Book Review: Mothering by the Book by Jennifer Pepito
I have a confession: I love to read about books. Yes, you read that right. Give me a book list, review of a classic or tell me why a book is better than a movie and I’ll read it every time.
In her book Mothering by the Book: The Power of Reading Aloud to Overcome Fear and Recapture Joy, Jennifer Pepito, gives practical advice and spiritual encouragement to overcome the most common fears of motherhood.
Reading this book is like sitting down with a friend and discussing your favorite reads, and how they’ve impacted your life. It’s sweet, refreshing a must-read for moms.
Mothering by the Book Review
What are the fears you face as a mom? Jennifer asks this question in chapter one, and gives a list of common fears many moms face.
While she asks readers to choose two, I have to admit that I found myself struggling to choose. Not because I don’t have any…but because I have so many.
I narrowed my main fears down to these two:
- My kids will get hurt.
- My child won’t love God.
While those are my big ones, I related to several of the other fears as well, including being afraid of failure, the future is frightening and my marriage won’t make it. (I am a child of divorce, so this fear is very real to me, even though I have a wonderful husband and happy marriage.)
Throughout the book, Jennifer uses classic books to confront these fears head-on. Each chapter deals with a fear and a family read-aloud book that offers hope and encouragement to overcome it.
Jennifer fills the book with personal examples and stories to highlight just how these books can help us.
For instance, one chapter is titled “Overcoming the Fear of Children Leaving the Faith Through Family Identity.” The literature companion for this chapter is All-of-a-Kind Family by Sydney Taylor.
The chapter goes on to tell us what we can learn about building a strong family in the pages of that book. Every chapter is packed with practical tips, Scripture and encouragement for facing these fears head-on.
As a book lover, my favorite part is probably the book recommendations at the end of each chapter! I love when someone tells me exactly what I need to read to grow in an area.
Recommendation
I am a terrible worrier! But the truth is, worry is not part of God’s will for me. I can overcome fear and worry through God’s Word.
Mothering by the Book also reminds us that books are powerful. They can lift us up and remind us of the things that really matter in life.
What seems like a simple children’s story may actually be the means of reminding us of God’s goodness and the strength He offers us.
Fear is sometimes a part of motherhood. But it doesn’t have to be. If you’re a mom who misses out on important parts of your kids’ childhood because of fear and worries, I highly recommend Mothering by the Book.
It will help you to clearly see a way out of the fear that holds you back, and help you find freedom and joy in motherhood again.
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