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The Christian Mama's Guide to the Grade School Years: Everything You Need to Know to Survive (and Love) Sending Your Kid Off into the Big Wide World
Prepares moms for the time when their school-aged kids take their first few steps into the world and away from mama's nest. Sending a child off to school is a whole lot more than stocking up on school supplies and packing a (somewhat) healthy lunch. This helpful guidebook walks Christian moms Moms will learn how to cover their children in prayer so that their launch into the world, and away from her control, is done with grace and wisdom―helping them grow into the men and women God intended them to be.
208 pages, Paperback
First published April 2, 2013
5 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
About the author
Erin MacPherson
21 books23 followersHi! I'm Erin. I'm a 32-year-old mom of two. And, if we're being honest, I'm not really qualified to guide anyone on anything.
My house is a mess, my daughter has been halfway potty trained for five months and I just stuffed an entire load of clean, dry laundry into a laundry basket without folding it. The last time I attempted a craft with my kids, it ended in a tempra-paint induced meltdown (from me, not my kids). I'm not particularly organized or style-savvy or discipline-wise.
But, I am a mom. And a Christian. And since my new pregnancy book (coming March 1, 2011) is entitled "The Christian Mama's Guide to Having a Baby", I figured that entitling my blog "Christian Mama's Guide" just made sense.
So, welcome! Pull up a chair. Get comfortable. I can't wait to meet and connect with other moms like me-- moms who just love their husbands, love their kids and love their not-so-organized, not-so-crafty and not-so-fashionable lives. I'd love to hear your stories, your ideas and your thoughts and (if you have any) your potty training advice.
My house is a mess, my daughter has been halfway potty trained for five months and I just stuffed an entire load of clean, dry laundry into a laundry basket without folding it. The last time I attempted a craft with my kids, it ended in a tempra-paint induced meltdown (from me, not my kids). I'm not particularly organized or style-savvy or discipline-wise.
But, I am a mom. And a Christian. And since my new pregnancy book (coming March 1, 2011) is entitled "The Christian Mama's Guide to Having a Baby", I figured that entitling my blog "Christian Mama's Guide" just made sense.
So, welcome! Pull up a chair. Get comfortable. I can't wait to meet and connect with other moms like me-- moms who just love their husbands, love their kids and love their not-so-organized, not-so-crafty and not-so-fashionable lives. I'd love to hear your stories, your ideas and your thoughts and (if you have any) your potty training advice.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 20, 2019
This book has some really useful tips amid a lot of fluff and cheesy humor. Really appreciated the Scripture and prayers in the “time out” sections. Could have been a few blog posts rather than a whole book.
August 16, 2024
I’m trying not to give EVERYTHING 5 stars..!..but this was fun and funny-the verses to pray over your kids at the end made me almost give 5 stars!
April 9, 2013
The fourth in the Christian Mama's guide focuses on the milestone of starting school. That time when your little one who thinks you are the center of the world (and you share that same opinion) takes their first independent steps in uncharted water. Although I now home school our 5 children my first went to public school. I was shocked when I received a "welcome" letter from the school describing drop off and pick of procedures - I was sending her to school but was not yet ready for the whole put her on the bus experience. The letter indicated that I was to drop her at the curb of the school intrusted to a "guide" to be shown to her class. Well I can tell you this mommma did not do that. Oh no I walked right into that school holding my precious baby girl's hand and holding a 2 year old on the hip. When they tried to explain their procedures I asked for a hall pass and very firmly explained that I was not in the habit of leaving my baby girl ANY WHERE until I had met those who would be taking care of her and seen her classroom. They did not stop me and at the door I gave my daughter a big hug, kissed the palm of her hand and reminded her that if she missed me that all she had to do was remember the kiss in her hand.
This is no easy transition for a stay at home mom - in fact I think it likens to the empty nest syndrome you feel when you send your child off to college - only to a lesser degree. I went home feeling that a part of my world was empty, what was I to do to occupy the 6 hours until I picked her up again.
This book explores these fears and helps a mother to better adjust to the change. I think it is best suited for a public school mother than a home school mother. The reason being that a home school mom faces very unique challenges and joys that can only be explored by a home school mom. I will throw this out for those considering home school - in the book Erin indicates the cost of home school as being too much. Although this can be true it is not always. When we began home schooling we chose a very expensive program that just isn't feasible for five children and a one income family. My children get a very well-rounded education for a VERY affordable price. Home school associations and groups further make home schooling affordable since many people share resources, ideas and support. Also - socialization, well really that is a term that ought to be thrown out. If this is the main reason for fear of home schooling you can rest assured that your children will be as socialized as you allow them to be. I have seen some very un-socialized public school children.
Erin has done, again, an excellent job at presenting very useful ideas and resources. I enjoyed very much reading this book. She focused a lot on a parent's duty to instil Christian morals, values and lifestyle. I appreciate this as I see many parents who seem to push this off on the church and the school. Believe me if you are not teaching your child Christian guidelines and helping them to hide the Word in their heart the world will fill their heart, mind and life with secular world views that will be damaging to their walk with God.
Thank you Erin for taking time to invest in the lives of others by writing this book for those going through this stressful and monumental time in motherhood.
Thank you so much Erin and Thomas Nelson for this book. I would recommend it to everyone. This entire series would be a blessing to a first time mom tucked into her baby shower gift or in the diaper cake you painstakingly create.
This is no easy transition for a stay at home mom - in fact I think it likens to the empty nest syndrome you feel when you send your child off to college - only to a lesser degree. I went home feeling that a part of my world was empty, what was I to do to occupy the 6 hours until I picked her up again.
This book explores these fears and helps a mother to better adjust to the change. I think it is best suited for a public school mother than a home school mother. The reason being that a home school mom faces very unique challenges and joys that can only be explored by a home school mom. I will throw this out for those considering home school - in the book Erin indicates the cost of home school as being too much. Although this can be true it is not always. When we began home schooling we chose a very expensive program that just isn't feasible for five children and a one income family. My children get a very well-rounded education for a VERY affordable price. Home school associations and groups further make home schooling affordable since many people share resources, ideas and support. Also - socialization, well really that is a term that ought to be thrown out. If this is the main reason for fear of home schooling you can rest assured that your children will be as socialized as you allow them to be. I have seen some very un-socialized public school children.
Erin has done, again, an excellent job at presenting very useful ideas and resources. I enjoyed very much reading this book. She focused a lot on a parent's duty to instil Christian morals, values and lifestyle. I appreciate this as I see many parents who seem to push this off on the church and the school. Believe me if you are not teaching your child Christian guidelines and helping them to hide the Word in their heart the world will fill their heart, mind and life with secular world views that will be damaging to their walk with God.
Thank you Erin for taking time to invest in the lives of others by writing this book for those going through this stressful and monumental time in motherhood.
Thank you so much Erin and Thomas Nelson for this book. I would recommend it to everyone. This entire series would be a blessing to a first time mom tucked into her baby shower gift or in the diaper cake you painstakingly create.
June 3, 2013
I got the Christian Mama's Guide to the Grade School Years by Erin MacPherson (and her mom) free by agreeing to review it on my blog from Thomas Nelson & Booksneeze!
Erin is very humorous and almost every sentence has a joke included. Depending on my mood, this was wonderful or annoying; something you should know going in! The book gives practical advice as well as spiritual motivation for this next step of our kids' lives.
One of the biggest focus is the Fifteen Factors, character qualities important to develop in addition to academics. Overall I really liked her attitude: being ready is important, choosing the right school is important, knowing what to do if your kid struggles is important, but the most important thing is encouraging them to have genuine faith and how we can work hard yet relax in it all.
I read this near the end of my daughter's Kindergarten year so I didn't need the pep talks about letting go the first day but I am still glad I read this book. I am planning on printing some of her free sheets as great reminders on things to focus on while my girls are in grade school.
I thought it was kinda cool/kinda odd that Erin practically team wrote this with her mother, an educator. The sections from her mom were great to hear from someone on the other side and who has seen a lot and she has wonderful practical pointers on things such as communication, strength-weakness combo, and more.
One funny thing, my four year old picked up the book, looked at the front cover and said we need to give this book to a teenager because of the depiction of the mom :). If you have kids in the younger grades or soon to starting school, I recommend this one!
Erin is very humorous and almost every sentence has a joke included. Depending on my mood, this was wonderful or annoying; something you should know going in! The book gives practical advice as well as spiritual motivation for this next step of our kids' lives.
One of the biggest focus is the Fifteen Factors, character qualities important to develop in addition to academics. Overall I really liked her attitude: being ready is important, choosing the right school is important, knowing what to do if your kid struggles is important, but the most important thing is encouraging them to have genuine faith and how we can work hard yet relax in it all.
I read this near the end of my daughter's Kindergarten year so I didn't need the pep talks about letting go the first day but I am still glad I read this book. I am planning on printing some of her free sheets as great reminders on things to focus on while my girls are in grade school.
I thought it was kinda cool/kinda odd that Erin practically team wrote this with her mother, an educator. The sections from her mom were great to hear from someone on the other side and who has seen a lot and she has wonderful practical pointers on things such as communication, strength-weakness combo, and more.
One funny thing, my four year old picked up the book, looked at the front cover and said we need to give this book to a teenager because of the depiction of the mom :). If you have kids in the younger grades or soon to starting school, I recommend this one!
January 12, 2013
As mothers who’ve experienced sending their children off to school, we all know how taxing this milestone can be. Most of us become fraught with worry (and get downright emotional) as we struggle with the idea of having to let go, and face the fact that our babies are indeed growing up.
But as Erin MacPherson so eloquently discusses throughout her book, "The Christian Mama’s Guide to the First School Years," these are the moments where moms like us can place our trust in God and His plans for our children’s future. This is the time where we can step out in our faith, and send our struggles straight up to Him. And as a mom who definitely understands what battling those “back-to-school blues” are all about, MacPherson equips each of her readers with loads of practical advice, invaluable information, beautifully scripted (not to mention, reassuring) words of faith, and plenty of comic relief to go around. So, if you’ve got kiddos headed off to school soon (or even if they’ve begun their elementary days already), be sure to arm yourself with this book.
You’ll be so glad you did.
-Jenny Lee Sulpizio, Author of Confessions of a Wonder Woman Wannabe
But as Erin MacPherson so eloquently discusses throughout her book, "The Christian Mama’s Guide to the First School Years," these are the moments where moms like us can place our trust in God and His plans for our children’s future. This is the time where we can step out in our faith, and send our struggles straight up to Him. And as a mom who definitely understands what battling those “back-to-school blues” are all about, MacPherson equips each of her readers with loads of practical advice, invaluable information, beautifully scripted (not to mention, reassuring) words of faith, and plenty of comic relief to go around. So, if you’ve got kiddos headed off to school soon (or even if they’ve begun their elementary days already), be sure to arm yourself with this book.
You’ll be so glad you did.
-Jenny Lee Sulpizio, Author of Confessions of a Wonder Woman Wannabe
May 18, 2015
I wished I had read this book a few years sooner as it really is an excellent resource for preparing to send your kids off to kindergarten. At least I still have one at home that I can apply this knowledge to! But there are still many great ideas even for older children to help them survive and thrive in grade school and beyond. And some excellent ideas for how to instil Godly values and how to pray for your school aged children.
February 22, 2013
I enjoyed this book! There are a number of helpful tips on parenting my child to have a genuine faith as he enters the "big wide world". The "15 factors" is especially helpful. Great idea to include the perspectives from a professional and seasoned educator alongside with Erin's "real world parenting stories and insights". That was smart!
March 21, 2013
More of a memoir than a guide, this book still has excellent tips for Christian parents who want to prepare their child for kindergarten. For full review, see here: http://eagleswingsbooks.blogspot.com/...
July 9, 2018
Good advice. Enjoyable, easy, and humorous read.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews