I heard so many people rave about this book, which ultimately fell a little flat for me unfortunately. Something is definitely lacking in it, sometimes it felt practical and then sometimes too based on personal examples but missing the why moms get grumpy.

I enjoyed her honesty and related to her struggles with raising children, being a wife and mother. Not a fan of the title or the use of The Messsage for Bible translation, per se, however, she shares biblical scripture that was helpful for her and made some wonderful points that are easy to apply. I would have liked to see more depth, but this is great for a new mom or Christian. This is one of the better mothering books out there, as many of them point to self. I am a big fan of her prayer journal products and thankful for the courage she has to share her story.

Grumpy Mom Takes a Holiday is an excellent read for moms of young ones. Woerner gives moms ideas on how to take care of themselves and their kids without losing their sanity. Her advice is practical and the book is a fast read, which is important for moms of young ones. I enjoyed the section on “Divine Interruptions.” Like Woerner, I’m an introvert with perfectionistic tendencies. If a plan gets interrupted during the day, I feel very frustrated. She writes, “If what we planned doesn’t happen, then it wasn’t God’s purpose for the time. Our frustration comes because feel we should be doing something different from what we’re doing in the moment. We struggle because what we think we’re supposed to be doing has been interrupted…if my plan gets interrupted, then it wasn’t his plan for that moment after all.” So GOOD! I really struggle with this and it’s probably where my main frustration as a parent comes in and causes most of my anxiety in life. Woerner gave very good advice on how to handle life as a mama when you are Type A like myself.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

What a sweet read for moms - especially those in the little years! After long days of caring for two I loved soaking in Valerie's refreshing words about fighting the good fight of motherhood with joy and for God's glory. With each chapter I couldn't help but think "this girl gets it" - the struggles, the fears, the strains, the sins that we bear as weary mommas. She keeps it real and lighthearted, and yet manages to untangle the deeper, raw issues of the heart that must be addressed in order for us to shake "grumpiness" and walk by the Spirit. Each reading gave a pep talk I didn't know I needed.

The combination of chuckle-worthy personal anecdotes, strong exhortations from Scripture, and practical steps for growth makes it both enjoyable and super edifying. It reoriented my daily perspective in small but impactful ways. I can't wait to share this gem with other moms!

*I received an advanced reader copy through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own.

I was not familiar with the author or her blog before reading this book. While I am Christian, there was just too much of a religious bent to this book to allow me to connect with the author. Frankly, the author lost me when she wrote a chapter about her vice --- a chocolate bar -- and how she needed to reconnect with God to understand that she should not need to have a chocolate bar every day. It might be me, but I found it difficult to relate to someone whose vice is a chocolate bar. If the heavy religious bent does not bother you, the book could be helpful in that it provides action items to help you achieve the goals set forth in the book.

"As you journey with Valerie, you'll be inspired and equipped to banish the lies the world tells us about motherhood and replace it with God's truth to find energy in the most unlikely places, pursue your own dreams, be set free from mom guilt, feel content despite unfinished to-do lists, spend purposeful time with God amid the daily chaos, and discover more joyous moments of motherhood."

This book was SUCH a breath of fresh air. Mom guilt is real, exhaustion is daily and grumpy mom shows her ugly face WAY too often in my home. Valerie's words are heartfelt and filled with grace and truth. I absolutely loved this book and I KNOW you will too!