Our Favorite Books as a Couple (none of which are about marriage)

Posted on April 19, 2013 by Carmen

Well, I’m getting old. Josiah and I have been married 5 years, today. I’m so thankful to be married to this guy! In honor of our anniversary, I thought I’d share some of the books we’ve read together. And no, they are not marriage books.

Currently we are reading Little House on the Prairie. We just finished the Little House in the Big Woods.

Before that, we read through C.S. Lewis’s entire Chronicles of Narnia – The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, The Magician’s Nephew, etc.

We also LOVE Roald Dahl, but I’m not sure exactly which ones we’ve read together. I know we’ve done Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The BFG, and James and the Giant Peach.

I’m glad Josiah doesn’t think reading aloud is just for kids.

Parenting Book Review: Wild Things

Posted on February 28, 2013 by Carmen

Parenting Book Review

“Boyhood is a most complex and incomprehensible thing. Even when one has been through it, one does not understand what it was. A man can never quite understand a boy, even when he has been the boy.” – G. K. Chesterton

Wild Things: The Art of Nurturing Boys, by Stephen James and David Thomas, is perhaps the best parenting book I’ve read in awhile. I had “borrowed” it on my Kindle through Amazon Prime’s Lending Library, but after reading it, I decided to permanently add it to my collection. I want to have it on-hand as I parent David and whatever other children God gives us.

General observations:

This book is readable and well-organized- not too technical
The authors write graciously. They don’t place unreasonable expectations on parents
I’ve read plenty of parenting books and I was pleased that this book doesn’t just re-hash things I’ve read elsewhere

Reasons I found this book to be helpful:

Stage-by-stage sections on boys’ development – what to generally expect and some parenting strategies. I particularly found this helpful as a mother, since I am sometimes at a loss for understanding the male world!
Practical suggestions or ideas of what other parents have done. Here are several examples:
- “Race time” – Encourage young boys to run laps around the house when they seem rambunctious, sometimes backwards or sometimes with obstacles
- Invite a son do a chore with you instead of a time-out: help channel their energy instead of confining them (but time-outs can sometimes be effective!)
- Post a picture chart for daily routines to help keep young boys focused
- Join with other families who have boys the same age to do things such as service projects
The authors addressed difficult issues – such as the use of pornography – and gave suggestions for how to parent well in those situations
Recommended resources I can turn to for more suggestions. Parenting with Love and Logic, What Stories Does My Son Need?, and The Best Old Movies for Families are just a few of the resources mentioned

Something I would change about this book:

Include more on the faith development of boys

What about you? Have you read this book? Have you read other books specifically for parents of boys?

3 Books for My Preggo Friends

Posted on January 16, 2013 by Carmen

: nathansnostalgia / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-ND

I currently have multiple special people in my life who are expecting, so I’m thinking a lot about pregnancy and babies, and remembering my time of carrying David. Here are three books that I turned to frequently during my pregnancy with David:

1. Birthed in Prayer: Pregnancy as a Spiritual Journey by Barker, Meillon, and Harrison

I do not know how I came across this book, but I’m glad I did. It seems like most pregnancy related books focus on the physical health of the mother and child, and, while that is important, there is so much more to pregnancy than just growing another body inside your body. The authors focus on the spiritual/emotional part of pregnancy – and using Scripture, reflection, and prayer to prepare yourself. Some chapter titles include: “Releasing the Way Things Were,” “Facing Fear,” and “Encountering God.” I love how the authors included other women’s stories, Scripture, and reflection questions.

2. A Child Is Born by Nilsson and Hamberger

This book is for the visually-inclined: a picture-journey from fertilization to birth. I love it. The book shows a glimpse of what God must see! I plan on using it when I talk to David about what babies are like when they’re inside the womb. I may have even used it with our foster girls when I was pregnant with David. I can’t remember. Thanks to the Metzlers for this recommendation!

3.Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn (4th Edition): The Complete Guide

The title basically tells you what this is: a guide through pregnancy, childbirth and newborn care. Although I love the websites for gleaning information, there is something about having all the information in one place. This book helped me as a first-time mama to understand pregnancy-related vocabulary and things like what to expect. I’m sure there are comparable books out there, but I personally found this one helpful. Check it out if you need a start.