This book is another book club book. It's completely perfect for where I am in my life right now. Kenison is a working Mom, raised during the feminist movement, who has chosen to slow her life down and really be mindful of the fleeting time she has with two sweet little spirits. Kenison has re-prioritized her life around finding joy, simplicity, and peace while nurturing her children and her own inner spirit. The book reminds me a bit of The Creative Family although it is focused more on finding peace rather than inspiring creativity.

The book is definitely colored by the Waldorf philosophy but it is mostly reflections on embracing the best parts of parenthood. So many times I wish I had known how short childhood would be and savored it a bit more. Mitten Strings For God celebrates the simple pleasures of childhood and reliving those joys through parenthood. Parenthood is a chance to see childhood all over again from a more grateful perspective. There are so many moments that can be made even more wonderful by allowing a deeper peace and simplicity into our homes.

Growing up, I pictured my life as going down two seperate paths. I pictured a career and education driven life and then a family life with children. I never pictured them together because I could never quite figure out how they would coexist. Sometimes I still feel that way but the more I time I spend on this journey of motherhood, the more I realize that motherhood is as Kenison says: "my true vocation." Lately I've been especially aware of how precious my time is and how fast it slips through my fingers. Being a wife and mother is a truly lovely life and the more I concentrate on it, the more everything else seems to fall into place.

One of the biggest battles I think I will face as a parent is trying to protect my children in a media/consumer driven world where their peers might have a greater impact on them than I will. Creating a family bound together with love and a deep connection is becoming a more elusive task with every passing decade. I think slowing down and really concentrating on important values and fostering a more meaningful connection with my family is the only antedote for the accelerating worldliness my children will face.

The last chapter on choices resonated deeply with me. We make choices on a daily basis about what our priorities are. We choose how to treat our families and we chose how we express our love to each other. I've been trying really hard this year to try and find a rythmn for our life and make sure we are making time for the important things. This book definitely empowered me to keep trying. Kenison's reflections also inspired me really concentrate on the great moments in motherhood.