Loving the Little Years: Motherhood in the Trenches - Grace Based Christian Parenting

This book did such a great job of providing sleep-deprived moms some much needed clarity and perspective. With two babies under two years old, I was feeling pretty tired and grumpy. Rachel Jankovic mothers four kids under four and does it with patience. This was a great read!Update: In reflecting on reading this book, I see how God used it as a catalyst to show me there is another way to live. I was desperate for some help, for some relief from parenting two kids under two. I felt suffocated and barely able to manage my attitude. As I read this book, my heart began to soften and I realized I didn't have to parent on my own. I started to see that there was a God who would lovingly and gently walk alongside me. I wasn't a believer in Jesus Christ as my Savior at the point of reading this book. But after reading, I began going to churches in my area. I found that the worship songs crushed me...I sang and wept and knew there was more. In reflection, I know it was the Holy Spirit drawing me near. This was all such an incredibly strange time because I was walking it alone, trying to understand who God is and how to have a relationship with Him. During that time, God placed more people in my life to point me to Him. Then he opened up all the doors for our family to make a temporary move to Anchorage, Alaska. At that point, he started to draw my husband into searching for and learning about who God is. Six years later, God has been incredibly faithful to continue to draw my husband, two girls, and me nearer and nearer to Him. As we read the Bible and pray and build relationships with people who know and love God, we find ourselves desiring to know Him more and to grow closer to Him. What an incredible blessing this book has been to me and my family.

I have read this book several times for encouragement. I've also bought two copies: I've given both away to encourage other moms and now and looking to buy a third copy. The author practically approached raising little ones with a lifelong relationship with Christ as the end goal. I have 4 little ones under 8 and find myself struggling day to day with my own attitude and heart. This book helped me look at myself first and then at helping my precious ones, who are not so precious at times (okay, a lot of times) during a given day.I loved her approach for dealing with fights over toys and the like; we modified it for our family and we see some headway (little by little). When my kids fight over a toy, we address their attitudes to each other first and then the toy. A lot of times, the toy is either forgotten or they find a way to share. This alone, has been one of the biggest helps from the book. It is encouraging to see them "get it" - they feel contrite and want to make it up to their sibling. We still have plenty of arguments and disagreements, but my husband and I continue to insist that their relationship with each other is more important than whatever thing they fancy right then. I think that also cuts down on the fighting for our benefit or attention, because they know we are going to say they need to fix it with each other themselves (unless it's big and we need to step in to help solve it).For me, I needed to be reminded about being fruitful. That is one of the reasons I went looking for my copy, only to remember I had given it away. The author uses the illustration of a fruit tree overloaded with fruit on the branches and some have fallen to the ground. She says something like, bearing fruit doesn't mean that each fruit is destined for greatness, but some pieces are not for any specific purpose other than "being fruitful". It is okay spend time and energy on something that may not serve some great purpose, but is enjoyable. I think she mentioned baking or sewing. I needed to hear that. Coming from working outside the home with productivity being quantified to the nth degree, I needed to hear, it's okay to do something that's not huge in the scheme of things.I say all of that to say, I have been encouraged greatly by this book and I continue to come back to it because is simple and practical. I have told many of my friends and other moms about this book too. It's definitely worth your time to read (and it's a quick read too)! Enjoy!

This book has changed my home since I began to read it a few days ago. I've finished it now and my two toddler boys and I have so much more pleasure in our daily routines. I'm handing it off to my husband next so he can join the party. Thank you, Rachel, for your God-given insight. This book is incredibly concise and practical. The focus is on the parent leading with authority and grace. I will read it again (more than once, I'm sure).

lots of little nuggets and ideas to use, and very short chapters so i could read them when i had a few minutes spare. Also inspiring without leaving you feel like you have to be super-mum just to be acceptable.

This book isn't too deep and the chapters are short but that is exactly what you want if you are in the throes of mothering a few babies/toddlers. It's more a book of encouragements and empathies and it helps you look at your situation from a distance and smile at it and appreciate it. The author has a wonderful ability to look on the bright side of everything and see the good in all situations and helps the reader to do the same. A great read for a mother of more than one child, especially if they are little. Would also make a lovely gift for such a person.

I've read this book twice now and have been so grateful each time. It is wonderful at nailing down sin in my life and in the kids' and then pointing to practical remedies to avoid them recurring ALL while keeping things in light of the Gospel. When I first read this book I was really struggling with the daily dying to self that motherhood demands. Now, by God's grace, I am able to rejoice in it.

Loved it, lots of parenting wisdom to consider from each short chapter, tips and tricks that I’ve already started to use with my little ones, and funny stories that had me laughing out loud!

Not quite my cup of tea. Very personal, with some helpful thoughts, but I would have loved those thoughts to have been backed up by the bible. I'm also not sure that I found many of the analogies helpful.