Looking for some secrets to make being a mom more fun and rewarding? In this charming new book, mother- and- daughter team Linda Eyre (mother of ni...
read full description
reviews
Sep 01, 2009
Janene
rated it: 
A book by the Eyre's, this time a mother daughter team. I picked it up, largely because of the good things I've found in using their joy school curriculum and parenting tips at valuesparenting.com. I highly recommend this read to anyone not familiar with their ideas. They know their stuff.
For that very reason, bits and pieces of it were repetitive for me. Mostly I wanted to take notes on the sections written by Linda. I love when she would wrap up a section with some great ideas More...
For that very reason, bits and pieces of it were repetitive for me. Mostly I wanted to take notes on the sections written by Linda. I love when she would wrap up a section with some great ideas More...
May 20, 2009
Dana
rated it: 
Please note that this book is co-authored by Shawni Pothier, Linda Eyre's daughter. Why Goodreads has it wrong is beyond me, but VERY irritating, as this is one of the main reasons to read this book.
1) Linda Eyre was a key author in my life, in helping me find the way to become the kind of mom I wanted to be. She gave me hope years before I became a mom, and afterwards, as well. Her insights were completely born of real life, not theory. To now have a book written with her daughter, More...
1) Linda Eyre was a key author in my life, in helping me find the way to become the kind of mom I wanted to be. She gave me hope years before I became a mom, and afterwards, as well. Her insights were completely born of real life, not theory. To now have a book written with her daughter, More...
Feb 21, 2011
Mommywest
rated it: 
I LOVE Linda Eyre--her books have encouraged me and given me hope and knowledge in motherhood. This little gem, written with her daughter, Shawni Pothier, will give you what you need to be the best mom you can be. I liked the parts written by Linda best, probably because she has way more experience, but both women have created a beautiful book that will help any mother to find joy in their children and in their role as a mother. Organized into five sections, the book is intended to help mothers
More...
Mar 23, 2011
Lori
rated it:
I had an order from Deseret Book that needed $6 more for free shipping, so I tagged this one on. I'm always looking for good ideas for getting my kids to cooperate. So I read it, and there were many good ideas. But somehow Linda Eyre's tone left me feeling guilty (probably because I have a totally different personality, and staying organized is a real challenge for me). I'm pretty sure I'll never do many of the things they suggest, like weekly family meetings (on top of FHE? wow., and monthly 5
More...
Aug 04, 2011
Cara
rated it:
There are some great parenting tips in this book. Some of the "secrets" though, I felt the daughter was slightly underqualified to be authoring for. I was reading her description of a "bad" day and thinking she can't even relate to me at all if this is what a bad day is for her. That's at best an average day for me. Forget having a dishwasher and swimming pool or children old enough to put dirty dishes into an already clean dishwasher. I appreciated her attempt to try to
More...
Sep 09, 2010
Mary
rated it:
There are several gems I've found in the reading of this lovely little book. One is the image of children as a seed. In the Nature/Nurture debate, we get caught up in which force has the most influence. I like how Linda Eyre views it. We come as a seed, destined to be the thing we ARE. But, the type of light, water, and soil we encounter will determine how well we develop and reach our potential. A rosebush can't be a cactus, but it can grow large or small and have many blooms or few, depe
More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Dec 12, 2009
Lindsay
rated it:
This has been my favorite parenting book I've ever read. I love that the authors just tell it like it is and don't sugar coat the reality of parenthood. The stories are great and the suggestions are fabulous. After reading this book, it made me want to try so much harder and have a whole bunch of kids, so watch out. I wanted to be an honorary member of the Eyre family and go on vacation with them. I follow Shawni's blog now and if you want to help a good cause, all the proceeds from the book sal
More...
Jul 14, 2009
Marcie
rated it:
I really enjoyed this book. Some of the "secrets" shared were obvious, but others were surprising nuggets of good advice that I have now stored away for future use. The Eyre family is kinda like the Covey family -- you read about them and wonder if they are for real because they sound like they have it so together. I can see how that could annoy some readers, but it totally works for me -- my husband and I are huge Covey fans and I always joke that I fully intend to have a "Covey
More...
Aug 25, 2011
Audra
rated it:
I like Linda Eyre's books very much, but found her daughter's two cents to be irritating. It was a bit braggy, overly writerly, too feel good, and frankly not helpful. Several ideas that Linda shares are also included in other books (I didn't plan to be a witch, or Teaching children...), but they are a good reminder. I admire that they tried to write a book together - it's sweet. But the "secrets" are mostly just common sense, or read like journal entries I couldn't much relate to.
More...
Jan 05, 2011
Molly
rated it:
Loved it. So much insight and practicality. Short and to the point (my kind of self-help book). Ideas of how to help your children in so many areas: money, work, talks about sex, dinnertime. And ideas of how to enjoy the process of being a mother by being organized, creative, setting goals as a family, having mission statements and traditions.
I loved how the chapters went back and forth between the mother and daughter authors.
One of my favorite quotes:
More...
I loved how the chapters went back and forth between the mother and daughter authors.
One of my favorite quotes:
More...
May 28, 2011
Cassidy
rated it:
I got this book as a gift for Mother's Day and really liked it. It was organized in sections and within each section there were several stories that shared "tips" from either Linda Eyre, or her daughter, Shawni. It was a perfect book to read here and there when I had an extra minute or two. The tips motivated me to be the best mom I can be and got me excited about things I can do to be better. It was also reassuring to know that I'm not the only one that gets exasperated at being a mot
More...
Jan 20, 2010
Megan
rated it:
I really enjoyed reading this book. It gave me lots of great mommy ideas as well as reminding me of what motherhood is all about. I'm now reading a section a night with my husband because I think a lot of the information is beneficial for both parents to hear. The book reminded me of a lesson on prayer at church. I have heard lessons on prayer all my life but than every so often one particular lesson will really stand out to me and speak to me in a new way. I felt this book captured that fe
More...
Nov 17, 2009
Kirstie
rated it:
Any mother should read this to have some new wonderful parenting insights brought into their life. I marked several ideas down that I would like to try with my children. These range from how to deal with "the talk" to allowance ideas to sharing happy and sads with each other at dinner. Pretty much an inspirational book written by two mothers who have been there and know what you feel like on those days when you just don't have any energy left to keep going!
Jun 01, 2009
Susan
rated it:
I bought this book for myself. The cover and photos are what enticed me to buy it. However, I found myself keeping a little list of advice that I wanted to try, quotes that I enjoyed and photos that I would try to copy with my family.
This book was a little treasure that I would keep in my car and read as I was waiting in the carpool line to pick up my kids from school. It gave me a pick me up when I needed it.
Okay...so what if some of it was advice we've heard before....I hadn't hear More...
This book was a little treasure that I would keep in my car and read as I was waiting in the carpool line to pick up my kids from school. It gave me a pick me up when I needed it.
Okay...so what if some of it was advice we've heard before....I hadn't hear More...
May 20, 2009
Dee Anne
rated it:
I served in Romania with Shawni, so I picked it up. It isn't anything really new, but it has some good reminders of things we often forget. Upon finishing it, I did learn quite a few new things. The most important of which is the significance of planning. I'm sure that I am the only one, but I get so caught up in the moment that never seems to stop that I don't plan what I want the future to be. And most importantly I don't look forward to the things I really need to teach my children in ord
More...
Jan 09, 2010
Anna
rated it:
This was my bathroom reading for awhile. It was perfect cuz each section was a page or 2 or 3 at most. :) I loved all the great ideas to make my relationship with Hailee and future kids more meaningful. Also loved the ideas on teaching values like hard work, ownership, responsibility, etc. This is definitely a keeper I will refer back to a lot! Also, the photographs throughout are beautiful! Wish I could take photos like that!
Jun 24, 2010
Julie
rated it:
I really liked this book but did not like it at the same time. I have implemented many of the parenting ideas in our family and am soo happy to have read it as it has started me on a more concious parenting path, but it was like reading someone elses blog, and you really do not care about their kid's issues.
It is a short quick read, great for anyone looking for an easy parenting book!
It is a short quick read, great for anyone looking for an easy parenting book!
Oct 22, 2009
Kate
rated it:
LOVE this book! The 'secrets' are one page reads that were a great way to start my day. I had to force myself to only read one at a time. I took notes like crazy. There are lots of great ideas that are easy to incorporate as well as hilarious stories. Our favorite one so far that we have tried is talking about our 'happies' and 'sads' for the day over dinner.
Jun 09, 2009
Lynne
rated it:
I kind of didn't want to read this book because I thought it would make me feel bad about my many parental shortcomings. But I ended up LOVING it and cried on nearly every page (in a good way). Written by a mother of nine grown children and her oldest daughter, herself a mother of five young children, each chapter alternates authors and perspectives. It's full of encouragement and really practical, applicable ideas, and is overall really inspiring and uplifting. Read it even if you hate parentin
More...
Apr 16, 2009
Chelsea
rated it:
Linda Eyre is Pats Aunt, she is a fabulous writer. I LOVE her books on parenting. She has teamed up with her daughter Shawni to write this book. It is such a sweet book. Shawni is a photographer and has featured some of her photography is in the book. There is even a picture of Cami in the book!
Great little book for Mothers day! Go get your copy today!
Great little book for Mothers day! Go get your copy today!
Apr 30, 2010
Alissa
rated it:
There were a couple of great ideas in this book that I really want to incorporate into our family. It is written in short little entries by a mother-daughter team. I also liked reading the ideas that the daughter had that were different from her mother and the ideas that she liked from her growing up that didn't quite work in her family.
Sep 09, 2009
Eleanor
rated it:
I haven't really learned anything new. It just reemphasizes things I know, but don't always do. It also makes me feel like I'm not the only one. One cute side note is that Marie saw a photograph of girl her age(2)crying in the book and said, "she needs her mommy." So guess I did learned that Marie does understand other people's feelings. :)
May 26, 2009
Francie
rated it:
This was a mother's day gift. I would probably not have chosen this book for myself at this point in my life -- however, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it! Some great ideas were shared, sound counsel is given, and lots of encouragement for mom's "in the trenches". Definitely a few ideas I wish I'd heard sooner too ... :)
May 29, 2011
Sara
rated it:
My mom gave this to me for my 1st mother's day this year. I loved it! I loved how the ideas were in short little sections. I know I will be rereading this as our family grows and as kids get older. There are a lot of ideas I would like to incorporate into our family and others that could be adjusted as every family is different.
Jul 12, 2009
Rachel
rated it:
I loved this book. I doubt anything earth-shattering was presented, but the conversational, understanding tone was as good as a chat with a close mommy friend! I can't wait to start implementing some of Linda and Shawni's great ideas and traditions. I'm a firm believer in periodically reviewing and overhauling my approach to motherhood.
May 09, 2009
Heidi
rated it: 
This book was given to me as a birthday gift from my Relief Society president. At first glance I thought it was an excuse for a stay at home mom to show off her photography and give advice that we've all heard a million times. However as I have skimmed through it I have actually learned a thing or two and read some fun parenting ideas.
Jun 16, 2010
Summer
rated it:
I absolutely loved this book! Such great ideas for raising children and teaching them to be fun, honest, faithful, hard working and responsible. A great reminder of what a privilege it is to be a mother and that we should absolutely cherish each moment with our children because before we know it they will be grown.
May 22, 2011
Melissa
rated it:
I've read many of Linda's books on parenting and found that many of her sections to be stuff I've already read. But I mainly wanted to read it for Shawni's sections since she seems to be in the same stage of life that I am. I did enjoy it and always come away with new ideas to try and be a better mom.
May 29, 2009
Becky
rated it:
This book has some of the best ideas for families. It is a mother that had 9 children and one of her daughters who now has 5 children. They share things that have been successful in their families. I have implemented 2 of the ideas and have a list of other things to try after we have these two down.
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Oct 14, 2010
Carrie
rated it:
My mom gave me this book and I wasn't excited to read it. Turns out it was not the fluff I was expecting. This was written by a mother of 9 and one of her daughters who has 5 of her own. They are not perfect, but they have some great ideas. I'll be reading this again as Lincoln grows, I'm sure.
