The book The Better Mom by Ruth Schwenk was a recent book store treasure that I grabbed while pregnant. The premise of the book is how to be a better mom (big shocker, I know), but it centers specifically on how to do so in a biblical way, which is what grabbed my attention. I started it when I was in my third trimester as a way to help me mentally prepare for motherhood, and I was able to finish it as a new mom. I thought it would be easiest to explain my thoughts in a Q&A type format, so here are my thoughts!
Q: What did I learn from or enjoy about the book?
A: The most important lesson I learned from the book is the importance of grace in motherhood. “Momming” is an important job, but it is not easy. God has called mothers to be an example of what it looks like to extend grace to others, while He works in our hearts to help us grow and have grace for ourselves. We are to rely on God to help us do the work but also to transform us through that work. This requires us to have humble hearts so that we can be dependent on God to do amazing work through us, especially in the little things. Since none of us are perfect, we have to rely on God’s grace, and remember that He is not condemning us for our failures, but rather that He wants to use them to bring us closer to Him. God’s calling in our lives is to bring us closer to Him and to help each of us become the person (mom or otherwise) that He wants us to be. Overall, this lesson has really come to a head since I have become a mother, and I am so glad that grace was such a focus in this book because it has already helped me so much in this new season of life!
What I really enjoyed about this book was how many illustrations and examples the author uses from her own life. She was honest about her own failures, and also shared successes or connections through her memories of times with her own family. Whenever an author, or anyone really, is humble enough to share their struggles and mistakes, I know I personally pay more attention to the lessons they share, and Ruth really does a great job of sharing while she teaches.
Q: Would I recommend?
A: Absolutely! Especially for new moms, or moms in general. There were so many lessons throughout the book though that could be applied to all people, not just mothers, so even though moms are the target audience, anyone could glean valuable lessons while reading.
Q: Am I keeping this book or donating it?
A: For now, I am definitely keeping this book. It hits on so many struggles I have in general (like perfectionism, control, joy, failure, etc.) that I know I will want to reread it again in the coming months and years. I tend to need repetition to help me remember things, so The Better Mom will be gracing my bookshelf for some time to come. 🙂
Your thoughts…
Have you read The Better Mom or other books by Ruth Schwenk? What other questions do you have about this book? Are there any other books you want me to review? Let me know in the comments section below or by messaging me on Instagram! I would love to hear from you if you have any thoughts or if you have read this book yourself! Hope you keep reading, and don’t forget to stay creative. 🙂
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