What a Son Needs from his Mom by Cheri Fuller

I had a mixed reaction while reading this book.  First, I'll say that I found it incredibly helpful, inspiring, and helpful as I think about raising my now 2-year old son.  The book highlights such topics as a son's personality, helping your son in school (as many boys struggle with the typical classroom setting), praying for your son, overcoming your own fears (of your son being hurt or doing something wrong, etc), nurturing your son's faith, and much more. What I found most helpful in this book was how it talked about boys are different than boys and, as a result of that, how they need to be related to and parented differently than girls.  Because all moms are girls, we don't necessarily know what our boys are thinking and feeling (and they can't necessarily tell us).  There are some things I wouldn't have guessed and others that didn't surprise me but that I might not have thought of on my own. 

When I say that I had a mixed reaction to this book, I was referring to the dread (is that the right word?) that this book brought to the surface of my son growing up.  I've always known that my son is going to grow up and that there will be struggles with that, but having a book talk about the ways that this will happen naturally makes me want to take every moment as it comes!  So I guess that is also a positive for this book.

I would recommend this book for mothers of sons.  There are also helpful suggestions for raising daughters, but the main focus is certainly on how mothers can nurture their sons. 

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

Days Like These by Kristian & Rachel Anderson

Such a good book!  I couldn't tear myself away from it, it was that good.  This is the story of Kristian Anderson's fight with cancer and the faith he has in God's healing power is remarkable.  It is an honest book, refreshingly so. At times I almost felt like I was reading Anderson's personal journal, or a writing that would be reserved for his family.  The choice to share it with the world provides encouragement for anyone who reads it.

This book is literally a man's walk through cancer, complete with raw emotion and life-giving scriptures that kept Kristian fighting throughout the battle. 

This book is touching and I would highly recommend it.  But I would also advise a box of tissues nearby...

This book was given to me through the Booksneeze program, though I am under no obligation to provide a positive review.

The 5 Money Personalities by Scott & Bethany Palmer

If I were to describe The 5 Money Personalities: Speaking the Same Love and Money Language in one word, I would have to use the word "eye-opening."

I was a bit surprised at how much the book focuses on the clashes many couples have in regards to money.  When I requested this book, I didn't really expect that but, in the introduction, the authors state that "this book is not a guide to managing your money" (p.xiv), saying that there are many other books out there to help you set a budget and manage your finances.  This book was written to help couples who just can't seem to meet in the middle when it comes to finances.

This book works off the basis of 5 money personalities, which are outlined in the book.  It is designed to be worked through as a couple, each chapter having a practical "to do" segment at the end.  If you just don't understand where your partner is coming from in terms of financial decisions that are made, the chapter explaining how the different personalities relate to each other would be helpful to you.

I would highly recommend this book to any couple who is having any sort of financial trouble at all, whether that be mountains of debt or not being able to understand each others' spending (or penny-pinching) habits.  It really opens your eyes to see that everyone is created differently and everyone deals with money differently.  No personality is "wrong"...each has their upside and downside, and the key is learning to work together as a team, despite having differing opinions on finances.

If you don't feel like money is a huge issue in your relationship, then you probably don't need this book.  While it WAS an interesting read, if you're looking for a book to help you become more efficient in saving or to help you set (and stick to!) a budget, there are other resources out there that could be more helpful to you.

I received this book from Thomas Nelson's Booksneeze blog reviewers program.  I am under no obligation to provide a positive review.

What a Difference a Mom Makes by Dr. Kevin Leman

I could not put this book down.  It really was THAT.GOOD. 

In his book, What a Difference a Mom Makes, Dr. Leman talks about the imprint a mom makes on her son's life, an imprint like no other.  He discusses the importance of how a mom relates to her son.  Leman also touches on how a mom affects all of her children, boys and girls, but this book clearly focuses on moms and their boys.

Dr. Leman comes out on a more strict side of the parenting spectrum and it was refreshing to read!  While many books and websites today sound the same, this book was wonderfully different.  I found words being put to many of the parenting choices that I've made and was given new ideas for dealing with situations that are sure to come up as I walk with my son through life (what to do when I find a porn magazine under my son's bed??).  I had never heard of Dr. Leman before picking up this book, but my respect for him did nothing but grow as I turned each page.

In the book, Leman touches on topics such as teaching your boy to be aware of women and their needs/desires (while not trying to make him into your little girl), being the type of woman that you would want your son to marry, parenting styles, who is your son, discipline, ages and stages, sex and sexuality, fathers, being too busy as a mom/woman, and who you want your son to be as an adult. 

I highly recommend this book to any mom who has a son.  In fact, I cannot recommend it enough.  While it may not perfectly conform to your parenting style, it will surely challenge you, encourage you, and give you some insights into this journey of raising boys.  I will certainly be seeking out other books that Dr. Kevin Leman has written...

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.  Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group." I was under no obligation to provide a positive review.

The MoneySmart Family System by Steve and Annette Economides

I was very excited to get this book from Thomas Nelson's Booksneeze blogger book review program!  I snatch up every money/budgeting/financial book that I can because these pique my interested and it's always interesting to read about a new angle of financial stewardship.

This book was inspiring from the start.  This book's goal is to teach parents about "Teaching financial independence to children of every age." The first few chapters outline how the authors raised their kids and various ideas behind why they chose to do things the way they did when it came to parenting.  I found the first couple chapters quite inspiring and also found that they encouraged me to think twice about parenting decisions (in the financial realm) that we're making already, even though our son is still under 2.

As the book progressed, it started to get a bit more into parenting choices and ideas.  While other areas of parenting do relate to raising financially independent children (responsible children will tend to be more financially independent, self-motivated children will tend to be more financially independent, etc), I did find that I didn't agree with some of the ideas presented.  I found myself wishing that this book had more to do directly with family finances and less to do with parenting.  I realize that these are closely related and perhaps that's just what this book is. 

This book is well-written and gives some good ideas for teaching children of all ages about being financially responsible.  Each chapter gives practical suggestions for each age group, making it easy to come up with ideas that will work within your family and also making it possible to start the "training" at any stage in parenting, whether your children are infants or nearing the end of high school.

If you are looking for a book devoted solely to family financial matters, this probably isn't THE book to pick up, but if you are open to sifting through another family's parenting techniques and coming up with a way to teach your children to be financially independent, this book has great ideas and values.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson's Booksneeze blogger book review program and am under no obligation to give a positive review.

The Ben Ripple by Lisa Elliot

The Ben Ripple by Lisa Elliot is one mother's story as she walks with her son through his Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.  It is a sad story, though full of hope and joy as well, the hope and joy that we find in Christ!  This book was made up of Lisa's facebook updates from the duration of the illness, her personal diary writings, as well as a running commentary to keep the story flowing.  I found this book an encouragement to read.  Ben's positive outlook and obvious joy in Christ is easily felt through the reading.  You will definitely want to have a box of Kleenex beside you as you read, especially knowing that this is a true story that is played out far too often and far too close to home.  I could see this being a good book to read if you are going through a similar situation or really any situation of living through loss and it keeps Christ the focus throughout and is an encouragement in that way.  This story flows from the time right before the diagnosis to after Ben's heavenly graduation and touches a bit on how the family has dealt with Ben's death.  I enjoyed this book alot (is "enjoyed" the right word?) and found it hard to put down, making for some very late nights!

7 Money Rules for Life by Mary Hunt

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.  It outlines 7 financial principles that, when applied as a whole, will help anyone discover a life of financial freedom.  I read this book with my computer (financial software) beside me, ready to make changes to the budget as needed.  It was SO good.

Hunt comes at some topics with a Christian perpective which, for other Christians is helpful, but which, for non-Christians could easily be ignored and the book could still be found helpful.  What I'm saying is that while this book does have Christian values, it is not an overtly Christian book.  It would be a valuable read for anyone.

I typically enjoy books of this nature (and this is no exception) but even someone who has no interest in financial topics - but who perhaps needs a few financial hints - would find this book an easy ready.  It explains the "rules" plainly and thoroughly so that anyone could easily see how they could apply them to their life.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who handles money in any way, whether they are up to their eyeballs in debt, or living paycheque to paycheque, or sailing through life without a second thought financially.  It is that good.

 

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.  Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group".  

(I was under no obligation to provide a positive review)