Motherhood is such a big responsibility, a calling. The journey is rewarding but also challenging. It requires a lot of love, patience, time and strength . Yes, strength not just in physical aspect but more importantly emotionally and spiritually. At some point a mom will get overwhelmed by all the responsibilities and expectations. If not guided, an overwhelmed mother will result to an angry and unhappy one which will also affect her home.
Desperate: Hope for the Mom who needs to Breathe is a book written by two friends who experienced their own challenges as moms.The book mostly discuss the issues of a stay at home mom but a working mom like me can still very much relate. The frustrations, fears and disappointments of moms are common, whether stay at home or working. The authors, Sarah Mae and Sally shares their own struggles and how they were able to cope with it. Each chapter begins with Sarah Mae writing to Sally and sharing her parenting struggles. Sarah Mae is very relatable. She writes her experiences and makes me feel like we are going thru the same struggles. Sally, on the other hand, is a mentor every mom wishes to have. Shes is caring, inspiring and uplifting. Her words of wisdom came from years of experience taking care of her now adult children. Her experiences led her to the Lord’s path. She is a true testatement that if one totally lifts their lives and their family to God, things will fall into place.
The book talks about the challenges of moms such as dealing with housework, disappointments in disciplining children, handling stress and depression, all in the Christian way. I would not call myself a very religious person but I was able to relate and it even helped me deal with my personal issues as a mom. A personal favorite part of the book is the YOUR TURN portion. It gives a deeper reflection of what was discussed and gives mothers the chance to reflect on their own situations.
Personally, this book has an impact on me. The book came to my life when I’m at my lowest as a mom when my second born baby is very sick. Reading the book, I was able to relate to the feeling of being tired most of the time, being angry, confused, and doubting myself. The book made me realize several things: (1) that I am like just most moms who are expecting myself to be perfect (2) that moms need to find time for themselves and should not feel guilty about it (3) having a family that is centered in the Lord is the most effective parenting formula. The book allowed me to personally reflect on myself and analyze myself as a mom. Thru it, I was able to accept certain realities of my life. I was able to identify the cause of my frustrations and even anger. The realization and acceptance led to a change in my outlook in life, in my faith.
This book I believe should be in every mom’s shelf, especially, moms of young children. When things get too much to handle, one can open this book and feel that she has found friends in Sarah Mae and Sally.
Below are some of my favorite lines from the book
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A happy mom who is secure in herself and at ease in her life is a rare gift that children love and appreciate.
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Determine for yourself what you hope to be the outcome of your family. What legacies do you want to leave for your children?
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I want to be a safe place for my children. I want them to see that my arms are open and I love them no matter what they do.
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We cannot be successful as moms alone, no matter how hard we try. But God with us is more than enough to build a wonderful legacy and influence.
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When all else seems hopeless, and yet I still turn to hope, it brings great honor to God and renders Satan utterly powerless.
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Happy mom is a real gift to her children. When we quiet our souls before Him and close off those outside sounds, we can once again hear His words, and be led by Him in goodness and truth.
- What a mother is called to be: a warrior who will not give up or cease to keep fighting the battle for her children’s souls.