Modern Parents Vintage Values by Sissy Goff and Melissa Trevathan–Book Review

This book genuinely surprised me.  Being long past the stage of parenting small children or teenagers, I didn’t expect to find it particularly interesting–WRONG.  Goff and Trevathan are two counselors with over 75 years of combined experience working with children.  It shows.  Their wise, common sense advice about the issues modern moms and dads face is refreshingly honest and practical.

The book is divided into three sections.  The first, “Modern Parents” deals  with the topics that are frequently discussed in their day-to-day counseling sessions (they are part of a counseling ministry called Daystar).  It includes technology, entitlement, respect, anxiety and depression, eating disorders and more.  If your children grew up before the ready availability of cell phones, personal computers and social media (mine did) this will be an eye opener in understanding what young people and their parents deal with today.

The second section introduces the idea of “Vintage Values.”  Values such as compassion, gratitude, kindness, patience (sounds a lot like the fruit of the spirit, doesn’t it).  Under each value the authors talk about what these values look like in teenagers and younger children and how to instill them in both age groups.

The final section is entitled “Timeless Truths.”  Here you will find some comfort in contemplating Who it is that enables us to parent, especially in difficult times.

At the end of each chapter in the first two sections there are useful ideas and suggestions for activities for families that will help them experience and reinforce the ideas discussed.

VERDICT:  5 Stars.  I’m passing this book along to my daughter who works with teens in a group home setting.

If you would like to purchase this book, follow the link below:

https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/modern-parents-vintage-values-revised-and-updated-P005823954

For more on parenting, see these posts:

A Mother’s Love from the (in)courage community–Book Review

Nothing is Wasted by Lore Cottone–Book Review

eat, sleep, save the World by Jamie Sumner–Book Review

The Lutheran Ladies received a free copy of this book in return for a fair and honest review. Disclaimer pursuant to FTC 16 CFR part 255.

 

eat, sleep, save the World by Jamie Sumner–Book Review

Since this book is subtitled:  Words of Encouragement for the Special Needs Parent, I didn’t expect it to find it personally relevant.  However, I was pleasantly surprised.  If you are a parent at all you will be able to relate to some of the topics and struggles that Jamie Sumner describes.  Her son, Charlie was born with two challenging conditions:  Beckwith-Weidman Syndrome (a rare genetic disorder which affects the pituitary glands, causing the baby to be very big among other problems) and cerebral palsy.  Because of this, Charlie had (and still has) difficulty eating, walking and communicating.  His infancy was full of different therapies, financial challenges and finding (through trial and error) which strategies worked best in minimizing and controlling his disabilities.  Most of us will never have to deal with problems that are this overwhelming.

On the other hand, mom guilt?  That’s universal.  As is bullying, seeing and appreciating your child for who he or she is, accepting help when you need it, bouncing back from making parenting mistakes and being thankful for blessings.  As parents we all learn that there is so much about our child and his or her life that we cannot control.  The virtues we need are also universal:  patience, hope, persistence, gratitude, humor and resilience.  As a parent of adult daughters, this book took me back to many times when I struggled to survive and make sense of what was going on in my child’s life.  Trusting God is the only way to make it through.  As Jamie puts it:

“This kind of faith is … the most natural thing in the world because happiness and faith come with trusting someone upon whom you are dependent.  And dependence, when viewed as it should be, is a beautiful thing.”

There are reflection questions at the end of each chapter.  This would make a great read for a small group of parents, whether their children have special needs or not.  The author weaves in stories from Scripture in a way that is both creative and pertinent.

VERDICT:  5 STARS

If you would like to purchase this book, follow the link below:

https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/eat-sleep-save-the-world-P005817838

 

The Lutheran Ladies received a free copy of this book in return for a fair and honest review. Disclaimer pursuant to FTC 16 CFR Part 255

 

Molded by The Father

As parents, we all try to mold our children in different ways.  We provide them with learning experiences such as music or swimming lessons. We teach them to socialize by making play dates with others, or taking them to nursery school.  We may send them to camp or take them to different places on vacation. We expose them to libraries and restaurants and museums and concerts.  We set rules for living well and let them suffer the consequences when they break those rules.  Our ultimate goal is to help them live a productive and contented life.

Well, God is our Father, and He is interested in molding us as well.  Listen to these verses from Jeremiah 18:1-5:

“The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord:  ‘Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will let you hear my words.’  So I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was working at the wheel.  And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter’s hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do.

Then the word of the Lord came to me:  ‘O house of Israel, can I not do with you as the potter has done?'”

Everything that happens in our lives is sent by our Father to change us into the vessel he wants us to be.  Some of the things that change us are really good;  others are challenging; and yet others seem to break us open completely.  The Bible tells us that:

“For the moment, all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”  Hebrews 12:11

God, our Father, wants the best for us.  The good things we receive from His hand are cause for gratitude;  the painful things are too, for they are all part of the individual learning experience God has tailored for every one of us.

What will you learn from what God sends you today?