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The Mean Mom's Guide to Raising Great Kids
''Mom, you re so mean!'' Do you struggle to instill loving boundaries and become discouraged when your child doesn't like you for them? Let The Mean Mom's Guide inspire you to dig in and stand your ground when parenting gets tough--because a mean mom isn't always the mean you think it means. The Mean Mom's Guide to Raising Great Kids encourages overly nice ''marshmallow'' moms to instill a few much-needed boundaries. It motivates parents to stand their ground when childrearing is tough, most especially when a child doesn't like them for it. Covering parenting from preschool to high school, each of the four sections highlights topics specific to each age. Scripture is weaved throughout as a continual reminder of God's truth, and ''Mom 2 Mom'' quotes at the end of each chapter are filled with heartfelt transparency from dozens of moms who lent their own experiences to encourage the reader. Mean moms encourage openly, love passionately, and know full well being called mean by her child is oftentimes a compliment.
- GenresParentingNonfiction
256 pages, Paperback
First published February 26, 2015
14 people are currently reading
108 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 24, 2015
Hello, I'm Beth and I'm a (recovering) Marshmallow Mom.
They say admitting the truth is the first step to recovery, so I'm on my way!
As a mom who sometimes struggles to set and hold boundaries with my kids, this book was just the nudge I needed to move the needle a little closer to Mean Mom. I grew up in a home with abuse. One where meanness had an entirely different definition than the author of this book uses. I never wanted to be a mean parent. I wanted my kids to grow up feeling safe and loved. So, I've erred on the side of wimpy parenting. The Mean Mom's Guide to Raising Great Kids helped me re-set my mom-o-meter and encouraged me to hold firm on the things that really matter.
If you're wanting to change your marshmallow ways and need some encouragement--or a little kick in the pants--read this book!
They say admitting the truth is the first step to recovery, so I'm on my way!
As a mom who sometimes struggles to set and hold boundaries with my kids, this book was just the nudge I needed to move the needle a little closer to Mean Mom. I grew up in a home with abuse. One where meanness had an entirely different definition than the author of this book uses. I never wanted to be a mean parent. I wanted my kids to grow up feeling safe and loved. So, I've erred on the side of wimpy parenting. The Mean Mom's Guide to Raising Great Kids helped me re-set my mom-o-meter and encouraged me to hold firm on the things that really matter.
If you're wanting to change your marshmallow ways and need some encouragement--or a little kick in the pants--read this book!
March 11, 2015
The Mean Mom’s Guide to Raising Great Kids is what every mom who has ever toed the line between marshmallow and mean is in need of. It’s the book that tells me discipline is okay, rules are important, and setting boundaries for my oftentimes unruly kiddos is indeed, necessary. Even better? Author Joanne Kraft gets exactly where I’m at on this motherhood journey: the struggles I battle against as well as the problems I face. With her relatable voice, words of encouragement, and sparkling wit, the adventure known as motherhood just got a whole lot easier.
March 6, 2015
The Mean Mom's Guide to Raising Great Kids is a must-read parenting book! It touches on a lot of vital topics like technology, chores, busyness, faith, entitlement, and more. I read Joanne's first book, Just Too Busy, and loved Joanne's personable, hilarious tone. This book shared that same tone. Joanne's writing is authentic and fun, but also full of practical parenting tips. I also like that Joanne shared real stories from other moms throughout the book. If you're looking for a book that will make you laugh but also give you some great advice, this is a great choice.
June 14, 2019
Joanne really knocked it out of the park with this one! Great lessons, interwoven with real life and built on the foundation of God.
March 11, 2015
The Mean Mom's Guide to Raising Great Kids is the antidote for a parenting style very common in recent generations. Being friends with our kids won't create well-adjusted independent adults. If you want to be your kids' friend, aptly called a marshmallow mom by Joanne, you'll likely find your adult children living in your basement like a toe fungus you can't shake. Being mean is more effective than being a marshmallow.
Joanne Kraft not only talks about Mean Mom parenting, she lives it out. Lest you think a mean mom is... well mean and nasty. Think again. "A mean mom encourages openly, loves passionately, and knows being called mean is oftentimes a compliment," says Joanne. It's tough to be a productive parent.
Written with sweet faith, generous grace and lots of Joanne's crazy humorous style, you'll find real stories of healthy parenting from Joanne and her Mean Moms Team on every subject in family life from chores to technology—imparting respect to not taking sides. You'll be encouraged when you love your kids too much to rescue them from a mistake knowing it will teach them a lesson in life better than your constant nagging. You'll feel comfort knowing it's normal to feel the pain of being the "bad guy" because you know what's best for your innocent ones.
The Mean Moms Guide is the answer for parents who feel they need fortification for doing the right thing when raising their kids AND the parent who discovers they need to give up on being the marshmallow friend to their kids.
Joanne Kraft not only talks about Mean Mom parenting, she lives it out. Lest you think a mean mom is... well mean and nasty. Think again. "A mean mom encourages openly, loves passionately, and knows being called mean is oftentimes a compliment," says Joanne. It's tough to be a productive parent.
Written with sweet faith, generous grace and lots of Joanne's crazy humorous style, you'll find real stories of healthy parenting from Joanne and her Mean Moms Team on every subject in family life from chores to technology—imparting respect to not taking sides. You'll be encouraged when you love your kids too much to rescue them from a mistake knowing it will teach them a lesson in life better than your constant nagging. You'll feel comfort knowing it's normal to feel the pain of being the "bad guy" because you know what's best for your innocent ones.
The Mean Moms Guide is the answer for parents who feel they need fortification for doing the right thing when raising their kids AND the parent who discovers they need to give up on being the marshmallow friend to their kids.
March 13, 2015
The Mean Mom's Guide to Raising Great Kids is a must read for any generation. If you have kids that have been raised and are well on their way to their own lives, pick up this book and read about all of the great ways you participated in their upbringing (and continue to do so). If you have kids that are still at home and get "stuck" in the day to day arguments, questions, situations, you'll find this guide to be most enlightening. Chalk full of tips, suggestions and just plain old common sense, peppered with humor, triumphs and failures on the part of other "mean moms", you'll feel right at home reading these pages. Joanne brings levity, irony, and insight to raising great kids in today's society, with today's rules, and with the strong hand of God throughout these wise words. Are you a Marshmallow Mom or a Mean Mom? Find out. Drop Joanne a note and let her know your story.
March 15, 2015
I have read the first five chapters from, "The Mean Mom's Guide to Raising Great Kids" and I can hardly wait to sit back down tonight! This book helps all mothers with its humor, real life witness to everyday challenges and joys to parenting with boundaries realize it is important to be the parent to your child.
Parenting with conviction also doesn't mean that same parent isn't kind because Mean Moms lead their home with grace, prayer, service, and fun.
This book is for the Marshmallow moms too and if we are honest we all need balance between being too soft and too hard.
Joanne Kraft writes her story and shares the stories of other women who love their children and spouses in an easy to read style that makes it hard to put the book down.
Parenting with conviction also doesn't mean that same parent isn't kind because Mean Moms lead their home with grace, prayer, service, and fun.
This book is for the Marshmallow moms too and if we are honest we all need balance between being too soft and too hard.
Joanne Kraft writes her story and shares the stories of other women who love their children and spouses in an easy to read style that makes it hard to put the book down.
March 20, 2015
I just started reading this book about a week ago and I am loving every minute of it! I am the mom to 3 busy boys and a graduate student so free time is something of a myth in my home, however I am making an exception when it comes to reading the Mean Mom's Guide! This is a great and easy read perfect for ALL mom's! As a recovering "Mini-Marshmallow" mom, there are so many things in this book that apply to my everyday life.
Joanne is an amazing author, speaker and woman of God! LOVE LOVE LOVE this book!
Joanne is an amazing author, speaker and woman of God! LOVE LOVE LOVE this book!
March 11, 2015
Joanne Kraft is one of my all time favorite authors. With humor, wit and wisdom she gives fantastic advice on what it means to be a "Mean Mom." Mean Moms walk by faith, put their marriage first, set curfews and have backbones. Our society today is full of kids who feel entitled and are self-focused. Mean Moms teach their kids the world does not revolve around them and how to look beyond what is right in front of them.
I love this book. A must read for every Mom.
I love this book. A must read for every Mom.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews