Reading With the Seasons: Mother's Day Edition

Was anyone looking for Reading With the Seasons last month as Spring made its grand entrance into 2013? No? Well, no matter. I'll console myself with the knowledge that there was one person wondering where it was--my brother, Gordy. He's the one whose photographs I featured in the New Year's and Valentine's editions, and I asked him if he would also like to contribute to my spring post. He sent me a couple pictures and then noticed several weeks later that I still had not put up anything.

That's because, and it's rather sad to admit, but aside from The Secret Garden, I could not think of a single book that said "spring" to me. I couldn't think of any books set in the springtime, nor could I think of any that felt particularly spring-ish (you know, the hope that comes with the promise of new life, etc.). This was actually a little depressing for me because spring is my very favorite season, and yet, I guess I don't have any go-to spring literature? This must be remedied before next spring! If you have any ideas, please comment or email me! (If you don't have any ideas, feel free to comment anyway.)

However, when it comes to Mother's Day, I happen to be bursting with good books to share, so I'm going to move on past spring and share what I'll be reading (or have already read) to help me feel more appreciation for the women in my life and remember how blessed I feel to be a mother. 

Being the Mom: 10 Coping Strategies I Learned By Accident Because I Had Children on Purpose by Emily Watts

I read this book right after I had Bradley. I don't know how I would feel about it now, but I loved it then. It was exactly what I needed as I navigated the tricky transition from two children to three. It helped me view those frantic and chaotic days through a humorous, realistic, joyful, and even spiritual lens.

A Joyful Mother of Children: The Magic and Mayhem of Motherhood by Linda J. Eyre

I actually just finished this book last week. Look for a full review of it soon. Linda Eyre is the mother of nine children, so she is able to offer down-to-earth, in-the-trenches, very practical advice. It gave me a little pick-me-up as well as some ideas I'm excited about implementing.

The Price of Motherhood: Why the Most Important Job in the World is Still the Least Valued by Ann Crittenden

This book has been on my to-read list for a long time, but my interest in it was recently rekindled when Melanie mentioned it as a book everyone (man, woman, and wildebeest, as she put it) should read. 

Mitten Strings for God: Reflections for Mothers in a Hurry by Katrina Kenison
This one comes highly recommended from my friend, Sarah. It is all about how to simplify and balance all of the daily demands in order to truly get the most out of life. I could definitely use some help in that area.

Raising a Reader: A Mother's Tale of Desperation and Delight by Jennie Nash

I know absolutely nothing about this book, but the title was enough to pull me in and want to give it a try.

Bloom: Finding Beauty in the Unexpected by Kelle Hampton

Maybe some of you already saw this as an advertisement on the sidebar of Goodreads. That's where I saw it, and it looked interesting enough that I added it to my to-read shelf (don't worry, it's only #277) and am also telling you about it. It's the memoir of a mother of a child with Down's syndrome.

I just have to pause here to ask if anyone else noticed the abundance of subtitles in this list of books? I guess it must be impossible to write a book about mothers and not add a qualifier or description. Typical.  Oh, wait, here's one:

 Lift by Kelly Corrigan

My friend, Holli, has been trying to get our book club to read this for months. I'm going to push for it in May because it seems like the perfect Mother's Day read: It is short and is written in the form of a letter from the author to her children.

I honestly have so many other books I could add to this list, but these are the ones that I have the most interest in at this moment in time. You might notice though the lack of fictional books on this list. That isn't because I don't think there are some great mothers in fiction (Marmee from Little Women immediately comes to mind), but I was having a hard time thinking of very many. So I hope you'll share your own favorite mother books (fiction and/or nonfiction) in the comments!

P.S. Given my introduction, it probably goes without saying, but photo credit goes to my brother, Gordy.