M Is for Mama
A Rebellion Against Mediocre Motherhood
Reviewed By: Ashley Davis
M Is for Mama, not mediocre. If you’re tired of the narrative that we mamas are just making it through to the next naptime, glass of wine, cup of coffee, or night out, you’ve gotta read this book by Bible-believing mama, Abbie Halberstadt.
If you know me “in real life,” you likely know that I am not a fan of motherhood and parenting books. That’s because I got sold a crock of falsehood in my early motherhood about what parenting should look like, and I bit that bait hook, line, and sinker. Took me some TIME to unlearn and resituate after that. Needless to say, I am a skeptic. I don’t like to feel like someone is saying should, should, should all over my motherhood. This is the hardest job I’ve done yet, and I expect it to stay in the top three of my lifetime. So to feel like I’m being told that I’m doing a crummy job, does not make me feel good – especially when I’m trying stinkin’ hard! Also, I’m not interested in a culturally influenced mom’s stream of consciousness blog post pretending to be a book; don’t waste my time. M Is for Mama did not should (unfoundedly) on my motherhood, and it certainly did not waste my time.
This book covers a super wide variety of topics from a mom of ten – yeah, ten. Some of the topics covered in the book are mediocre motherhood (of course), following Jesus, soul care, mom guilt, gentleness, child-training, boot camp parenting, cultivating a peaceful home, being the gatekeepers, the birds and the bees, and the truth that emotions are not facts – and that’s not all the topics. Ya just need to read it. This is one of those books that doesn’t have a building block style flow (kind of like Guilt Free Motherhood that we reviewed back in early summer does). This book touches on the most prevalent and pivotal topics to mothers in this unique internet, social media age. Abbie cuts to the heart of these issues and doesn’t cushion her words in excuses or justifications for mediocrity, yet I still didn’t feel discouraged or that I had experienced a personal beat down by the end of the book.
At the conclusion of each chapter, there is a section that gives a description of what mediocre motherhood does and conversely what Biblical motherhood does. The conclusion also has action steps, questions, and a prayer.
Here are some quotes I liked from M Is for Mama:
“Just like he did with the loaves and the fishes, Jesus is faithful to multiply our efforts so that time spent with him is never ‘wasted’ and often amplifies any efforts that follow” (63).
“If you already are a mother, then no other profession you can claim during your primary season of mothering can trump that of your job as a mama” (91).
“If we do not first choose discipline for ourselves, we cannot expect to instill such a character trait in little people whose impulse control is spotty at best and whose emotions dangle on the gossamer thread of a missed nap” (102).
“Mediocrity is stagnant. But excellence requires us to keep growing and evolving in Christlikeness, even if it doesn't look just like what our neighbors do” 179.
“The Bible makes it clear we are to cling to Jesus in our devastation. And it is difficult to do that when we are being given constant permission to despair and complain by our peers and those we "follow" in the social media world” (226).
