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Book Review: Love-Centered Parenting

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I've followed Crystal Paine (The Money Saving Mom) since Aaron and I have been married. She has great tips for living on a low budget, and we needed that when we were first married. So she always intrigued me. 

Her oldest kids are only teenagers, so she never claims to know everything about parenting. I appreciate her fresh approach to parenting and coming strictly from the heart. She shares some of the background of her legalist mindset as a new mom and equates that into how it affected her parenting style. 

I find that fascinating because it's a temptation for anyone to want to hear, "Hey, you raised some good kids" or "Congrats on your son's/daughter's accomplishments." But is that the goal of parenting? Is raising "good kids" to be "good adults" the pinpointed accomplishment?

It's easy to react, discipline, and applaud based on our appreciated or depreciated reputation from our children's actions rather than react in love to lift our child up with what's best for them despite how we look. 

I have some good take aways from this book. 

1. "Lean in and love." 

This is a phrase that Crystal likes to remind herself of regularly. When a child is upset, there's most likely an underlying issue (as with us). Instead of complicating the issue and reacting with more frustration, hurt, or anger, it's best to respond with patience and calm the situation. 

That's easy to say but hard to do. Crystal lists some practical ways to "lean in and love" in chapter 5, but you'll have to read the book to find out for yourself. 😉

2. Learn to listen. 

I have a really hard time with this. My five year old talks and talks... and talks. So I find it challenging to not tune out. 

A helpful tip Crystal gives is to "become a student of your child." (These can be found in chapter 6) I feel like I've heard a lot about this concept when it comes to marriage - you know, getting to know your spouse better type thing. I had never thought about that in relationship to children. You don't have to love what they love, but you can be genuinely interested because you love your child. 

When someone is participating in something they enjoy, they're generally more relaxed. So this could even be an opportunity to have very meaningful conversations with your kids. 

3. Value is in the person not their actions.

I saved this for last because this is most definitely the big takeaway. 

This is heading all the way back to chapter 2: " Love-centered parenting us about wholeheartedly loving our kids because we know how much we are wholeheartedly loved by God." 

Every human created is an image bearer of God Himself, whether they believe in Him or not. We are the "salt and light" to the world (Matthew 5:13-16). But do we do that in our own homes? I know I don't often enough. 

Do my see even a smidge of the love that God has for them through the love that I give them? 

God's love is unselfish. It's perfect. He is, quite literally, love. (1 John 4:8) 

Humans are the crown jewel of His creation. (Genesis 1:31) And the love that He shows displays that. 

____________________________________________________________________________________

Needless to say I think.. I give this book the highest recommendation and grant it ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐!


If you'd like to read more often, you can head HERE to get my FREE Reading Tracker!
 
xoxo, 
Lizzy 💜
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