Book Review: If Mama Ain't Happy

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to steward others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in it’s various forms.” - 1 Peter 4:10 NIV

I was asked to review the new release “If Mama Ain’t Happy” by Rachel Norman and thought it would be great for you young ladies! It’s so important that as we prepare for future seasons of our lives, we are proactive rather than reactive to circumstances. Recently, I was talking to a friend about how women can prepare in advance for both dating and marriage. Rather than setting your sights on the man that just has to be your husband and accommodating for his likes/dislikes study to become the type of Godly wife a man would want to pursue.

Rachel does a great job for current mothers and those of us someday mothers at outlining some of the pitfalls of motherhood and how to avoid them. She does so in a graceful way. Rachel is vulnerable about her own experiences and explains that perfection is not the goal - only stewarding to the best of our abilities. There will be bad days, good days, and the in between. 

Were you raised or are you raised by the mother who accommodates for every need? She has sunk her whole identity into being a wife or a mother. Does the thought of losing yourself completely to motherhood scare you? Rachel talks about setting strong boundaries, so your identity remains grounded in Christ and also loving your children fully.

Do you struggle with discipline as a mother or a woman? Rachel addresses how we are ultimately responsible for our own actions. Part of being a mother is owning our own actions and how we play a part in our children’s lives. We need to learn how we can practice proactive parenting rather than reactive parenting. She offers some great advice on this!

At Tirzah we are committed to becoming who God wants us to be as women. This means stewarding all the gifts God has given us in every season. If you’re a new mother, this book would be highly valuable. If God has you dreaming of being a someday mom and you want to understand more, I highly recommend it. If you’re a drowning mother overloaded with caring for kids, I recommend finding the time because I do believe you will find useful tips to find balance.