Professionalizing Motherhood: Encouraging, Educating, and Equipping Mothers At Home

by Jill Savage, Liz Curtis Higgs (Foreword)

EXPANDED! NOW WITH LEADER’S GUIDE AND DISCUSSION QUESTIONS. “Just a mom?” There’s no such thing. Motherhood isn’t a second-rate occupation. It is a career that can maximize your talents and strengths to their fullest. Look past the surface of mothering—the endless tasks and frantic pace—to the incredible skills required to raise your children while nurturing your marriage. The truth is clear: You’re a professional in one of the most dignified, demanding, and rewarding fields any woman can find. Upbeat, candid, and engaging, Professionalizing Motherhood will do more than help you radically redefine how you see yourself. It will guide you toward practical development as a career woman who specializes in the home. Jill Savage helps you determine a strategy and set goals for professional training and growth. From the foundational to the practical, you’ll learn about Establishing your mission Developing a network of “coworkers” Discovering your value in Christ How marriage and mothering work together Organizational and homemaking basics Taking care of your personal needs Professionalizing Motherhood casts a fresh and meaningful vision for mothering as a worthy career choice for this season of your life.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Christian, Religion

Paperback

First published April 1, 2001

Reviews

[Amanda Emerson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am almost finished reading through this book and boy do I wish I would have had the opportunity to read it during my first year of mothering. Although this book was published when I was actually in high school there is so much to glean from this book. I love the idea of thinking about motherhood as my career. I thought the author had a number of great ideas. At the end of every chapter she included a few "personal reflections" that were wonderful. It would be so much fun to work through these questions in a small group, with a friend, or even alone in a personal journal.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great find! It really appealed to my business nature & was alot of food for thought in framing my role as SAHM. It has helped me embrace more the idea of Homemaking, rather than just Housekeeping.

[Taryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book helped shape my view of being a stay-at-home mom. I have read it a few times, and highly recommend it to ANY mom.

[Betty Garcia]

Loved this book. It gives you a better understanding of what motherhood is all about. It actually is a profession. * The book tells you how to establish the mission of your job as a mom; how to develp a network of "coworkers"; The all-important foundation of knowing your value in christ; how marriage and mothering work together; organizing and homemaking basics; taking care of your personal needs; and much more...

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up a couple of times and flipped through it before actually starting to read it. It was different than I expected but I enjoyed it a lot. I thought it would be a guide on how to organize the things the typical mom needs to get done in a day, but it was more about the importance of motherhood and involved parenting, as well as being marriage-centered as opposed to a child-centered family.

[Denise · Rating 2 out of 5]

I guess I was hoping for more--a training manuel of sorts for this particular profession. I think it would be a good read for some, though. I just happened to have gone to a lot of Bible studies on mothering and I've read a lot of books on the topic. Her book was like the Cliffs Notes for all those other resources.

[Erika]

I love the concept, and the introduction was inspiring, but the rest of the book becomes sort of a broad overview of topics that apply to mothers. I suppose they would be good if it was the first time I'd ever read them, but I've read more than one mothering book that covered the same things. I was hoping for more of a philosophy of motherhood.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Her perspective is really nice. I like all of the positive language. I'm not ashamed of being a stay at home mom but a lot of people disagree with our decision. This book puts a positive spin on those comments and also reminds you of just how much you do as a stay at home mom. I would recommend it to anyone who stays home or is thinking about it. Very encouraging!

[Mnmstaten · Rating 4 out of 5]

I stumbled upon this book in the library while helping my son with some (unrelated) research. Most of this book talks about things that I have read or heard before, but it is well-written from a Christian perspective. I learned some new things from the section on mercy, and I appreciated the discussion on having a marriage-centered, rather than a child-centered focus.

[Kim♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book wasn't at all what I thought it would be. The Lord really used it to begin a change in my heart toward my husband. After this I read, "Is There Really Sex After Kids?" and a few others that kept chipping away at my heart. :)

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good stuff. If nothing else, encouraging to know that other mothers go through the same stuff.

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just started this one, but I really like it so far. Worth buying, I think!

[Melissa]

I'm at the end of chapter 2 and this book has helped me look at things in a completely different way already!

[Kirstin · Rating 4 out of 5]

so far very informative

[Pamelamtracey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was q uick read, I guess because I skimmed a bit. It was very positive but nothing I haven't head before.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Practical, sanity saving advise on what really is a profession, and how you can learn to look at it that way.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read part of this and loved it. Didn't have time to finish, but after hearing her speak, think that I'll devour Jill Savage's work when I get time to read it!

[Marion · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good resource/encouragement for stay at home moms!

[Kim]

wish I’d read this when my kids were much younger; love the empowering language and Christian outlook

[Cathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really appreciated the tips and moral boosts this book provided, even if I couldn't always relate to the author's conservative religious views.

[Lysa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book! Very eye opening. Highlights the importance and magnitude of the job we do as " stay home moms"

[Katie Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised how much I liked this book :) I was intrigued by the title, and felt like the author did a good job of covering the basis of thinking of motherhood as a profession. But she did it in a way that makes sense as well - making it clear that mothering is not like typical professions in many ways.

The book is from a Christian perspective and had some very relevant spiritual topics, including finding your value in Christ. I found much of the spiritual content very helpful, even though I may not have expected to see it in a book on mothering.

The book was written in the 1990s I believe, so a number of details about daily life are outdated, and today's issues with technology aren't specifically addressed. But I found most of it to be very helpful.

Well worth the read. I found her perspectives helpful and encouraging!

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was formational in my motherhood. It has helped me feel valuable choosing to be a stay-at-home mother, and has helped me encourage mothers throughout the years. Whether you stay at home or work a paying job, this book gives you direction for intentionally doing your best at raising your children.

[Victoria Mattingly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal book. Picked it up for 50 cents at a thrift store. Typically I give away books once read, but this one stays on the shelf. So many ideas, tips, advice, etc. that have already helped me a lot. So many helpful things I feel like I could read it again and again.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one is going on my “first time mother’s gift pack “. Some of the technology references are a little dated because it was written in 2001, but there is so much helpful information and encouragement in those pages!

[Mandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helpful but pretty simplistic in parts and I was hoping for a more robust discussion on some key areas of motherhood

[Anete Ābola · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great book if you are new to the "stay-at-home-mom" model/idea. Since I am 110% sure of being a SAHM, there were almost no new ideas/challenges for me left.

[Kayley Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a book in 2002, all of it still holds true!