Customer Reviews

Authentic Parenting in a Postmodern Culture: Practical Help for Shaping Your Children's Hearts, Minds, and Souls

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Mary DeMuth offers honest sharing about her own parenting journey, specifically after moving her family to the very postmodern France, and also includes the experiences of others.

Honestly seeing the recent catchphrases "authentic" and "postmodern" always causes me to have a little skepticism. But instead of the excuses or ultimatums about the "right" way things must be done that I sometimes expect to find in works ascribing to this philosophy, I was pleasantly surprised that all I found is an explanation of why kids are different as a result of today's thinking, and how we can best parent them as a result of it.

Favorite sections addressed having conversations with your children, coaching them, and making your home a haven and a community, both to your family and to include others.

I've read that postmodern Christianity is an oxymoron. I've heard that some Christian booksellers won't sell this book because it has that "word" in its title. How sad--I feel especially bad to think of all the parents who will not read it, and never know what they're missing!

Mary DeMuth's book, Authentic Parenting in a Postmodern Culture, is not about subjugating Christian ideals to the evil of postmodern thought. It's about encouraging the love for Jesus in the evolving mindset, embracing what is gold and learning how to deal with the dross. For a long time now I've been conscious of the fact that God has always known how man's thinking would change, and He set up Christianity in such a way that it can and will adapt to every possibility. This book confirms my thoughts, and it comforts me.

Christians can't change the world's new attitude, but we can change how we are "in the world, not of the world". Mary gives so many examples of how to live Christian right now--doable ideas that fired my imagination and filled me with enthusiasm. I've already "practiced" on my youngest, and plan to implement several of these tenets both with my family and in the class I teach for my church.

She details her sojourn in France to establish a church, and how her family encountered a decidedly postmodern culture. She pointed out so many things I've sensed, yet couldn't give a name to; gave voice to my concerns and confirmed some of my convictions. She doesn't claim to know it all but she has a good handle on the issue, and explains it in such fantastic prose that I had no trouble understanding. She writes with such grace and personality that I feel I've come to know her. She doesn't tell the reader how she did everything right, but details her authentic parenting--flawed, but loving, striving. Her love for Jesus permeates every paragraph, and her stories of mistakes and concerns make the book that much more approachable.

By the second page I grabbed a pencil, dog-earing wherever I needed to remind myself of some passage that spoke to me. When I showed the book to my husband, he just laughed. Nearly every page is dog-eared. Those that aren't are mostly chapter breaks. My husband and I will read it together, using the provided discussion questions along with our own observations.

I'd planned to loan this copy to my two oldest for their families, but I won't give it up. I'll have to get them their own. I've read many, many parenting books in my twenty-seven plus years as a mother. Most gave me rules on how to parent as a "good" Christian--how to do it "right". Mary's book led me on a discovery, the "lessons" resonating because they not only applied to navigating a postmodern world, but to what I believe is true Christianity--love thy neighbor, judge not, be not afraid, above all, love God, and do His will. She spoke of relevancy, humility, social justice, gratitude--so many qualities I've sensed this old world needs.

God bless Mary and may she continue to bless us as well, with her words.

Authentic Parenting in a Postmodern Culture is written for parents seeking to raise Christian children in a postmodern world. The cultural shift from modernism to postmodernism raises new questions and issues for parents. Truth is no longer objective but is dependent on circumstances. How do you authentically parent your children and encourage them to have a relationship with Jesus in a world where truth is subjective?

This book provides Bible-based information on different aspects of postmodern parenting. Topics discussed include conversational parenting, learning from your children, creating a safe haven in your home, connecting with your children through art and creativity, coaching your children from dependence to independence and Jesus' abundant provision for parents. Ms DeMuth draws on personal experiences and interactions with her children. She shares a number of examples from the time her family planted a church in France. Other parents share their experiences and each chapter has a study guide with questions for group discussion.

Authenticity in parenting, as opposed to image-parenting, is essential in a postmodern culture that values authentic relationships. Ms DeMuth explores different ways to teach the Bible to children that are meaningful and that encourage children to ask questions and grow in their relationship with God.

Another trend of postmodernism is the switch in focus from individualism to community. An authentic expression of community is desired, although it is not easy to find. Parents create their children's first community. Ms DeMuth encourages parents to create a community of grace that helps their children to understand the heart of God. She explores how parents can equip their children to be salt and light in the world. She encourages parents to role model Christian behavior and to teach their children to proclaim Jesus and live out His principles, which includes a concern for social justice. The postmodern world hungers for a unique expression of the reality of Jesus. How do you teach children to be thankful rather than prideful in a world full of selfishness?

I found this book challenged my perceptions on parenting and encouraged me to consider the kind of faith I desired for my own children. The honest and authentic tone of this book made it easy to read and identify with the examples given. I would recommend this book to other parents who desire to authentically parent their children and to equip their children to live a godly life in a postmodern culture.

I recently finished reading Mary DeMuth's "Authentic Parenting in a
Postmodern Culture". I found it to be a heartfelt, well written, relevant
book with great wisdom for parents. As a mom of a teen, a tween and a
kindergartner, I was encouraged to raise my children in such a way that they will be prepared to face the culture in which we live.

I have already used several of Mary's ideas in dealing with my three. This week I had a conflict with my oldest regarding the way she treated another person. I later realized that her behavior was not too different from my own in many cases, and approached her with an apology and a goal for both of us to do better. "Authentic Parenting" reminded me to be real with my children and to avoid trying to give them the impression that I am perfect. Instead, we share the joy of seeking to be more like Christ every day.

Authentic Parenting in a Postmodern Culture by Mary DeMuth tackles the tough issue of how to parent in our changing world. How do we teach our children about truth and God in this pluralistic world? DeMuth gives lots of wonderful advice on how to bring our family back home where it belongs and support each other. She discusses different ways to worship and show your children not only to find God on their own but also to encourage others in their path. Postmodernism is such a difficult subject to define, but she handles it with grace and intelligence. She encourages parents to become more active in their children's lives and to bring thought to how we interact with them, God, and the world. DeMuth and her husband moved their three children to France, and she shares their struggles to fit in an atheistic society. She shows their efforts, warts and all, to illustrate how we and our children can thrive in this new world. It's a great, solid parenting resource.

My title for this review could be a good alternate title for Mary DeMuth's latest book. This book is not about teaching our kids to be postmoderns, it is about parenting in a way that is really "real" in an age where culture actively battles us. As Christians we are called to be a peculiar people, and we need to hold to our identity in Christ. However, this doesn't mean we don't use different tools in different times.

Mary's writing style is very easy to read. She writes with lots of personal experience, stories on "how not to do it", and feedback/insight from others. It doesn't take long to read, but it takes more time to digest and put into practice what she is sharing.

This is not a book of simple "how to" with easy lists to follow. It speaks more into wider issues of the heart of the parent and the child, although there are practical points of application that are encouraged through the stories. She is not out to fix certain discipline problems or give us 7 steps to the perfect child. She brings us into a conversation on how to be Jesus to our children.

For anyone confused over the idea of "what is postmodern?", she does lead in with an introduction of what that is and why it matters as a Christian parent. I would have liked a little more detail in this area, but that may be due to me being strongly interested in philosophy and worldview issues. This is not a criticism, as it is probably plenty for the average reader.

I haven't worried about reading a lot of parenting books lately, but I am really glad I had the opportunity to read this book. It has affected my parenting (3 boys, thank you very much) already. I highly recommend it.

This is the first of Mary's books I've read, and I immediately fell in love with her transparency and engaging writing style. My daughters are six, five and one. With the older two heading off to public school in a couple weeks, I was looking for advice and encouragement about being "in the world but not of the world."

The book really resonated with me--spoke straight to my mama heart. I want my girls to engage the culture around them while being uncompromising in their love and passion for Jesus Christ. This book "hit the spot."

Thanks, Mary, for this great resource. I'll refer to it again and again!

" You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts." 2 Corinthians 3:2-3

As the mother of 5 very unique individuals, I am constantly reminding myself that although parenting IS indeed a ministry that God has called me to, HE alone is the one faithfully creating and producing the results in my children's lives!

Using Paul, the writer's, analogy...our children are truly a letter from Christ himself, written by his Spirit on their hearts.

These thoughts reach the very ESSENCE of Mary DeMuth's latest parenting book, "Authentic Parenting in a Postmodern Culture". It could easily have been called Authentic Parenting in Today's Culture, as well. Unfortunately, not many Christians- myself included- have fully realized it yet, but our culture is in the midst of a huge paradigm shift in thought and principles. This cultural shift was titled at some point by "the powers that be"-- postmodernism.

Hold on now, and don't let that big "educated" sounding word scare you off! Though Mary is kind enough to give a very brief explanation and overview of just what postmodern means for those of us who really might not know, her main goal is to encourage us to be AUTHENTIC Christian parents, regardless of what society may bring.

The truth is that many of us can feel the change going on around us, but just haven't put our fingers on it yet.

In "Authentic Parenting...", Mary is sharing a vital and beautiful message that God has given to her. It came through the experiences that she, her husband, and children encountered while living in the south of France, a country where the influences of postmodernism are already the norm.

Mary shares insight that brings us to the heart of "Christ-like" parenting. She addresses the important issues of truth, honesty, community, refuge, encouragement, grace, forgiveness, purpose and selfish abandon, as we nurture our children and lead them through the example of our own journey with Christ!

"Gulp", some of you say...me included!!--but, NO that doesn't mean you have to do the impossible--be perfect Christians first!

Rather, Mary encourages us to model walking with Christ for our kids in a realistic way--we seek, we stumble, we may even fall on our faces, then we get back up again, and continue on, allowing him to write with his Spirit in our own lives along the way. She also takes the time to teach us, with tangible methods, how to prepare our kids for the future by leaving them with "three foundational truths: community, the kingdom of God, and gratitude."

Having two of our five children in the throes of their first few years of early adult life just now, my husband and I were keenly interested in what Mary had written on the subject. After reading "Authentic Parenting..." we can clearly see the importance of them being prepared for, rather than protected from, the culture they're immersed in. We came to agree with each other, that her message is crucially in order!!

It is not too late for us as parents with young adults to benefit from this book, neither is it too early for those who are freshly initiated to the world of parenting either! In fact, I think this is a fresh message for anyone seeking to have a godly influence on today's youth.

DeMuth's book is a refreshing look at the parenting book. Her insight into raising children in this day's culture is a must for anybody who wants to face parenting head on instead of simply sheltering children from what they will eventually encounter anyway.