Book Review: Confident Parenting by Jim Burns

The summer days have allowed for some of my favorite activity...curling up in the hammock with a good book. The peace and quiet and beauty of nature just relax me every time. I'm finishing books faster than I can blog them so maybe I'll catch up today.

I picked up Confident Parenting by Jim Burns at Ollies...oh, how I love cheap books at Ollies! My overall opinion of the book was that it was good. A lot of what was said I have heard before but some if it is always worth a repeat.

Before I get into the nuggets I liked I have to make the point that I disagree with the author on his take of generational sin. I do not believe in generational sin. I do however agree with inheriting sin-tendencies. If you come from a family of alcoholics there is a risk associated with that family legacy. I do not believe in punishment for the previous generations sin. I believe Christ died for our sin and cleared the slate of previous sin from previous generations.

That said, here are my nuggets:

• Parenting takes perseverance, endurance, and intentionality.
• Caring for your family is your highest calling on earth. This is huge for someone like me who struggles with pleasing the demands of everyone around me. I have been called to a season of raising kids for God, of schooling them and being home. This means I can't be "in ministry" and running all over. The reminder that this is my high calling was needed.
• Implement a Sabbath: a lot spoke to me here...again...because I didn't do it the first time I learned it!
• The lesson of the Sabbath is to ruthlessly find a rhythm in your life to rest and restore your soul, and the soul of your family.
• Have the courage to go against the grain of the culture and find time for replenishment.
• We tend to neglect our own need for solitude and replenishing relationships, then we wonder why we are so burnt out.
• When couples are overcommitted, they become unconnected.
• When it comes to the climate of our homes, we set the emotional thermostat. (hmmmm, two books in a row with that message??)
• Our goal as parents is to create a grace-filled home where love and grace reign but discipline is unswerving.
• Begin with the end in mind. This was huge for Drew & I when we had Abby. Setting character goals up front has helped us make decisions along the way.

The book is set up with questions at the end of each chapter to help you analyze and implement what you learned. One of the action steps I really liked is that the author and his wife get together every 6 months to discuss each child and where they are at and what they need to work on to reach their goals. Our best friends do this yearly and I think it is so wise and intentional.

So, my goals are:

1. A more consistent Sabbath rest

2. Make more time for replenishing relationships/activities to avoid burn out. Especially during the long months of a homeschooling winter!

3. Make time with Drew to analyze were the girls are at, what we need to work on, and see how far they have come.

And you?