Loving The Little Years: Motherhood In The Trenches (2010) - Plot & Excerpts
The first three-quarters of this book can be summarized as follows:Suck it up. Stop complaining. Choose to not feel that way. Have a better attitude. That isn't necessarily or universally bad advice — and within those pages, there are some definite gems — but that style has never resonated with me. There's quite a bit of "you feel X; the bible says Y; now don't you feel better?" But instead of feeling better, I feel like I ought to feel better but in fact don't. There are a few points on which I flatly disagree with the author — or, perhaps more accurately, I might agree with the fundamental idea or theology she's trying to convey but disagree with the way it comes across. It's possible that I'm being pedantic, but when you're addressing matters of identity and femininity, great care is required. There were also many sections I enjoyed — the last few chapters in particular. And I probably laughed aloud and nodded along at least once or twice every chapter or two. Undoubtedly, if I had multiple babies and toddlers running around, I would've had even more positive feelings toward this book. My favorite parenting books are those that make me laugh because if we're not laughing, then we're not acknowledging how absurd the whole thing is, us raising people when we struggle ourselves in being good, responsible people. I also am convicted more often when I think that the author's conviction comes with compassion. This has spurred me on to better mothering, and to further grace with myself. I will read again and again.
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