Book Review – Surprised by Motherhood

Book Review

 

I hope your weekend was well. Are you ready for another book review?

This book I read on the way to China. That first fourteen hour flight was rough, but totally doable with my kindle, some snacks, and a little travel pillow.  (The return trip with a screaming 2-year-old, not so much). I know I am late in the game, as this book has been out awhile, but I really wanted to share with you this gem (in case you were like me and haven’t read it yet).

surprised by motherhood

Surprised by Motherhood

by Lisa Jo-Baker

She writes over at Lisa Jo Baker and if you don’t follow her on Facebook, she is amazing! Real. Encouraging. And reads all the comments as she engages in her readers!

With two rowdy boys, and a sweet little girl, Lisa gets motherhood. The hard. The good. The pain and the joy and how it all weaves together making us mothers. She writes from her heart, sharing her own imperfect relationship with her mother. As women, we realize the sacrifice, love, and devotions our own mothers endured only when we have children of our own. Some of the themes of this book are: losing a parent and parenting without your mother; being a first-time mother; finding a routine and letting go of control; balancing our passions and our children; and what our children teach us.

Some of the chapter titles are:

Why You Can’t Possibly Know What to Expect When You’re Expecting

What Brave Looks Like

How to Fall in Like

When You’re Scared Motherhood Means Missing Out on Your Life

Here is a sweet excerpt:

It was like discovering a superpower – becoming a mom for the first time. It has led me to believe that motherhood should come with a superhero cape along with the free diaper bag and samples you get when the hospital sends you, otherwise defenseless, home.

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In the dark and the tired and the everydayness of those moments, I started to feel it – the weight of glory, the glorious ordinary that is a gift to us who are knee deep in a world where it can sometimes feel like we have lost all the parts of ourselves we used to know like the back of our hands, our favorite jeans, our own names. A gift from God who names every part of who we are and what we do significant.

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You can order this book here. Or on the kindle.

surprised by motherhood

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Thank you for reading friends! Let me know in the comments what a favorite “motherhood” book you have!

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2015_06 Tuesday Talk 13 Hosts copy

Also, check back on Thursdays for Adoption Stories. 

Adoption Stories2

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Book Review

Every week I share a favorite book and give you a review of it! Occasionally I’ll have a giveaway – so check back often. Read some of my past reviews here.


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7 Comments

  1. I have been going through many o f the motherhood issues you’ve described. It’s always helpful to know I’m not alone – in the rough times as well as the happy ones. I’ll have to make some time to read this one. Thanks for sharing!

  2. I LOVE this book. I read it earlier this year and found it so encouraging and actually felt that it transformed me as a mother. I think part of that was because of where I was in my mothering journey….a place where I was struggling and felt like I was dealing with a lot of what Lisa talks about dealing with in her book. Anyway, I’m with you in recommending the book! 🙂

  3. I loved this book! And you’re right, her blog and writing is so encouraging without adding pressure to mothers.

    I’d love to invite you to join my weekly link up on Reading List, The Cozy Reading Spot, where we share what is on our minds, hearts and bookshelves, and this is such a perfect post to be part of it.

    If you have time stop by on Thursday.

    Marissa

    Reading List home of the Cozy Reading Spot

  4. It looks like a really good book. I think some of the best advice I read when expecting was that I needed to take some time to realize and even grieve the person I was b/c after motherhood it would never be the same. Some how that helped me adjust and even prepare to not lose who I was through it all. I knew things wouldn’t be the same but it also helped me to be ok with getting away, still doing things I loved without feeling guilty.

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