Have you noticed this year seems a bit harder for everyone and especially for moms? I just saw a post on Facebook from The Scary Mommy that talks about how many moms want to be left alone for Mother's Day instead of gathering with family. I have to admit I somewhat want this too. Of course, it doesn't matter much for me since I won't see Hazel. She has things going on at school and can't come home. We will see her Saturday night for a short time after her show. But the truth is I'm exhausted. It is May. School is a bit crazy with the end of the year. This week we had a night open house. Next week we have our spring fling dance as well as spring games. The following week we have our Showcase. Each requires teachers to stay much later than a usual school day. Add in all the things going on at home and Hazel's school and life is crazy!! Plus, the chaos our country is in seems to be affecting everyone and moms seem to be needed more than ever. And quite honestly, we are all trying our best but if you are like me, you worry that you are not doing enough or doing your best. Today I am sharing a book with you for moms who need some reminders of how strong we are! The book is Hope for Moms: It's Tough Out There, But So Are You by Anna McArthur. There is a printable and a giveaway at the end of the post.
About the Book:
Ages: 18+ | 168 Pages
Publisher’s Book Summary: Many of us did everything we could to prepare for becoming moms, but there just wasn’t any way to know what might lie ahead. Most of us have, at one point or another, looked around and wondered if we are alone in our parenting challenges. Hope for Moms offers a heartfelt guide for mothers navigating both the joys and heartbreak of being a mom, sharing Anna McArthur’s personal journey through parenting difficulties such as learning disabilities, LGBTQ+ identities, and adoption. Structured around a triage plan that helped the author prioritize her family’s needs, it includes practical insights, quotes, and reflection questions to support moms in their journey of resilience and soul care. With gentleness and humor, McArthur provides reassurance to mothers, reminding them they have the strength to not only survive motherhood, but thrive.
McArthur provides reassurance to mothers, reminding them they have the strength to not only survive motherhood, but thrive. If you’re a mom who feels overwhelmed by the curveballs life has thrown your way, you aren’t alone—yes, it’s tough out there, but so are you!
Purchase Links
About the Author
Anna McArthur is a mom to four kids, including two recent college graduates and twin girls who are high schoolers. She is a blogger, newspaper guest columnist, and contributor to parenting magazines and websites, including Her View from Home and the Motherly Collective. Anna’s essays have recently been published by Grown and Flown and Business Insider.
A graduate of Clemson University and Columbia Theological Seminary, Anna lives in Athens, Georgia, with her husband, Bryan, and their teenaged girls, who are much cooler than her. Anna loves to read, garden, hike, and eat dips for dinner.
For more information, visit:
- hopeformomsbook.com
- https://www.instagram.com/hopeformomsbook
- https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555908861922
From Me:
Have you had those moments of doubt as a mother? Do you worry you are overprotective or not doing enough? I know we all have doubts at some point and the current political climate seems to be making things worse for most people I know. This book addresses many parts of life as a mother and how to navigate it all. The book is divided into three sections: Yes: These Things Stay, No: These Things Go, and Maybe: We'll Do Our Best Going Forward. Anna shares her own stories as a mom. She shares her kids struggles from learning disabilities to one of them coming out as gay. She shares her own mistakes and how she has worked to correct her paths and reactions. She shares the successes and what to do in the Yes section. It includes things like accept help and it is ok to cry. In the No section she shares some common mistakes many parents make. They include things like always giving an explanation to everyone and walking around bragging about your kids. In the Maybe section there are ideas to help us all going forward including things like starting something new (great advice for the empty nesters) and being a different kind of mom for different children and situations. This book is full of ideas to help in the journey of motherhood, navigating the tough waters and the changes, and it is full of hope. It is perfect for every mom but especially ones that are struggling with something. It gives advice on things like working with kids who are adopted, different races, and so much more.
Each chapter ends with some statements or questions to think about and relate the chapter to your own life. Whether you are looking for something to help you through a difficult time or just want something about being a mom, this book will help you and inspire you to have hope. The stories in it are real and relatable to one's own life. As both a mom and a teacher I saw my stories and the parents of my students' stories in Anna's. I love how she shares things to focus on having in your life and things to stop having/doing in your life and then gives ideas of things that might be good for you to do or have. Realizing someone else is having the same difficulties or similar ones can help you have hope.
Since hope is my word for 2025, I wanted to do something special with this book. My original idea was to create word art using hope and then making quilled flowers for it. Unfortunately, my crazy May schedule made it impossible to get done, so I made a quick printable on Canva. My message is full of hope. I feel like this book helped bloom my hope, so I made it say, "Hope for Moms blooms". I hope the book brings you hope as well!
Giveaway:
Enter for a chance to win a paperback copy of Hope For Moms: It’s Tough Out There But So Are You by Anna McArthur. Good luck!
