Loving the Little Years: Motherhood in the Trenches (book review)

My cousin Lynsay mailed me a copy of Loving the Little Years: Motherhood in the Trenches last week, and I got the opportunity to read it yesterday. It’s a short little read that is packed with wisdom, encouragement, and some fantastic tips and techniques for dealing with little children.

Please get a copy of this book if you can. Author Rachel Jankovic is the mother (at the time of publishing) of five children under five, with three in diapers, and including a set of twins. I think she has six cute kiddies now, and this girl is with it, if you know what I mean, ya’ll. 🙂

From the last chapter…I think you will see why I loved the book so much (and why I want her latest book!!):

“Everyone to whom God has given wealth, and possessions, and the power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil–this is the gift of God. For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.” -Ecclesiastes 5:19

Blessings, like children, are not ethereal and weightless. Sometimes they feel like they come at you like a Kansas hail storm–they might leave a welt! But if you accept your lot and rejoice in your toil, God will give you the kind of overwhelming joy that cannot remember the details. Motherhood is hard work. It is repetitive and often times menial. Accept it. Rejoice in it. This is your toil. Right here. Those are their faces. Enjoy things like this. But joy is not giddy. It is not an emotional rush–it is what happens when you accept your lot and rejoice in your toil. So rejoice in your children. Look them in the eyes and give thanks. You will not even remember the work of all this planting when the harvest of joy overwhelms you.” -pg. 102