Book Review: The Christian Mom's Idea Book {Crossway}

The Christian Mom's Idea Book by Ellen Banks Elwell
ISBN: 978-1581349504
Paperback, 272 pages
Publisher: Crossway
Retail: $14.99

About the book (from the back cover):

You can make the most of motherhood with this resourceful book. It's jam-packed with 500 ideas gathered from more than 80 mothers just like you: mothers of preschoolers, high schoolers, and every age in between. Mothers with one child. Mothers with a houseful of children. Mothers with adopted children. But most of all, mothers with a great desire to raise godly kids-and have fun at it too!

You'll get fantastic suggestions for fulfilling the all-important role God has given you, including:

• throwing a great birthday party
• handling doctor's visits
• planning alone time & getaways
• disciplining
• practicing hospitality
• babysitting
• successfully surviving car trips
• dealing with toddlers
• teaching music lessons
• menu planning & grocery shopping
• keeping your marriage alive
• spiritual nurturing

… and so much more in nearly 40 categories. Here is everything you need to provide a safe, nurturing environment for your family-and to make your home a wonderful place to be.

About the author:

Ellen Banks Elwell is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute and the American Conservatory of Music. She and her husband, Jim, live in Wheaton, Illinois, and have three grown sons and one daughter-in-law. Elwell has authored several books for women, including One Year Devotions for Moms and When There's Not Enough of Me to Go Around.

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My thoughts:

I like this book. It is quite simple and laid out in a methodical way. If you check the book at Amazon, {<that is an affiliate link} you can see how it is organized through the table of contents. It is a two-part book.

The first part of the book, "Connecting with the Bible," is made up of the acrostic "MOTHERHOOD". Each letter has with it a short commentary by the author as well as some words from other individuals and what I appreciated more, Scripture. The acrostic is connected with Proverbs 31:10-31, as well as other verses.

Part two is "Connecting with Other Moms". This portion of the book, the remainder of the book, brings in advice and tips from 80 or so mothers. It is organized alphabetically. Elwell says in the intro to this section:

Just as we cannot eat every item at a buffet, neither can we attempt (or even think of attempting) every idea in the following sections. Also, this book is not intended to make a mom feel guilty; it's meant to be a helpful resource. (pg. 31)

I found quite a few good reminders and tips in this book. It will be one that I go back to again and again, I think. There were a few sections, specifically the "Education" and "Baby-sitters," that don't really pertain to our situation any longer. But I like the sections titled "Daughters" and "Sons" because I have one of each! It's always good to get different ideas and helpful tips from moms who have been-there-done-that. 

Much more could be written, I feel, in each and every one of the categories of section two. I don't think it would be too much effort on an author's part to make a volume two of this idea book.

**Disclaimer: I received this book for free from Crossway for the purpose of this review. No compensation was given. All opinions are my own. See Disclosure/Policies.**