Loving the Little Years

the more deer the advice in this book becomes to me. A regular reread for years now.

semi hilarious at times and full of many gold nuggets of wisdom to ponder. It's very short and easy to read and Rachel's forthright no nonsense way of writing (and bluntness) actually made me take a sigh of relief. Wish I had read this book years ago!

Short, sweet, and convicting. I will definitely be coming back to it throughout the little years.

*Also chapter 18 talking about sleep with twins hit home hahaha.

not treasures…motherhood uses your body in the way that God designed it to be used.” SO good. This book is filled with Biblical Truth, great parenting advice, and incredible reminders. I love that she states that motherhood is in fact hard work but it's important work. This is my toil and it is a gift from God! I'll absolutely be rereading this book as my son continues to grow and get older. Great book!

Immensely practical, encouraging, helpful, easy to read… with only one part I didn't like (and it was like 3 paragraphs-not much). I have many chapters dog-eared (yes, sue me) for future reference, because I know I will need this woman's firm wisdom to help me love the years with my littles.

(Worth noting, I'm not a subscriber to the Doug Wilson fandom [Rachel is his daughter]. The book is just really that good.)

read this.

I will be reading this a third time I'm sure.

Rachel Jankovic for during the years of being in the trenches with your children. I'd love to read this at least once a year just to get a refresher!

A few take-aways:
Children are little individuals
When they conquer a sin, realize that other sins will take its place as they grow in sanctification
Don't expect them to enjoy all of your interests or try to make them just like you
Tackle the heart of the sin, not just the sin-behavior
Explain what that particular sin is from the Bible
Teach them the value of remaining in fellowship with others (as opposed to fighting over a toy, etc.)
Confess to your children when you sin against them

Update: in a way I feel a need to re-read this one more than once a year. Possibly monthly to internalize some of the points, which I feel are rather good. It feels like a lot of the book is geared towards when you have toddlers and young ones, so I look forward to re-reading this when my own little one is a toddler. But it does have some good advice for the overwhelm, the late nights, and things just not going right, which definitely applies to when you have an infant! So I'm entirely grateful for the re-read.

If you are a mama of young ones I really suggest giving this a read. I felt so encouraged and convicted (in a good way!) by this book. Jankovic provides strong, biblical guidances for those of us in the trenches of young kids. I laughed out loud a couple of times and, I feel like I can mother better after reading this book. I will definitely be rereading this every couple of years to remind myself the importance of savoring the little years.

conference. I remember reading it and thinking it was very good. Having listened to Rachel & her sister many years now on their podcast, I have also revisited this book many times! It is great, and I would highly recommend to every young Momma with littles!

Super short; which is what you need when your kids are 2, 1, and newborn.

Wish I had this book when my motherhood journey began 6 years ago. Rachel writes like an empathetic friend. Rachel is also in the trenches but willing to give you the much needed kick in the pants to keep your eyes set on the mission of motherhood.

“Blessings, like children, are not ethereal and weight-less. Sometimes they feel like they come at you like a Kansas hail storm—they might leave a welt! But if you accept your lot and rejoice in your toil, God will give you the kind of overwhelming joy that cannot remember the details. Motherhood is hard work. It is repetitive and often times menial. Accept it. Rejoice in it. This is your toil. Right here. Those are their faces. Enjoy them. The days of your life are supposed to be full of things like this. But joy is not giddy. It is not an emotional rush—it is what happens when you accept your lot and rejoice in your toil. So rejoice in your children.
Look them in the eyes and give thanks. You will not even remember the work of all this planting when the harvest of joy overwhelms you.”

2021: One of the best and most candid books on mothering that I've read.

practical

but could have easily been read in a couple days. This book is filled with so many little nuggets of wisdom on how to raise your children well in Gods eyes. I know I will go back to reference this book as my own son grows as well as my future children!

but it was time for a refresh read - all the good reminders for the good work in front of me.

Encouraging and quick!

joy overwhelms you.”

What an encouraging and uplifting book at such a needed time! Though I didn't agree with it in its ENTIRETY, the vast majority of it, was helpful.

Rachel teaches moms how to be guides to our children as they learn to walk with God. She covers growth, refinement and repentance in motherhood and how needed and prevalent these aspects need to be. Every time we fail and repent in our motherhood, God gives us the opportunity to grow in our walk with Him. If we do not address our own heart first, we cannot be shepherds of our child's heart or help them address their heart and sin. Rachel extols moms to rejoice in the work God has set before us as moms because anything done unto the Lord is not wasted.

For the most part, I really enjoyed this book and was left encouraged and uplifted by the end of it. However, I did have some critiques I would caution other readers about before recommending:

Rachel had a chapter on “me time” and failed to share the gospel or that “mom time” isn't our end goal to recharge our batteries when we are depleted. We don't need more me time, we need more of Christ. Yes, some time alone to read or drink coffee or go out with girlfriends is great and that will probably fill your cup for a little bit. But that is not what fills your cup or satisfies you long term. She missed a great opportunity to share the gospel to moms herein.

The other thing I disagreed with in this chapter was that she states plainly in chapter 12 that as married moms and christian woman, our identities should be in our husbands. That's blatantly wrong and unscriptural. Our identity is in Christ alone and if we place our identity or worth in our husband who is mortal, and just as sinful and broken as we are, we are gonna be sorely let down.

Finally, my last critique is that there was barely any Scripture used or even mentioned. Maybe 3 references tops. I believe that Scripture has everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3) so a christian book geared toward encouraging and uplifting moms, in my opinion, should be chock full of it.

favorite excerpt:
“I do a lot of on-the-job failure and correction. Repenting and forgiving.
Laughing. Lots and lots of laughing. The opportunities for growth and refinement abound here—but you have to be willing. You have to open your heart to the rock tumbler of spiritual formation. As you deal with your children, deal with yourself always and first. This is what it looks like and feels like to walk with God, as a mother.

God treats us with great kindness as we sin and fail daily. He takes the long view of our sin-knowing that every time we fail and repent, we grow in our walk with Him. It is easy for us to accept this, because our sins are, well, ours.

It is no abstract thing—the state of your heart is the state of your home. You cannot harbor resentment secretly toward your children and expect their hearts to be submissive and tender. you cannot be greedy with your time and expect them to share their toys. And perhaps most importantly, you cannot resist your opportunity to be corrected by God and expect them to receive correction from you. God has given us the job of teaching His law and demonstrating His grace. We are to be guides to our children as they learn to walk with God. Sin is just a fact of life. It is the way we deal with it that changes ours.”

Not preachy, or judgey. Very practical and kind. I have a five month old right now and I probably read it a little early. Definitely will read it again when he's probably 2 or older. Easy read! Has short and concise chapters so it's actually possible to read a whole chapter in one sitting with kiddos!

”

Rachel wrote a short and encouraging book reminding mothers of how raising kids is work for God's Kingdom. Biblical truths mixed with nuggets of wisdom in each chapter that I plan on reviewing and praying over. As life pours out in the difficult but rewarding work of parenting immortals, it's given me much to think about and talk over with my husband as we raise our own family.

A yearly read for me and always refreshed by it.

Rachel does a fantastic job with helping the reader be mindful of their thought life towards being a mom, giving encouragement and gives us the ability to laugh at ourselves. Will read this through the year as needed

I will say, I don't fully agree with Rachel's perspective on identity as a wife in chapter 12. Our identity must come from Christ and Christ alone. Yes, I am also a wife and that is a huge part of my life, but not who I am entirely. ANYWHO…overall such an amazing book!!

One of the most encouraging little books I read as a young mother

Highly recommend!

This book was such an easy read, yet incredibly helpful and encouraging! Rachel's love for the little years is contagious! Her practical phrases and ways of communicating to children is already being used in this household! I would recommend this to any mama who still has little ones!

Would definitely recommend to any mom with young kids.
“The state of your heart will be the state of your home”

I think I need to remember to re-read this every year. What an encouragement!