Being a mom in the twenty-first century is tough. The demands and requests made of moms makes balancing their responsibilities a challenging task.

Through 7 Ways to Be a S.M.A.R.T.E.R. Mom, mothers will learn how to work smarter, rather than harder, as they streamline the situations they encounter each day. With this practical resource, author Kasey Johnson teaches mothers how to set and reach their goals and embrace a new approach to the daily demands of being a mother and wife.

A text about returning to the basics of mothering, this inspirational text will challenge women to redefine who they are in the eyes of their children and the world, and bring glory to God for His faithfulness and strength in being a smarter mom.

7 Ways to Be a S.M.A.R.T.E.R Mom by Kasey Johnson begins by guiding the reader to God's grace for a total reliance on Him. By the time they've had adult children, moms everywhere have learned a few things they would have done differently if only they'd had a book of helpful ideas to guide them. Johnson, using God's Word and her experience as an educator and mother to guide her, thoughtfully has composed such a book.

In one of the beginning chapters, she brings us all to the same level ground. "The moment I become self-sufficient, relying on my works or my knowledge, I lose sight of who I am. I'm a mess, saved by grace and happy to admit that I don't have it all figured out," says Johnson. Starting at this point she guides the reader to a plan and purpose; instead of reacting to a crisis situation, she says moms should anticipate it, thus controlling it, not controlling the children caught in the situation.

Learning to anticipate a crisis, according to Johnson, comes down to seven basic strategies: streamline the situation; make a goal; accept reality; resist the call of the distracted life; take a chance; evaluate all processes and procedures; and reserve time for You-renewal. Within separate chapters focusing on these objectives are practical and purposeful guidelines with concrete examples regarding how to accomplish the goal of being a smarter mom while enjoying the journey.

The writer includes work space to allow readers to make their own plans and goals. She leaves space at the end to make sure readers take inventory of their own needs so they can make plans to be healthy and to renew their spirits. "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret" (Psalm 37:7).

This book is well thought out by the writer. It is practical and purposeful, leaving this reader -- though past the child rearing years -- educated and provoked to pass on this good information to the next generation. –

http://www.christianbook.com/ways-to-be-t-e-mom/kasey-johnson/9780834125520/pd/125520

http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product_review

__USERID__

http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/ask_and_answer

Author: Kasey Johnson
Located in: Olathe, KS
Submitted: August 02, 2010

    Tell us a little about yourself.  As a mom to three precius little boys I rarely sit down. I love to write and read about all things mom-related...it's my life! I also lead the worship at our church. My husband and I work with an amazing group of musicians and I love worshiping with my community of believers. I also write a monthly column for Susie magazine (susiemag.com) for teenage girls. I have a Master's degree in Education and have taught for over 10 years in the public school system.

    What was your motivation behind this project?  As an educator I was trained to always have a purpose behind my activities, to plan for how much time each activity would take and how to balance the needs of multiple learning styles and student personalities. When I became a mom, these traits naturally rose to the surface, but I saw many other women and friends literally drowning in all the things that moms have to accomplish each day. I saw these precious women starting to resent their children and their role as mom - I wanted to share the lessons I've learned in hopes of helping other moms apply these strategies to their own situation in a way that helps them. I don't have all the answers, but I believe this book will help moms start to othink about their life and how they can make it even better! :o)

    What do you hope folks will gain from this project?  I hope women (moms and grandmas) find encouragement, hope and a resource to help them plan their life the way THEY want it to look. Sometimes caring for children can get overwhelming and we become so entrenched in our current situation that it's hard to think about improving or tweeking our strategies. This book lets women read, think and plan their life so that their children remain first but women don't lose themselves in motherhood.

    How were you personally impacted by working on this project?  Each time I sat down to type, or woke in the middle of the night with an idea I KNEW it was from the Lord - there was no way I could have come up with all these ideas! I could have never had the energy to carry them out, to live the life I was writing about - without the constant support, power and peacce the Lord provides. He is a faithful God and seeing this vision become a reality has helped me see His faithfulness lived out in a new way in my life.

    Who are your influences, sources of inspiration or favorite authors / artists?  Beth Moore, Kay Arthur, Richard Foster, Oswald Chambers

    Anything else you'd like readers / listeners to know:  Basically, I live in a locker room. I have 3 amazing sons, a fantastic husband and even a cute little boy dog. Part of my job is to keep our house from smelling, looking and sounding like a locker room. This book comes after I learned the hard way what it means to truly live a balanced life, to put my boys first without losing myself and how to cherish each moment I'm given with my kids. Writing this book, keeping up with my blog and speaking to mom's groups keeps me challenged and honest. I don't have all the answers, but I figured I could share some of the lessons I've learned. I want to help other mothers (and grandmothers) find useful tips, encouragment and community. We're all in this together and we need each other! I hope everyone enjoys it! Visit my blog and get to know me more! (smartermoms.wordpress.com)

• Books >> Marriage Parenting & Homelife >> Parenting >> Family
• Books >> Marriage Parenting & Homelife >> Parenting >> Motherhood
• Books >> Personal Growth >> Women's Issues >> Family >> Motherhood
• Start A New Christianbook.com Search