Free Downloads Desperate: Hope For The Mom Who Needs To Breathe
Desperate is for those who love their children to the depths of their souls but who have also curled up under their covers, fighting back tears, and begging God for help. It's for those who have ever wondered what happened to all their ideals for what having children would be like. For those who have ever felt like all the "experts" have clearly never had a child like theirs. For those who have prayed for a mentor. For those who ever felt lost and alone in motherhood.In Desperate you will find the story of one young mother's honest account of the desperate feelings experienced in motherhood and one experienced mentor's realistic and gentle exhortations that were forged in the trenches of raising her own four children.Whether you are a first time mom, or an experienced mom, Desperate will inspire you to be a part of the ultimate goal of the book, to be a part of the no-more-desperate-moms movement. Included in the Book:QR codes and links at the end of each chapter that lead to videos with Sarah Mae and Sally talking about the chapterPractical steps to take during the desperate timesBible study and journal exercises in each chapter that will lead you to identify ways in which you can grow as a momMentoring advice for real-life situationsQ & A section with Sally where she answers readers questionsMore info at DesperateMom.com
Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson; unknown edition (January 7, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1400204666
ISBN-13: 978-1400204663
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.6 x 8.4 inches
Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (431 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #14,121 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #29 in Books > Parenting & Relationships > Parenting > Parenting Girls #55 in Books > Parenting & Relationships > Family Relationships > Motherhood #129 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Christian Living > Women's Issues
I usually order and try and soak up most Christian Mom books. This one takes the cake. It was as if the authors were speaking directly to me. I have three young kids and feel stuck in the mundane and dreariness of life right now. This book helped inspire and outline practical things that I can do today to help me endure. Many books try and give you a bunch of things to do, but this one gave me the tools to endure and persevere and even thrive (well I hope for the long term).This book also hits on some points that many other books fail to address, and one of them is that other books assume that you desire to play on the floor for hours with your kids. I am stuck in the cycle of being tired of playing with them and not finding joy in playing cars or barbies for hours on end. Many books assume that you want to organize your life so you can sit on the floor with the kids more, this book helps you to figure out how you can enjoy your kids and balance it all. Also many books point out depression and usually just say talk to your doctor. This is the first book that I found that talked about depression as a part of motherhood and one of the parts of the hills and valleys of life. I never felt the need to go to the doctor, but so glad that it is normal that I have cycles of being in a depressive "funk" and that it is okay. I will be able to endure and survive it to encounter the hill at the end of the valley I am in.Very uplifting and inspirational. I highly recommend.
I recommend this book for us older women to read as well as the young moms. I can forget how big my burden was back when all mine were little if I am not careful. The busy-ness of teens and young adults present me a different burden but I can neglect my duty as a Christian to fulfill Titus 2. Sometimes we older moms close our eyes to the needs of these young moms. The "I paid my dues" mentality is farfrom Christlike. This book will remind us, burden us, and challenge us to step up to the plate and help these young ladies. It is our godly responsibility. Perhaps these young moms are hurting because older ones aren't serving as we should?
This book has been manna to my soul and courage to my heart!
What I liked This book showed a beautiful picture of what a meaningful mentoring experience looks like. Sally Clarkson saw something in Sarah Mae, and they began a relationship together that was intentional, and helped both of them grow in their relationship with the Lord. The mentoring seemed to come at a time when Sarah Mae desperately needed it- in the middle of mothering three littles- and battling depression. I could relate to Sarah Mae, in that I also have three kids incredibly close together in age (almost 4!). And there were times last year when I was staying at home with them that I did feel desperate and like I needed some room to breathe. Running after and caring for a 1, 2/3 and 3/4 year old is physically, emotionally, and mentally difficult. There are no breaks, even with a stellar husband. It takes 2 parents to meet the never-ending needs of such young children. For moms who stay at home, Sarah and Sally offer some great suggestions on how to create space to breathe in the midst of full-time, never-ending motherhood. They rightly suggest that a lot of it has to do with our attitude towards our kids and being a stay-at-home mom. They repeated over and over that there is no "right way" to parent. Every family is different. Every child is different. Every mom is different. If you are not good at keeping house, by all means hire a housekeeper and feel no guilt about it! If you don't want to spank your kids, do not listen to those other moms who say if you don't you will have bratty kids. Seek God, follow the promptings you feel about how He has designed your unique family, and then find a few good friends who are going to support you and not criticize your decisions.What I did not like At times, the relationship between Sarah Mae and Sally seemed like Sarah Mae was incredibly needy and Sally had all the answers. It has been my experience that in healthy mentoring relationships, both parties involved are encouraged by one another, and both people come out with a new perspective. This book is absolutely NOT for moms who work outside the home full-time. Although they were big on talking about the uniqueness of each family and following what God had for each family, I don't think they would be very accepting of the decision for the mom to work outside the home. They explicitly says that "Scripture is filled with admonitions for a mama to make her home her focus and bring up her children. A mama's primary domain is her home." (p. 170) They continue on to say that this doesn't mean that's the only purpose God has for a mom, but it's first and main purpose. I'm glad they added the second part, but I still disagree with the first. I have personally faced the judgment of other women who can't believe that I would work outside the home. And perhaps some judgment that my husband stays at home with the kids ("what? he doesn't work?" ummmm....if I talked about a stay-at-home mom that way, I'm pretty sure I'd get an earful about how staying at home with 3 preschool kids IS work, yes?)When I pick up a book for mothers, I shouldn't be surprised, I guess, to find this type of attitude. In a way, it's too bad because the book did have some great things to say about life as a stay-at-home mom. Because it IS really hard (for some of us), especially in those early years as we're becoming mothers (because some of us aren't born longing for that and sometimes it's just a process that takes a few years).So, do I recommend it? If you are a stay-at-home mom and feeling discouraged/depressed/worn-out, yes, I really think it could offer you some encouragement and good ways to look at things a little differently. If you are a work-outside-the-home mom who is feeling discouraged/depressed/worn-out, don't read it unless you can take the "stay-at-home-moms-are-God's-favorite-moms" attitude.Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
This book has changed my life. It has transformed my view of motherhood and has given me the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. It is the story of motherhood from two points of view - hip deep in the chaos (Sarah Mae) and survived and thrived (Sally Clarkson). There are honest, hard questions and conversations - the ones you wish someone would have told you about instead of talking about how cute all the clothes would be. There are hard answers - the ones you wish you could ignore, the ones that make you dig deep into your heart and seek God. There is hope, Scripture, encouragement, love, and grace. And the message, at the end of the day? I'm the mother God chose for my daughter. He doesn't make mistakes and I need to trust Him. Desperate is set up to help mamas go further than just another parenting book. It's personal. It's Christ-centered. It's hopeful and full of grace, and just what this desperate mama of a toddler needed to read right now.
Desperate: Hope for the Mom Who Needs to Breathe Mom Coloring Book: I Love You Mom: Beautiful and Relaxing Coloring Book Gift for Mom, Grandma, and other Mothers - Perfect Mom Gift for Birthday, Mother's Day and Other Special Occasions Desperate Marriages: Moving Toward Hope and Healing in Your Relationship Learning to Breathe Again: Choosing Life and Finding Hope After a Shattering Loss (Women of Faith (Thomas Nelson)) Learning to Breathe Again: Choosing Life and Finding Hope After a Shattering Loss Learning to Breathe Again: Choosing Life and Finding Hope After a Shattering Loss (Women of Faith) What a Difference a Mom Makes: The Indelible Imprint a Mom Leaves on Her Son's Life Smart Mom, Rich Mom: How to Build Wealth While Raising a Family Escape to God: A Desperate Search for His Presence Year of Desperate Struggle: Jeb Stuart and His Cavalry, from Gettysburg to Yellow Tavern, 1863-1864 The Proud Highway: Saga of a Desperate Southern Gentleman, 1955-1967 (The Fear and Loathing Letters, Vol. 1) A Desperate Passion: An Autobiography Amish Days: A Desperate Act: An Amish Romance Short Story (Hollybrook Amish Romance) What a Girl Needs From Her Mom What a Son Needs from His Mom His Needs, Her Needs: Building an Affair-Proof Marriage His Needs, Her Needs Participant's Guide: Building an Affair-Proof Marriage (A Six-Session Study) Autism: 44 Ways to Understanding- Aspergers Syndrome, ADHD, ADD, and Special Needs (Autism, Aspergers Syndrome, ADHD, ADD, Special Needs, Communication, Relationships) What Every 6th Grader Needs to Know: 10 Secrets to Connect Moms & Daughters (What Every Kid Needs to Know) (Volume 1) Learning to Breathe: A Mindfulness Curriculum for Adolescents to Cultivate Emotion Regulation, Attention, and Performance
