Parenting Is Your Highest Calling: And 8 Other Myths That Trap Us in Worry and Guilt

This is by far the best parenting book I've ever read--and believe me, I've read more than my share! If you are someone who gets caught in the anxiety/guilt cycle of constantly questioning whether or not you are making the right (or perfect!) decisions for your children, this book is for you. I'll let it speak for itself: "We want so badly to get it all right--our marriages, our parenting, our family dynamics. We want to meet all the requirements of a good Christian family. But God takes every hour of our home life, as well as every hour outside of it, and he uses the mistakes, the flaws, the pain as much, if not more, than he uses the good" (from Chapter 9, pg. 203). This quote epitomizes much of what I love about the book--it keeps pointing back to God, and to God's authority in our lives. While in no way abdicating parents of their responsibilies, the book releases them from the perfectionism that can steal the joy from parenting. It reminds parents that we are, in fact, not God, but fallible human beings who will mess up sometimes--even when we're trying so hard to do our best. How freeing to know that we can trust God to be God, and to use even our mistakes to His good purpose! For the perfectionist who gets paralyzed with all the "what ifs" and "if onlys" of parenting, this message is good news, indeed. I have a master's degree in pastoral care and counseling, so I am always reading books like this with an eye to their underlying theology. Having said that, I truly feel that the Biblical work in this book is excellent and spot on. Ms. Fields clearly has done her homework, and is neither legalistic nor sloppy in her interpretation of Biblical texts. As a parent, I felt the gospel coming through loud and clear on every page. Do yourself a favor and buy this book. You won't regret it.

Leslie has written a book that encourages me. I totally agree with Ken Canfield in the recommendations, who says "Chapter 8 [Myth 8: Successful Parents Produce Godly Children] is worth the price of the book alone. I heartily recommend it." Things that struck me: "...Yet not many of us have examined our own parenting assumptions and expectations, holding them up to the unsparing light of the Scriptures. In the absence of biblical truth, we quietly absorb the 'truths' our culture offers us: Children are here for our happiness. We're born with a natural instinct to love sacrifically. And if we simply devote ourselves to our parenting, our children will turn out as we want." "...This book is not a manual to change your child: it is a deep gaze into the parenting heart of God our Father." As a longtime homeschooling mom and member of moms' groups and a local church, I've seen it over and over. Parents often give sacrificially, and this sometimes happens (quote from Pastor Bradley): "...I have heard from too many parents who feel like failures and they are especially baffled as they list all that they did or didn't do: no TV, no videos, no video games, no dating, no bad music, no youth group, no institutional church, no neighborhood friends; they homeschooled, dressed modestly, groomed conservatively, memorized Scriptures, and baked their own bread. They were intensely dedicated to rearing their children for God, but their trust was not really in God alone -- it was in what they did for God." Thank you for this book, Leslie, and being so transparent!!

Where was this book when my children were growing up... A very wise woman once shared with me the phrase she often used with her children: "This is my first time experiencing this--just like it is yours. I don't have a tried and true method for parenting you, but through God we will both survive." What wonderful advice. Children do not come with instruction manuals. Neither do parents come with the wisdom to know how to handle every situation. Leslie Leyland Fields writes from experience. She looks closely at the nine myths of parenting: 1. Having Children Makes You Happy and Fulfilled. 2. Nurturing Your Children Is Natural 3. Parenting Is your Highest Calling 4. Good Parenting Leads to Happy Children 5. If You Find Parenting Difficult, You Must Not Be Following the Right Plan 6. You Represent Jesus to Your Children 7. You Will Always Feel Unconditional love for Your Children 8. Successful Parents Produce Godly Children 9. God Approves of Only One Family Design Where was this book when my children were growing up? I felt so inadequate. They are now grown and still, at times, I wonder if I let them down. Fields writes in a simple, easy-to-understand style. There are questions for discussion and reflection. Parenting Is Your Highest Calling would make a great small group study.

This is the first parenting book I have read in a while. Quite often they include theories and expectations that I feel are unattainable or inappropriate for me and my family's situation, but this book is different. I really appreciate how Leslie infuses her writing with Scripture and biblical illustrations as well as drawing from other sources when appropriate. I heartily recommend this encouraging book!

Are there any of us as parents who haven't questioned our own abilities and methods? How come the "how to" books don't seem to work for me? Leslie Leyland Fields provides insight into the uniqueness of every parent/child relationship. Be free to be the parent you were designed to be and let your child be the person they were designed to be. This book will help. I strongly recommend this book to all parents. Stop worrying and start parenting with confidence.