I rarely do reviews and giveaways anymore. But when I got an email asking if I wanted to get a copy of Crystal Paine’s new book, Love-Centered Parenting as well as offer a copy as a giveaway plus a $10 Amazon giftcard, I immediately responded that I would love to read it and share it.
I’ll share about the book in this post, but you can enter the giveaway only on Thursday! Go enter now!
Throughout the post, I will share some quotes that I liked from the Introduction and first chapter of Love-Centered Parenting.
“I’ve stopped second-guessing myself so much and started focusing on leaning in and loving. I’ve quit worrying constantly about my own reputation or what others will think and am resting and relying on God’s still, small Voice of Truth to give me wisdom for the next step.” — Crystal Paine
I have only read the introduction and chapter 1 of the book. It is written in a very engaging style that is easy to read. It also made me, as a parent, think about how I parent. Crystal starts off the book sharing how she wanted to be a parent who loved the Lord and bring up her children to love the Lord. This is what I want to do as well. However, she learned through some hard situations that happened with one of her children that she had to relearn how to parent. In the book, she shares her story of “letting go of control and manipulation and parenting for my reputation and relearning to parent from a place of love and grace.”
I had to think: In my parenting, am I more concerned about what others think of my parenting skills then of my child? Even if I don’t think I am, is that how it comes across to my children? As a pastor’s wife, I could see how my children might think this. Do my kids know that I love them — for real?
“I’m loving my kids and husband from a place of grace and a space of rest instead of a place of guilt and a space of stress.” –Crystal Paine
I have to admit, that parenting gets easier and harder. Some days it is easier as the kids get older, and some days it is harder. My oldest — oh my. She was so strong-willed as she was little (she still is), but now that she is in college and getting some independence, I see someone who is following the Lord’s leading in her life and her desire to be used by God. It is such an encouragement after literally what seemed like years of having to be tough and consistent. So, I haven’t read this book — but I’m sure it doesn’t advocate permissiveness to show children that you love them. In our training and discipline, our kids should know first of all that we love them, and that when we have to discipline them, we are only doing the discipline because we love them and not because we want people to think highly of us.
“I don’t need to rely on my good works or good decisions for my security. Jesus is enough. He loves me. I can rest in that.” –Crystal Paine
Every child is so different. I’m still in the trenches with my 10 year old and 12 year old. I am looking forward to reading this book to see how I can be a better mom — for the sake of my kids. But when I say “better mom,” that isn’t to be taken as a competition or a pressure phrase. It’s meant to be a phrase that is freeing. How can I parent in a way where I demonstrate Christ’s love to my kids? How can I better show love to my children? I think that is what we will learn as we read this book.
Every summer, the moms in our church read a parenting book together. I think this will be our book for next summer. (I already have one for this summer.) In this book, Crystal does share her faith, verses that helped her in her journey as a mom. Each chapter ends with two transforming truths for Love-Centered Parenting. For example, one of the transforming truths after chapter 1 is:
“I can’t be a love-centered parent until I allow myself to be parented by a love-center Father God.” –Crystal Paine
Crystal admits that this book is written more for parents of younger children as she hasn’t completely raised her kids yet. However, I think that every parent — especially parents of teenagers — needs to remember that our kids must know that we love them. Teenagers feel so insecure and want to be accepted. If they know mom and dad love them unconditionally, this fact will keep them from making many foolish choices.
You can buy this book today!! Go HERE to order the book or go HERE to read more about what Crystal says about her book (and you can also take part in her virtual launch party and maybe win a $100 gift card!)
Due to lack of interest, I have stopped doing a link-up on the Thoughtful Thursday posts.
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