Good Enough Mother

Most mothers might say, no matter what age their offspring are, that motherhood never leaves you.

Good Enough Mother is a book for all mothers, not just those of young children, which shows how God can help mothers turn anxieties and stresses into growth points. It explores the fruit of the Spirit and how these can be used to grow parenting skills, written from the author's experience of raising three children over two decades. The book includes group material, ideal for discussion in women's groups. The foreword is written by Lindsay Melluish.

Good Enough Mother is ideal for mothers of all ages, wanting a way into thinking about issues of spiritual growth. It is a suitable gift, perhaps for Mothering Sunday, for a mother or grandmother. It can be used in study groups or as a pastoral care resource.

Naomi Starkey is BRF's Commissioning Editor for the adult list, and editor of and contributor to New Daylight Bible reading notes and Quiet Spaces prayer and spirituality journal. She has written articles and reviews for a wide range of Christian publications plus two science fiction novels. She is married to Mike and they have three children.

From Christian Marketplace - November 2008

A book which really isn't for someone like me, but which I think has a great deal of merit for a inclusion in a feature on parenting, is Good Enough Mother by Naomi Starkey. Indeed the author says in her introduction, 'This is not a book about practical parenting skills', it is more for reflection and encouragement.

It's not for me because it is clearly a book for mothers, and a great book for encouraging mothers it is too. I found myself laughing aloud at some of the situations Starkey described and remembered looking on at similar ones as a sometimes-bemused Dad. I can also see them recurring now as I watch my daughter with my grandson.

Starkey uses the device of 'the fruit of the Spirit' to address a series of common concerns and anxieties mothers at all stages face; a particular one is 'am I good enough?' and she deals admirably with this one. There are chapters on dealing with fluctuating emotions, being rested, and handling ambitions for your children, that deal with the issues in a positive and encouraging way. There is also a session plan for using the material with a group. It's due out in January 2009 and is worth keeping an eye out for.

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