Book Review: A Better Mom by Ruth Schwenk

I struggled with this review, I'll be honest.  Usually, when I receive a book to review, it's because I was really interested in the book, and it sounded like it was going to be really good.  Well, this book is okay.  It's not bad.  It's not great.  It's okay.  I truly don't like leaving unfavorable reviews, but it is what I signed up for: to review a book, good, bad or ugly.

This book would be really good for new, first time moms. If you have other children already, or have been at this mom thing for a while, it's kind of basic. Things that you've probably learned already.

One chapter I did really appreciate was chapter 13, titled, "Motherhood is Robbing Me of _____".  I did (and sometimes still DO) struggle with this. Personal time.  Working at a crazy awesome job outside of the house. Adult conversations.

I have friends in many walks of life, and in many different places of parenting.  I have some friends that are just starting their married lives, and don't have children yet. I have some friends who have younger, and still more that are empty nesters.  One thing that I think we all have in common, if we are stay at home moms, is that we get irritated when people make comments like, "You're just a mom?"  Or, "So you don't work?" And then there's my personal favorite: "What do you DO all day?" (Yes, someone actually asked me that!)

If you are a mom, you KNOW that you are working 24/7!  If you are a homeschooling mom, you're adding to that.  And then there are my heroes:  the stay at home, homechooling, work from home and sometimes outside the home moms. I can't imagine.  I homeschool, but if I HAD to work another job (other than my Mom Gig!), I'd be in a world of hurt.

So it's easy to think of ourselves as "just" moms.  But we are SO much more.  We are moms, spiritual advisors, playmates, therapists, nurses, taxi drivers, disciplinarians, comforters, boo-boo fixers, cooks, bakers, house cleaners... the list goes on and on.

If you know a new, first time mom, she might benefit from this book.  As a whole, however, I can't really recommend it.

You can purchase this book on amazon or find it at your nearest Christian bookstore.

Disclaimer:  I received this book at no cost in return for my fair and honest review.