My Top 5 Mothering Books

I am sure it surprises no one that I spend a lot of time reading on different topics, and one topic I love learning about is motherhood. I have been a mother for 8 years and I continue to grow and change and pray to become the best mother I can be for the glory of God.

I have spent a great deal of time learning from other women through observation, but also through books. I have a couple of books that I always give at wedding showers, baby showers, and other big events in my loved ones lives.

In honor of Mother's Day this weekend, I am going to share a list I have complied of my favorite books on mothering.

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You may try Audible for a free trial to "read" these books as well! Here is a link: https://amzn.to/4dDdMT4

My Top 5 Mothering Books

#1 My first and favorite book will always be "Loving the Little Years" by Rachel Jankovic. This book was instrumental when I was pregnant with my fourth child and really struggling to enjoy the stage of life my family was in. This book reminded me that, while I am the example my children see of a Godly, Biblical, Christian woman and how important it is to deal with my circumstances in the light of my Savior. It is a short read, and an even shorter listen if you listen to it on audiobook. Rachel wrote this book while being in the thick of motherhood, not from a place of looking back on her time mothering small children, but while she was knee-deep in the trenches of mothering small children. You will often see me give this as a gift to my friends and family as they become pregnant for the first time. It is the best and most encouraging gift to give a new mom who is entering the battlefield that is motherhood!

Buy Loving the Little Years here: https://amzn.to/4btOS6H

#2 The second book I want to share with you may seem odd, because it is not exactly about "motherhood" but it is a great resource for moms of small children: The Biggest Story Bible. The Biggest Story Bible was compiled by Kevin DeYoung, who is one of our favorite preachers. He does an excellent job of telling the Redemption Story in a way children understand, but also illustrates how every story points us back to Christ and his redemption plan. We use this Bible every night for family worship and it has become an easy favorite for our kids! We are actually almost done reading through this and my kids are so sad. They love it THAT much. An added bonus is that is has no pictures of Jesus in it, no defined pictures of people at all, so there won't be any images of Jesus being unconsciously imprinted into our little guys' minds. We have recently been trying to put back money for gifts to give this book to the children in our family. A gift that keeps giving is the Word of God! If you are looking for a great Children's Bible for your home, look no further!

Buy The Biggest Story Bible here: https://amzn.to/44E2HgB

#3 My third recommendation is Eve in Exile by Rebekah Merkle. This book is not as much about motherhood as it is about womanhood. This book (which is also a documentary on Canon+) talks about femininity and the benefits of being a woman. I love this book because for years I have believed the lie that to be and important part of society, you have to have a big job and a big name, and this book reminds us that being a mom and wife is enough, and this doesn't just mean staying at home, but reminding us that being a woman means everything we do should be going back to our family, and that being a woman, a Biblical woman, is more than enough! They do a better job of explaining it, so here is the summary of Eve in Exile: "The swooning Victorian ladies and the 1950s housewives genuinely needed to be liberated. That much is indisputable. So, First-Wave feminists held rallies for women's suffrage. Second-Wave feminists marched for Prohibition, jobs, and abortion. Today, Third-Wave feminists stand firmly for nobody's quite sure what. But modern women -- who use psychotherapeutic antidepressants at a rate never before seen in history -- need liberating now more than ever. The truth is, feminists don't know what liberation is. They have led us into a very boring dead end.

Eve in Exile sets aside all stereotypes of mid-century housewives, of China-doll femininity, of Victorians fainting, of women not allowed to think for themselves or talk to the men about anything interesting or important. It dismisses the pencil-skirted and stiletto-heeled executives of TV, the outspoken feminists freed from all that hinders them, the brave career women in charge of their own destinies. Once those fictionalized stereotypes are out of the way -- whether they're things that make you gag or things you think look pretty fun -- Christians can focus on real women. What did God make real women for?" Highly recommend! Its a great read!

Buy Eve in Exile here: https://amzn.to/4bbW5IS

#4 Fit to Burst by Rachel Jankovic has to be on here somewhere. It is another book from her perspective in the trenches of motherhood. A note from the author on her book: "I don't pull punches or hold back in this book, because I am writing to myself as much as to you. If something in this book strikes a little close to home for you, know that it struck in my home first. I am not writing about other people's problems, although I know many of them are common. I write about what I know, and what I know is the challenges, the joys, and the work involved in raising little people." Highly recommend this book to all the young moms out there!

Buy Fit to Burst here: https://amzn.to/3QGcNHZ

#5 This book is not just for mothers, but I find it super beneficial to mothers as we disciple our children and counsel them as they walk through life: Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands by Paul David Tripp. This book was assigned to my by my pastor as I began pursuing certification in Biblical Counseling. This book absolutely changed the way I interacted with others, including my children. The main focus of this book is that we are all counseling others, whether we know it or not. We are constantly giving advice and opinions to others, so we can either give Biblical advice, or we can give worldly advice. I do not know about you, but I want to give Godly, Biblical advice any time I can, especially in the day to day of raising my children! When they come to me with concerns, I hope I can counsel them in a way that brings God glory and helps them follow Christ in all of their decisions!

Buy Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands here: https://amzn.to/3UTkFbC

I hope my recommendations end up on your "to read" list this year and that they are as edifying to you as were me!