Thirty Little Fingers: Seasons of Young Motherhood

by Sheila J. Petre

This book is for anyone with a family. Perhaps you never opened your home to a Muslim exchange student, but Sheila and Michael have, twice. Complicated friendships, marital tension and comforts, and the kindness of strangers at the post office are chronicled in ways that will make you laugh until you cry, or just plain cry. Sheila Petre's collection of memoir, humor, recipes, and poetry is a book you'll want to share.

266 pages

Published January 1, 2017

Reviews

[Meghan Brubaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved this book a lot. It would be a 4.5 if Goodreads allowed half stars. :) Petre is a gifted writer with hilariously witty lines that show up in the most unexpected places. I enjoyed her perspectives on motherhood and the way she sees beauty in the everyday.

[June]

I’ve read this book full of essays, stories, poetry, and recipes more often than any other book on my shelf. (I have more than one copy, too.) And it still makes me smile, perhaps because the writer’s sense of humor so completely matches mine. More than that, she makes the same mistakes I’ve made, and finds joy from the same sources.

Despite what Sheila may say to the contrary, her children are fairly normal children, which is to say full of laughter and creativity. And her husband…I admire his patience and wit, the way he manages to be both chill and humble. I confess I’ve rather fallen in love with him.

[Kristi Horst · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe I would read it again and quite possibly enjoy it more, if I am ever in a season of mothering 3 or more children. Most of the stories were funny, but unrelatable as a first time Mom with just one child. The stories were mostly about the chaos of raising lots of children. I did appreciate the wisdom she seemed to weave through the story-telling.

[Annie Goering · Rating 5 out of 5]

An easy read. It is not the sort of book I would usually pick up but it was gifted to me and I enjoyed it for the most part.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful collection of essays (with a little poetry) on the joys and challenges of motherhood, being Mennonite, and hosting foreign exchange students. Petre faces life with common sense, faith, love, and humor. You will certainly laugh with her, and you might even cry too. Her stories are relatable to young mothers but enjoyable to anyone at any stage of life. I know this is a book I will want to read again.

[Aurelia Mast-glick · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read. It's funny and sobering all in one.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick read when I could get a few minutes. Each chapter is a little story and so many of them sounded like our life. :)