Welcome to our parenting bookshelf
a curated collection of wisdom, guidance, and inspiration for the incredible journey of parenthood.
Parenting presents its fair share of challenges! While our love for our children knows no bounds, the journey of understanding and meeting their evolving wants and needs can often feel like a daunting task. To offer a guiding hand through this adventure, we reached out to fellow parents from the Northgate community to share their go-to parenting books and the invaluable insights they've gained. Here, we present their curated list of recommendations, enriched with the wisdom they've gathered along the way.
Whether you're embarking on this adventure for the first time or navigating the ever-evolving terrain of raising children, this post is a collection of literary recommendations, from the Parents of Northgate, to guide you on your journey.
Book Title: Risen Motherhood: Gospel Hope for Everyday Moments
Author: Emily Jenson & Laura Wifler
Recommended by: Kaitlyn Pfeiffer
How did you hear about this book? I heard about this book while listening to the Risen Motherhood podcast. Over the years I've had a few good friends send me an episode here and there, but I was never a podcast person. Over the last two years I've become a more regular listener to Risen Motherhood which led me to listen to the audiobook.
What do you love about this book? I love how the book connects the Gospel to the moments in motherhood that feel mundane. From discipline to body image, from schooling choices to traditions, the connection between our lives and important work as Moms are discussed. I feel like I better understood the steps of the Gospel (Creation, Fall, Redemption, Consummation) so much better through this book as well.
What is a takeaway from this book that you carry with you in life? Not only the Gospel story being spoken to me again, but also the beautiful and abundant grace that God gives us in this parenting journey. There is so much advice out there that sometimes it is just refreshing to step back, take a birds eye view and then consider what matters, even in those seemingly small moments.
Book Title: The Mothers and Daughters of the Bible Speak: Lessons on Faith from Nine Biblical Families
Author: Shannon Bream
Recommended by: Elizabeth Frias
How did you hear about this book? I was shopping at Target one day and this book was in a row facing the hall right in front of the toy section. It caught my attention so I decided to purchase it.
What did you love about this book? It is that it is based on women in the bible. The book is about mothers, daughters of the bible that resemble my life in the struggles, broken women just like me, but also encourage me that even through all of that God will see us through that he will guide us and we can trust him to fight for us and always win the victory.
Book Title: Praying Circles Around Your Children
Author: Mark Batterson
Recommended by: Mandy Le
How did you hear about this book? Hmm...I don't remember!
What do you love about this book? I love that it is short and straight to the point!
What is a takeaway from this book that you carry with you in life? The book talks about physically walking in circles as you pray. I now walk in circles around my kid's rooms and my house. I imagine my spoken out loud prayers become invisible shields that protect their space. I imagine my words of prayer that are spoken over my children become invisible swirls that surround them and go with them everywhere. Powerful!
Book Title: Mama Bear Apologetics
Author:
Recommended by: Jackie Cederwall
How did you hear about this book? I heard about it from a friend who was reading it.
What do you love about this book? I love that the book talks about how important a mom's role is and how the authors give practical tooks to help guide your kids with basic Biblical truths.
What is a takeaway from this book that you carry with you in life? I became more aware o the ways that the world will deceive my kids and how to talk to them about it. Not only that, but there is a community of Mama Bears learning and growing with me!
Book Title: The Power of a Praying Parent
Author: Stormie Omartian
Recommended by: Mandy Le
How did you hear about this book? I actually found The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie first. God placed that book into my Amazon recommendations at the perfect time!
What do you love about this book? I love that every day Stormie leads you in a prayer. The prayer is very specific and focuses on different topics that I have never thought to pray about. Before this books I prayed for my kids, but through this book I really prayed over things I've never even thought about praying for.
What is a takeaway from this book that you will carry with you in life? Pray always! If I am finding myself stuck in a cycle of general prayer and cannot think of what specifically to pray for, I can pick up a book from Stormie and get prompts. Prayer is so powerful. I've seen it.
Book Title: What to Expect the First Year
Author: Heidi Murkoff
Recommended by: Megan Freedman
How did you hear about this book? When my children were little, I would receive weekly pamphlets contained milestones that they should be meeting. I don't remember where they came from.
What do you love about this book? This book is very similar to the pieces of literature I received during the first you of life with my children.
What is a takeaway from this book that you carry with you in life? Now that I have grandchildren, I find myself reading this book to see if my grandbabies are growing in the ways they need to grow. It also helps my family understand where their minds are at in development and helps us understand what they understand.
Book Titles & Authors: Grace Based Parenting by Dr Tim Kimmel and Shepherding a Child’s Heart by Tedd Tripp
Recommended by: Trish Alava
What did you love about this book? My children are older now, but praise be to God that they love the Lord personally and serve him faithfully. These are the foundational books that helped guide my way through parenting and I've given as gifts to parents and Kid's Church volunteers.
Podcast Title: The Risen Motherhood Podcast
Hosted by: Emily Jensen and Laura Wifler
Recommended by: Astrid Chauvin
How did you hear about this podcast? Through my women's bible study/life group.
What do you love about this podcast? I love that the hosts meet you in grace and that everything points back to scripture.
What is a takeaway from the podcast that you carry with you in life? Every episode leaves me with good biblical wisdom. It helps me get my heart right so that I can be the parent my girls need.
