What Every Mom Needs [Paperback]

Elisa Morgan (Author), Carol Kuykendall (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1998

'When will I ever get time for myself? Do I ever get to be someone besides 'Mom'?' Sound familiar? You're not selfish, you're normal. And with every mother, you share nine basic needs -- significance, identity, growth, recreation, and five others identified by MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) International after more than 20 years of research and experience. Now MOPS authors Elisa Morgan and Carol Kuykendall show you how meeting those needs will not only make you more content--it'll make you a better mom. What Every Mom Needs is not another book on parenting. It's a whole-person approach to balanced living that reveals different ways you, the nurturer, also need to be nurtured. This encouraging, insightful book shares with you: - Your needs and why it's so vital for you to meet them - Personal stories from other moms that will let you know your needs are normal - Building Blocks -- exercises, questions, and practical tips - Mothering Maxims that condense each chapter into a nugget of practical wisdom -- Based on sound biblical principles and responses to over 1,000 questionnaires, What Every Mom Needs will help you expand your personal horizons and become a better mom in the bargain.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Moms have needs, too! Nine, to be exact?and meeting them will help mothers to be more contented, well-rounded persons as well as better moms. Elisa Morgan and Carol Kuykendall of MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) International help mothers learn how to meet their needs for significance, identity, growth, intimacy, recreation, and more. Based on responses to more than 1,000 questionnaires, What Every Mom Needs includes the personal insights of moms, Mothering Maxims of condensed wisdom, and Building Blocks containing exercises, questions, and practical tips. Now in softcover.

From the Author

Elisa Morgan is president and CEO of MOPS International, Inc., an organization dedicated to nurturing mothers of preschoolers. She hosts the daily, nationwide radio program, "Mom Sense," and is the author of Mom to Mom and Chronicles of Childhood, and general editor of the Mom’s Devotional Bible. Carol Kuykendall is vice-president of communications ministries for MOPS International. She is the author of Learning to Let Go, Give Them Wings, A Mother’s Footprints of Faith, and co-author with Elisa Morgan of What Every Child Needs

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan; 2nd edition (September 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310219205
• ISBN-13: 978-0310219200
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,922,510 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Elisa Morgan is a nationally recognized speaker and the author of more than fifteen books, including the best-selling "What Every Mom Needs" and "Mom's Devotional Bible." Elisa has served as CEO of MOPS International since 1989. She is also the publisher of "MomSense" and "FullFill" magazines, and is a frequent contributor to "Christianity Today." Elisa is married to Evan (vice president of strategic development for RBC Ministries, known internationally for "Our Daily Bread," and founder of christiancourses.com). They have two grown children and one grandchild and live in Centennial, Colorado.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What Every Mom Needs. . .is this book. . ., May 9, 2001

By 

Melissa P. Cooper "kymissyin" (Indianapolis, IN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: What Every Mom Needs (Paperback)

. . .Author Deborah Lewis once said that while the early years of your children's lives go by quicker than you think, there are some individual days that seem to go on forever. For those days and those times, this book is just what you need. It's very, very easy to read--you can usually get through a chapter in just a few minutes after your child is finally down for the night, or just before you finally get to bed yourself. This is usually the one I've reached for after a day with my daughter where one or both of us were not as noble or Christlike toward one another as we maybe should be. And I always come away with something that I try out to make tomorrow better. It deals in very plain, simple prose with how tough it can be to get your own needs met in the midst of diapers, messy floors, and emergencies. But then it takes things one step further. You won't find any "magazine article perfect" advice here--just simple-but-effective steps you can take toward keeping your dreams alive, finding the support you need to go on, managing the load, and feeling good about your choice to become a mother. You will not feel talked down to here--in fact, you'll say, "oh, man, that's JUST how I feel right now" and "I'm NOT the only woman who feels this way." And the ideas for taking action are great--they realize that these are not the years to just totally make over your life, but that, just as learning to walk is a cumulative process for your kids, little steps toward your own self-improvement really do add up.

Two other things that made have made this book a real winner as far as I'm concerned: First of all, Elisa and Carol give very generous credit to their sources, including an appendix with footnotes, and a "for further reading" list at the end of each chapter. What I especially liked about this was that they did not limit their research to Christian authors and sources. Thanks to them, I rediscovered Barbara Sher's book "Wishcraft" and as a result of digging through HER book, have more or less rekindled some dreams of my own. So, I feel as if I owe Elisa and Carol as much a debt of gratitude as I do Barbara. Isn't that cool? And secondly, they emphasize very strongly that all moms need to look out for each other--none of this "mommy war" stuff between women who work outside the home and women who are spending a season at home.

And I do have to agree with the other reviewer about this book making a great shower gift. I heartily recommend that this be given to a new or expectant mom, along with a gift certificate for a free night of babysitting. You'll definitely get that mom's prize for best present!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The perfect gift for a "Mom" of "Mom-to-be"!, July 2, 1996

By A Customer

This review is from: What Every Mom Needs (Hardcover)

"What every Mom needs..." is just wonderful. I am a mother of older children and enjoyed it tremendously! I plan to give this book as a baby shower present for years to come. My daughter will inherit my copy.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heaping Dose of Medicine, January 12, 2005

By 

Joy Calderwood (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: What Every Mom Needs (Paperback)

I purchased this book when my kids were preschoolers and I was struggling to find my place as a new mom. This book was a heaping dose of medicine to me that revealed that I wasn't alone in the emotional turmoil of the mothering role. It doesn't given parenting advice, but speaks to the hearts of mothers as individuals. It gives helpful building block ideas to help one to form a personal checklist and keep emotional and parenting health in check. I purchased about 20 more copies to sell in my ladies group since I felt there were so many new moms that would benefit from this. They all went! It's a keeper for me.