Parenting can be hard, and with findings from a recent Pew Research Center study indicating that social media is broadly viewed as a parenting resource, mothers and fathers have more (often conflicting) information than ever to wade through. Four books coming from religion publishers aim to assuage stressed-out parents by cutting through the confusing maze of Instagram like-bait family photos and unreliable advice available online—not to mention long-lasting child-rearing myths.
At Zondervan, Karen Ehman, the bestselling author of Keep It Shut, has teamed up with blogger Ruth Schwenk on Hoodwinked: Ten Myths Moms Believe & Why We All Need to Knock It Off (Nov.). The authors share their mothering adventures while replacing “subtle twistings of the truth" with Bible passages about motherhood. A six-session video Bible study for groups or an individual is also available.
Coming in December, The Supermom Myth by Becky Kopitzke (Shiloh Run, Dec. 1) addresses today’s Pinterest-perfect culture and the pressure on mothers to measure up. Kopitzke encourages readers to become the moms God created them to be by letting go of guilt, worry, and anger. PW’s review of the book reads: “Popular parenting blogger Kopitzke takes on the challenge of reassuring Christian moms that they aren’t crazy, motherhood really is difficult, and help is on the way.”
Offering a more motivational approach to parenting, Hope Unfolding: Grace-Filled Truth for the Momma's Heart by Becky Thompson (Waterbrook Press, March 15, 2016) helps readers gain faith that tomorrow could be different through hope and purpose. Thompson, who is well known in the blogosphere under the name Scissortail SILK, takes on the role of a friend in the book, addressing motherhood worries including, "Is it ever going to get easier?"
Sandra Drescher-Lehman’s Meditations for New Moms: Reflections, Scripture, and Wisdom for Mommy's First Year (Good Books, April 5, 2016) is an inspirational title intended to comfort new mothers. Each meditation features a short passage from the Bible and a prayer, along with an idea or exercise for readers ranging from the exhilarated to the exhausted.
