Emotional Safety

I'll admit it. I wanted to review this book because I'm a teacher. Not just any teacher, one who wants to create a stable emotional environment for my unstable students from unstable homes. (closes eyes)

From an educator's perspective, this book should be given to all my parents because they all need to hear the blunt truth about their parenting. Am I ranting? Maybe a little bit. But do they need to read this book? ABSOLUTELY!

Parenting isn't rocket science, it's just brain surgery. 

And Dr. Joshua Straub has good news for you: You can do it!

You don’t need to do all the “right” things as a parent. Both science and the Bible show us that the most important thing we can provide for our kids is a place of emotional safety. In other words, the posture from which we parent matters infinitely more than the techniques of parenting.

Emotional safety—more than any other factor—is scientifically linked to raising kids who live, love, and lead well. Learn how to use emotional safety as a foundation from which you parent—and make a cultural impact that could change the world!

In Safe House, Dr. Straub draws from his extensive research and personal experience to help you:

- Foster healthy identity and social development in children of any age
- Win the war without getting overwhelmed in the daily battles
- Discipline in a way that builds relationship
- Understand how the culture is affecting your child and what you can do about it
- Cultivate responsible, self-regulating behavior in your kids
- Establish an unshakeable sense of faith, morality, and values in your home
- Feel more confident and peaceful as a parent
- Find a greater perspective on parenting than what you might see on a daily basis

Purpose Driven Life for Kids

Yesterday, during a winter holiday party, a parent brought in pizza from Costco. About ten students got a slice, leaving 6 students without a slice. Three of my boys got into a fistfight over a slice of pizza. It bothered me because pizza was not the only food choice at the party.

Another student brought in chicken/cheese quesadillas and I brought in fried rice. One of my nice, sensible girls gave her slice of pizza to one of the boys and ate something else for which I was eternally grateful for.

Another one of my boys already had a bite of his pizza, but was willing to cut out a bite so that another one of my boys in the fistfight can take his piece. That almost broke my heart because in his family, his parents struggle financially to put food on the table every night.

Only one of these students know God. As a teacher, I struggle internally about this because I want them all to know Jesus and that He is proud of them for producing righteous fruit in the classroom.

I know that God will use them greatly in the future and their lives are bright. When I received the book: Purpose Driven Life for Kids, I really wanted to give a copy of this to my girl. She was named after Daniel in the Bible and has really kept the teachings of the Bible.

We are living in a fallen world where desires are deserved. I asked my boys why they were fighting over the slice of pizza and one of them said they deserved it because it isn't a party without pizza. When I told him to go get something else to eat, he told me "this is stupid! I hate this class!".

He ended up with a consequence that he regretted for the rest of the day. I sent him to another class where he had to finish up a packet of work.

This is why Rick Warren probably wrote a devotional for kids. Capturing the hearts of the new generation means ensuring they know their purpose and grow up confident of their value in God and their relationship to Christ.

God created each of his children with a purpose in mind … the time for them is now to, thoughtfully and prayerfully, start their incredible journey to finding that reason.

The Purpose Driven Life Devotional for Kids includes 365 devotions that tie to the themes and ideas found in the bestselling The Purpose Driven Life written by pastor Rick Warren. Written at a third to fourth grade level, each devotion includes a Scripture, short message, and prayer or thought for the day to help kids discover who they are in God’s eyes.

Mom, Can you do my Hair?

I remember wishing I had a mom that could do the cool braids and hairstyles all through elementary school. When I was older, my friend's grandma gave me a shock: I didn't have enough hair to do the french braid. So after that, my hair was always tied up in a ponytail. I vowed that when I have a daughter of my own, they would get the cool braids and updos I didn't get as a child.

When I saw this book for reviewing, I knew I needed to get it. Even though this book is mostly geared towards children, there were some tips I picked up about my hair that was helpful.

Faithgirlz Best Hair Book Ever! is full of killer tricks and tips on having amazing hair every day—from the best cut for each individual girl’s lovely locks to simple-yet-stunning updos and gorgeous styles, and even some trade secrets that can help make even the most unruly hair behave.

Eating through Pregnanacy

I'm pregnant. Now what? This book is great because it breaks down exactly what your body needs in order to have a healthy baby.

An approachable guide to what to eat--as opposed to what to avoid--while pregnant and nursing, to support the mother's health and the baby's development during each stage of pregnancy, with 50 recipes.

New research suggests that the foods you eat during pregnancy can have lasting effects on your baby’s brain development and behavior, as well as your waistline. Drawing from the fields of medicine, nutrition, and psych­ology, this easy-­to-follow guide, which also includes 50 recipes, gives you a clear understanding of what your body really needs and how certain foods contribute to the development of a healthy and happy baby.

I got this book for free from: Blogging for Books

Win or Lose

I never really understood why so many children do not have good sportsmanship until I became a teacher. I am the teacher of 18 wonderful children with 18 unique personalities. With the variation comes a slew of emotional problems that range from kindergarten to 3rd grade.

One of the reasons I wanted to review this book was because my class has a very hard time losing. Even though I stress that it is ONLY a game, my students are genuinely upset that they are losing to each other. I have students who do not pay attention in class that will go head to head with one of my top students over the game.

I brought this book in so I can teach my students the right way to lose and we had a class discussion about how to lose with good sportsmanship.

This book was about how competition can bring out the worst in us, but it can also be an opportunity to learn important
life lessons. That’s why it’s so important for kids to understand how to handle winning and losing!

Join Lulu and Max as they help Bear-Bear, Goosey, Coyote and the rest of their animal friends in the Field Day contests determine who will be the leader of Lulu’s forest.

But as the animals soon find out, not everyone can win. Sore losers, unkind winners, flaring tempers, and a few tears are taking the fun straight out of Field Day!

Just like Lulu and Max help the animals navigate the ups and downs of the day, with Win or Lose, I Love You parents will be equipped to help children:

Replace the selfish characteristics of competition with an understanding of how to treat others fairly
Overcome the tendency to display poor sportsmanship by using Biblical truths to develop a Christ-like attitude
Reject the labels of winning and losing and embrace that they are loved no matter how they perform.
Win or Lose, I Love You will show your child that, no matter what, their value is tied to who they are, not how they play!

Standing for God

This book heralds a new generation of Christians who are more than bold…they are fearless!

No Fear draws you inside the stories of young, ordinary believers who, despite incredible opposition, courageously stood up for God’s truth. Tony Perkins pairs each story with a biblical example, and gives practical ideas for building a “no fear” perspective every day.

Today, followers of Jesus Christ face more opposition to their beliefs than any generation in American history. Yet even in such a hostile cultural and political environment, it is an exciting time to stand firm in the faith.  

You have been chosen to live in this important hour and reading these stories will inspire you to the same kind of courage.  So what are you waiting for?  

A fourteen-year-old girl testifies before the Maryland state senate in support of the traditional family. A young man and his new wife launch a campaign to decrease abortions in their community. A high school cheerleader goes to court for the right to put Bible verses on banners at football games.

These young Americans knew that honoring God and his Word was more important than winning friends or keeping their jobs. 

In No Fear Tony Perkins tells the stories of young Christians who took a stand for truth in the face of intense opposition. These unlikely heroes will show you the dramatic influence one person can have in seeking fairness, justice, and compassion in a nation. The book also draws you back to the heroes of the Bible who stood up for God in their own day and culture, modeling the same brand of courage that is needed today.

What would you do for God if you had no fear? The possibilities are endless. It’s time to get started!

Prayers that Changed History

Twenty-five stories of historical figures who prayed to God and as a result, history was changed.

One prayer can change everything.

Martin Luther. Sojourner Truth. Helen Keller. St. Patrick. We read their stories, and of other people like them, in history books, and hear about the amazing things they did to change the world. But one part of the story is often left out: Each one of them wouldn’t have accomplished what they did without prayer.

In this book from bestselling author Tricia Goyer, the stories of twenty-five notable people are presented along with the major prayer that changed their lives and changed history. Following each historical example is a biblical story that ties to that person’s life and actions, as well as ways you can use the power of prayer in your life as well. Because God isn’t done changing the world yet, and he would love to use you to make history.

This book should be recommended to children who are aged 5-12. Tricia Goyer motivates young children to stand up for God and Christianity with a short story that draws readers in. After the story, it inspires readers to look deeply within and see if they see themselves in a situation like that. It also draws from the Bible as a reference. 

Books written by Tricia Goyer is highly recommended. I have the book: Prayers for my Future Husband and it follows a list about what I should be praying for. It was extremely helpful and I love all the books she has written so far. This book is no different. God uses her to reach all ages of audiences and should be known as a writer after God's own heart.