Ah Summer! As I write this I’m in the car getting super excited for our Anniversary weekend trip to the beach! No kids for 2.5 days. It’s been a while since we gotten away by ourselves and we are very much looking forward to some relaxation.
It’s been a wonderful Summer so far full of pool days, family trips, beach fun, new members in our church small group, and all of the wild and crazy that comes with being a boy mom.
I feel like I’m finally at that place where I can occasionally sit down in a chair and relax for a few seconds. It’s really nice to feel like my brain has a little bit more space to focus sometimes.
I love to learn and sometimes when you’re a business owner juggling a lot of things, it can be difficult to make the time to learn. Enter Podcasts. There are so many that I love. So many!
I listen mostly in the car or if I have the chance to go on a solo leisure walk (I’m such a multi-tasker I combine my walk and learn time). I’ve learned so much in those 30 minute increments.
BUT. I have missed reading so much. I have the best intentions. I have a stack of books by my bed and I love nothing more than turning pages (I still prefer a paper newspaper), but it just doesn’t happen much outside of my daily Bible study time.
One day it dawned on me that Audible would combine my love for reading and my ability to listen! Since I signed up last year I usually listen to anywhere from 1 to 3 books per months and it’s just so awesome.
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 the parenting area and a few notes on each.
- 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.
- Girl Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis While not specifically a parenting book, I love that this book speaks to women about the really hard stuff and includes a whole lot of motherhood, female leadership and entrepreneurship, friendship, and faith. It’s a must listen. Rachel is the BEST narrator! Rachel isn’t afraid to go there, wherever there is. My favorite chapters are about her struggle to “be like” the other moms and embracing her unique qualities while recognizing the same in others.
- 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.
- 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 would LOVE to hear your recommendations now that you’ve read my list. Email me back and let me know your favorites! We’re all in this together and I sure do have a lot to learn!
Blessings, Emily