will check them out. Thanks!
I loved Pocketful of Pinecones. I had the book sitting around for a few years and by the time I picked it up to read I found myself in a similar situation as her in some ways (my mom passed away and my husband lost his job). It spoke to me in a beautiful way and even more so that I could relate to the character, it felt healing to read. Bless you!
Thanks for that sweet friend!!
What a great list. I look forward to reading some of these that I have not! Motherhood is such a unique journey, and a humbling one.
An incredible mentor of mine, Bonnie Greiner, and I, are just releasing a book this Mother’s Day, called “There’s an Easier Way: 21Ways to Lovingly Raise Your Children Without Regrets”. Bonni is a Christian homeschooling mom of eight. She is passionate about prayer, learning to love unconditionally, and helping young moms. My favorite fact about her is that she was a Jewish girl from Philadelphia who married a Lancaster County pig farmer!
What I love about this book, is she shares specific examples from her life, and strategies that she has used when it comes to topics like potty training, disciplining with grace, handling whining and complaining, using teachable moments, finding humor, how to have a better marriage, and more!
Thanks so much for sharing!!
I would like to see a list of your favorite biographies and autobiographies. I love reading about the lives of people and would appreciate your recommendations.
This is one of my fave parenting books!
http://www.amazon.com/Raising-Grateful-Kids-Entitled-World/dp/1496405293/ref=pd_sim_14_2?ie=UTF8&dpID=41RF0gupp1L&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR107%2C160_&refRID=196GEQPV04FYCRCXEYH8
This was a fantastic book, I highly recommend!
I’ve read a couple of those books you listed. Lysa Terkeurst wrote one a few years ago that I believe was called The Bathtubs Overflowing But I Feel Drained. It was encouraging to me during that time. Since I have only boys I tend to gravitate towards those like Vicki Courtney’s Your boy, Dr. James Dobson Bringing Up Boys or Wild Things the art of nurturing boys. Can’t remember the last books author.
Have a wonderful time on your trip!!! My husband and I have never been away since having our boys. We try to have monthly dates and weekly lunches. He works from home so there are times of communication during the day when the boys are at school. We will be married 20 years next year and hope to get away for a couple of nights. We had no honeymoon either because he just started a job before we got married. I hope next year we can go to the Biltmore house in North Carolina. Knowing our boys and their ages, my in-laws who have been to Biltmore didn’t recommend us taking the boys to visit. I hope we can work it out. But then again my husband may have a different idea of where to go and that’s fine too.
I second Valerie’s suggestions, especially, “Don’t Make Me Count to Three.” It’s always refreshing to be reminded of parenting to my child’s heart and has great practical advise. Also from Ginger Plowman is a fantastic resource called “Wise Words for Moms.” It’s a large pamphlet that can be hung up with different behavior issues and how to address your child’s heart with specific scripture references. I keep mine on the fridge.
http://www.amazon.com/Wise-Words-Moms-Ginger-Hubbard/dp/0966378660/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1461459372&sr=8-1&keywords=wise+words+for+moms
That’s funny, because I read her book and *didn’t* like it… I think it was because it felt too formulaic for me! I’m glad that others have found her books helpful!
I’d second the post by Lee Ann regarding Elyse’s book on grace–excellent! Also, “Gospel-Powered Parenting” (by William Farley), “Shepherding a Child’s Heart” (by Tedd Tripp), and “Don’t Make Me Count to Three” (by Ginger Hubbard). The last one is especially wonderful for mentoring moms to use God’s Word as they train their children (The title really does not do the book justice!! It sounds like a trite book and it is not…it is a profound book!)
Other great picks are: Fit to Burst (by Rachel Jankovic) and Treasuring Christ When Your Hands Are Full (by Gloria Furman). These are all wonderful resources to mentor your child spiritually!!
love this book list. i would add “Give Them Grace–Dazzling Your Kids with the Love of Jesus” by Elyse Fitzpatrick
totally not a method-parenting book. just great advice on focusing on what you and your kids need most, Jesus and His grace.
Thanks so much for recommending that book!
Yes! This is my recommendation as well! 🙂
Yes! Wonderful book!
It’s so funny that I just bought “surprised by motherhood” today before seeing this blog post. I’m sure I’ll enjoy it!
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!