MOMumental ~ Adventures in the Messy Art of Raising a Family #giveaway

When we as little girls dream of growing up and having a family of our own to love and take care of, I seldom think that that daydream involves the sleepless nights, the crying and the overall mess of having a family.

Jennifer Grant, author of the book MOMumental, grew up with a childhood dream of being the perfect mom.  Like the rest of us, she realized that having the “perfect” kids in a “perfect” home was not a true reality.  Rather than give up, although I’m sure she wanted to, Jennifer wrote the book MOMumental.

Jennifer Grant has four children ages 15, 13, 12, and 10 and now has a more realistic view of parenting.  She calls her view “Velveteen Parenting” after the Velveteen Rabbit.

“Now, years later, after being broken in by time and exasperation and days when I want to run after my own kids with a wooden spoon, I no longer look to others or to myself to be ideal mothers.  Now, like the Velveteen Rabbit, I’ve become, well more REAL.  My furs been rubbed off.  My heart has stretched and expanded.  The shine is gone.  Now I can say with confidence that much as we may long to do so, we cannot create perfect homes and families….We must….confess our mistakes and bad choices, accept forgiveness, and give ourselves the chance to start again.  Over and over and over again.”

Wow!  I think all the moms out there in the world need to hear this!  Jennifer’s book is filled with funny, humorous and moving stories from her own life and experiences.  While sharing these experiences with us, Jennifer creates a bond with all mothers everywhere, because everyone can identify with them.

Some of Jennifer’s guidelines in the book include:

Choose your battles – let me tell you I NEED to remember this SO badly

Keep your eyes open and look with a critical eye at what the culture is dishing up to your children.

Remind yourself that children are NOT little adults – this is another one that I have to remember.  My kids are KIDS!

Ask questions of yourself such as “What do I want our family to be like?  What connects us as a family and brings us joy?”

Develop certain priorities in your family’s life, such as treating each other with respect, eating together whenever possible and attending Church together.

I love Jennifer’s book MOMumental!  So many times, while parenting my children, I feel alone at what I am going through.  I know that there are other moms around me and I know that most of them are going through the same things, but reading MOMumental helped me see that there is a mom who struggles with the same parenting dilemmas I have and has advice to help me through it.

GIVEAWAY MOMENT:

1 lucky Mommy Moment reader will win Jennifer Grants book MOMumental!

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