Customer Reviews

Not So Fast: Slow-Down Solutions for Frenzied Families

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You can find a lot of talk around the Internet and news about the busyness of life, and the busyness of families. We live in a 24/7 world that never shuts down. Email and cell phones have made our lives "easier", but they've also made us accessible 24/7. In the drive to succeed, many of us put our children in as many activities as we can, hoping to make them into better people. Is that necessary? It's your decision. In this book, however, Ann Kroeker has had the courage to step up and say, no it isn't necessary.

In her book she talks about the effects that an overcommitted culture can have on our families. Her perspective is Christian and she shares her own story about how embracing a slower pace of life has impacted her family in positive ways. I love the parts where she talks about the importance of letting children have a somewhat unstructured childhood, and encouraging them to explore and play and have fun.

With chapters called, Slowing Down Childhood, Too Fast to Care and Too Fast to Rest, or Slow Enough to Savor Traditions and Slowing Down Spending, Ann gives honest practical advice. Each chapter ends with Slow Notes, a section with practical ideas you can implement immediately. Each chapter also ends with Live From the Slow Zone, with anecdotes and experiences from people who are actively living a slower paced life. Applicable scriptures are sprinkled throughout the book.

One highlight for me was the family Load Line, where much like a ship has a load line or limit to how much cargo it can carry before it is unsafe, so a family has that same load line where too many activities can negatively impact family life. Another highlight was about traditions and the importance of not only having family traditions but taking the time to savor and enjoy them.

I love the resources at the end of the book. Ann has extensive footnotes which give references and sources for her information. She also lists blogs and other resources at her website.

I thoroughly enjoyed this gem of a book. It is one I will reread as I look to find ideas and ways to simplify my family's life.

I have really been enjoying this book and absorbing it slowly!! I think the story of the violinist really spoke to me as I have seen myself doing that. I have often hurried my children on when they saw the potential that adults all missed. This book really convicted me as I have seen myself where everything is being busy and no time is taken to sit and do some of the important things. She shares a story of how her husband almost died and how it put life into perspective when she realized how short life is. I needed a good reminder of that! This book is an excellent book for any mom or dad to read. It will remind you how short life is, enjoy the fleeting things, and don't waste time on the unimportant! I will be recommending it to all my friends!

Love it. Hope you all read it. Tell your friends about it. Kroeker had the nerve to shout "slow down!" and for the last few years this is exactly the way we've been trying to live. It was encouraging to hear someone else testify we don't have to be part of the over busy American lifestyle. She gives plenty of practical applications and solid reasons why living a fast life, causes us to miss out on LIFE. Hat's off to this author.

When my son was two years old and we were crossing the parking lot to church, he said to me, "Hurry, Mom!" It was then I knew I had a problem. A two year old hurrying? It just wasn't natural. Well, he is almost five now, and despite sporadic attempts, failed plans, and desperate prayers for a slower-paced life, nothing seems to last very long. It's as if speed is the default mode.

Then I heard Ann Kroeker on the radio and knew I had to get this book. I was not disappointed. The book caused me to slow down enough to read and to think. Kroeker points out many interesting facts concerning our frantic-paced lives and asks us to examine our motives behind our activities. She also helps us to look at what the pace of life is doing to our families. She asks, "What are we passing on to the next generation--a legacy of love and service, practiced in a family that lives slow enough to take time to notice and respond? Or are we modeling a life of hypocrisy, passing along nothing more powerful than the importance of arriving on time..."

The book is not just a philosophical nalysis, however. It is filled with practical ideas which can be implemented in a normal person's life, such as learning not to compare ourselves to other families (who of course always seem to be doing more and doing it better), but to "forget the Joneses;" or to create simple "slow" family traditions, offering ideas as easy as Saturday morning pancakes or after dinner walks.

Chapter headings include: What are We Missing Out On? What Are We Trying to Achieve? Slowing Down Childhood; Slowing Down Spending; Taking Time to Create; and The Unhurried Family. If any of these ideas appeal to you, buy this book. You won't be disappointed.

I absolutely loved this book. Ann offers up some great suggestions and solutions for families that is Christ centered. I bought several copies and gave them to my friends as gifts. Great book!

I purchased Ann's latest book, because her first book, The Contemplative Mom, was such an inspiring book I chose to use it in our mom's group. I love the way she uses real life examples, ideas, spiritual insights and scriptures to encourage more spiritual living. The picture on the cover made me laugh. It can be easy to become wrapped up in all the potential activities available to develop our children. I find that even if I don't over schedule activities, I still wonder if I am doing enought. Ann brings us back to our values, and priorities, and helps us think about the choices we are making and the impact. Some of my favorite quotes guide me in making decisions - "If we can't slow down to devleop that relationship with the living God who invites us to something deeper and richer, we're going too fast". "Walk lightly and in all things, love". I highly recommend the book. I could feel God's Spirit shine through her words. It would also make a good book club, or mom's group read.
Elissa

Ever feel like the pace of life has you meeting yourself coming and going? Feel like your children are running so fast they don't have time to be kids? Tried to slow down, but don't know how? Then this book can be a great help to you. It is an easy to read with bite sized chapters that can be read while waiting for your child to finish a lesson or sports practice. The author has given lots of ideas and possible solutions in the book -- enough to help you creatively adapt it to your family. She addresses many issues including slowing down spending, sexuality, high tech, adding time to create and love. There's so much in this book. Lots to ponder and adapt to your family.