Are you a reader? I LOVE reading. It’s always been one of my favorite things to do. I love getting lost in a novel, the inspiration of literature and learning. I love learning.
But. I’m a mom and my nighttime reading turns into sleepy time really fast. Like one page in. Honestly, my pile of bedside books just keeps growing.
About a year ago I discovered Audible and it’s the answer to all my problems. While I still love to turn pages, I’m so thankful for the option of listening. My car time is now filled with books, my leisure walks include learning too! It’s wonderful. Cooking dinner? Alexa reads to me!
Since I’ve been able to “read” so many more books lately I thought I would share a few of my new favorites for women. Some are parenting focused, some aren’t.
If you’re like me then you love narration and I love nothing more than a book read by its own author.
Generally I like to listen to a parenting book, a faith based book and a business or inspirational book simultaneously and depending upon my mood.
In no particular order, here are my favorites from the past few months specific to women and moms.
- Parenting: 14 Gospel Truths That Can Radically Change Your Parenting by Paul David Tripp. This book is mind blowing. It’s one that I think I need to listen to over and over again until my children graduate from college. So much wisdom and perspective. What stands out to me the most is his emphasis on how much of our parenting generally revolves around our children changing their behavior for our own convenience verses heart change.
- Raising Grateful Kids In An Entitled World by Kristen Welch. I’m not sure about you, but my kids seem to grow a little more entitled every single day. Their desires and sense of ownership over just about everything feels overwhelming at times. Kristen does a great job at breaking this down. Each chapter ends with age appropriate practical recommendations. Her balance of grace and discipline is just lovely. I’m currently listening to the next book called “Raising World Changers In A Changing World”.
- Triggers: Exchanging Parents’ Angry Reactions For Gentle Biblical Responses. Do you have buttons? I do. I never dreamed that my sweet babies could make me turn into a raging lunatic with a look or blatant defiance. Authors Amber Lia and Wendy Speake narrate the book that they wrote together. I love that they are boy moms and that their children range in age quite a bit. They are honest, raw and real about figuring out our OWN natural tendencies and then figuring out how to navigate our parenting to point our children toward Christ rather than losing our minds after our children’s offenses. The follow up book is called “Parenting Scripts: What to Say When What You’re Saying Isn’t Working”. It’s super practical and helpful for putting into practice.
- Everybody Always by Bob Goff. This book is not specific to parenting, but it sure has helped me embrace the love of God as I’ve approached my children over the past few weeks. Bob is such an interesting person and the stories in his newest book are challenging and beautiful. It’s really hard to live out our calling to love Everybody Always, but Bob does a great job pursuing Jesus as he teaches about love. The focus is never on himself, but instead his journey to look a little bit more like Christ in his love for others each day. I recently listened to Bob’s first book called “Love Does” and it propelled me forward in a few areas where I’ve been sitting. Bob’s wife Maria also wrote a wonderful book about her life and raising her family called “Love Lives Here” and I adored it too!
- Believe Bigger by Marshawn Daniels Evans. Marshawn’s story is amazing and her drive to help propel women forward in both finding and implementing their God Given Purpose has inspired me and many of my friends as I’ve given out a total of 7 of these books so far. It’s about resilience, reclaiming your life, and how God uses rejection, hardship and circumstance to awaken us and move us forward, IF we’re willing to embrace disruption. Her purpose map is really useful in those seasons with more questions than answers.
I would LOVE to hear your recommendations now that you’ve read my list. Message us or email us your favorites!!!