The pressure to be a perfect parent is enough to tempt me to quit before I get started.

The shame and guilt that follow me many days after I’ve “blown it” as a mom is so tangible, surely it’s obvious to anyone who watches me huff and puff as I sweat my way down the grocery store aisle with my crew of wild monkeys cackling and hanging off the cart.

But I’m learning I’m not alone…

“Are you exhausted from the pressure to be a perfect parent raising perfect children in this imperfect world? Do you ever wonder, “How did these precious children get stuck with a parent like me?”

This quote comes from a post recently written by a new friend of mine, Jeannie Cunnion. (really, you should get to know her.  Not only is she super cute, and she makes you feel like a friend right off the bat.  Her blog is always a breath of fresh air, and I just love the applicable inspiration she brings into my momma world!)

My sister introduced us last year, and since then, Jeannie has generously lent me her ear as I’ve been on this crazy road of writing.  Because she too has walked it.  In fact, her first book releases April 8, published by Zondervan.

It’s called:

Parenting the Wholehearted Child:

Captivating your Child’s Heart With God’s Extravagant Grace

You can pre-order it here: on amazon and barnes and noble.

I wouldn’t be sharing all of this with you, if I hadn’t read Jeannie’s book and been so personally touched by it.

Jeannie’s stories are funny, relatable, practical and hit the target every time, revealing a better way to live as parents and families.  The way of experiencing the grace, tenderness and love of a Heavenly Father that penetrates our everyday lives as imperfect parents in this imperfect world.

When Jeannie asked me to share a “review”, I was honored and said this…

“Jeannie’s wisdom left me with this life changing truth: transformed parenting comes from transformed parents. This book offers both.  With humor, real-life stories and Biblical truth, every parent who reads it will discover deeper personal freedom and grace-based tools to love their kids in a whole new way.” 

But, don’t just trust my little view – check out these other super amazing leaders and voices who read it and offered their thoughts here (people like Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Kathie Lee Gifford, and Lysa TerKeurst, and Tullian Tchividjian, to name a few.)

Parenting the Wholehearted Child releases April 8, but I wanted to give you the heads up so you, too, can be equipped to parent wholehearted children.  And as a family, you can “experience the freedom that comes from being loved (and liked!) by God”, as Jeannie says.

Happy Friday!

The post Introducing a New Friend and a New Book Every Parent Must Read appeared first on Francie Winslow.