Before I Let You Go: Stories for My Grown Son

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Pub Date 27 Nov 2017 | Archive Date 21 Jun 2018

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Description

In this memoir, every mother will find heartfelt messages that resonate. “Before I Let You Go” takes you on the emotional journey of striving to raise a perfect child knowing how deeply imperfect we all are. Kirsten’s beautiful words will draw empathy from deep within each reader. She bravely puts into words the lessons that mothers know will help their growing boy become a good man. “I was petrified we would have a girl.

Everything about having a girl was horrible to me - the princess parties, the fear of her safety, and the emotional roller coaster ride. But mostly I was afraid she would be like me - suicidal, unable to make brave choices, and trapped inside a body she didn't love. I was terrified I would have to face that mirror in two places everyday.” “Before I Let You Go” is a journey of Kirsten Wreggitt’s life through motherhood and marriage, and her self-discovery along the way. It is a collection of stories she wanted to share with her grown son about her life’s greatest lessons.

These were stories she could not talk about with him because they were too uncomfortable or raw. As she says “In here I can say the things that catch in my throat. I can say the things that make your eyes roll. In here I can safely share what I have always wanted to tell you but there just was never the right time.” Among the many stories in this book, Kirsten shares the difficulty of marriage, the struggle to love herself and her body, the triumph of facing her fears, the pain of loving a child, the regret of decisions, and the freedom of knowing yourself.

She discusses these with a rare honesty and sometimes offers up surprising advice as a result. It is a woman’s reflection on the halfway point of her life and the journey to get there. She shares the joy of being in the moment: “I am not anticipating the next stop, I am here paying attention and loving what I see.” She shares the struggle with finding her purpose: “And still what if I never really know why I am here? I still must eat. I still must drink. I still must sleep.

And I must love. And love? Even if that is all there is, that changes everything.” And she shares her most difficult question of all: “I am face to face with my mortality and though I have loved others and was loved by others, the only question that remains was “did I love me?””

In this memoir, every mother will find heartfelt messages that resonate. “Before I Let You Go” takes you on the emotional journey of striving to raise a perfect child knowing how deeply imperfect we...


Available Editions

ISBN 9781775132110
PRICE $3.97 (USD)

Average rating from 8 members


Featured Reviews

Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this for an honest review!

Can you raise the perfect child?
This book is short! Less than 200 pages. It felt like a memoir, a help book, full of ideas, advice, sometimes all over the place. It's several stories, sometimes hard to follow but still interesting.
I give it 4 stars. Not what I expected but not bad!

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This is an introspective book which many mothers will be able to relate to. The author shares with her son her thoughts and lesson learned over the years in hopes of passing on wisdom and greater understanding to a son who will soon be independently living his own life. Rather than being told in chronological order, the author organizes her letters to her son in categories of themes. It felt more like something one would share with a daughter more so than a son, but it was endearing nonetheless.

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I give this book 4 stars ****. I very much enjoyed this "memoir" of sorts written by Ms. Wreggit. It's a well was written novel of tidbits of advice and takeaways for her son. She is very open and honest about her doubts and mistakes all the way. I would definitely urge my other mom friends ( & even ones that aren't yet) to add this book to their "to read" list.

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I enjoyed reading the advice that Kirsten gave her son via journal entry type stories. Separating these into themes vs putting them in chronological order made the book flow better for me.

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This memoir about motherhood and marriage will touch the heart of every mother, whether or not you have a son. Kristen Wreggitt shares her story of mistakes and victories, self-discovery and struggles. She is honest and vulnerable about how becoming a mother changed her, and why she was petrified of having a daughter. She shares what it looked like as she struggled to find her purpose and the main question she asked herself at the end of her motherhood road, through it all, did I love me?

This book will make you laugh and cry, and desire to be a better wife, mother and person. It will help you realize how important self-love is, accepting yourself for who you are, right now in this moment and how the resilience of children can help you get past the regretful decisions you made at a certain time.

It's an amazing read for any parent, and definitely one I will read again in the future!

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Presented as a short collection of letters or essays to her growing, very nearly independent son, Kirsten Wreggitt here gives us a touching and meaningful look at parenting while human. She talks about her own experiences and emotions, the reasons for her fervent hope for a son rather than a daughter, mistakes and regrets - all the things which feel too raw and immediate still to openly talk about with her child.

I think any mother (any parent) will find themselves empathising with the author in at least some points throughout the less than 200 page work which is 'Before I Let You Go: Stories for My Grown Son'. I know I did on first reading and even more so now that my own son is officially an adult.

Recommended to anyone struggling to raise a child, or dealing with similar 'near adult' worries and self-doubt. Reading this will perhaps be an emotional journey, but Wreggitt's shared thoughts and feelings will make any mother (parent) feel less alone. I would also recommend it to any teenage or newly adult child who might want to try to understand 'the other side' of a strained relationship; and, in fact, anyone newly a parent or planning/hoping to be.

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