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Release My Grip: Hope for a Parent’s Heart as Kids Leave the Nest and Learn to Fly
Saying goodbye to a child as they leave the nest and learn to fly ushers parents into an emotional time of grief, joy and nostalgia. Release My Grip, by popular blogger Kami Gilmour, offers inspiration and practical insight as she reveals the surprising truth she learned while knee-deep in this sacred season of parenthood. Often humorous and always honest and hope-filled, these stories have equipped and encouraged the hearts of millions on the popular SoulFeed blog.
In this keepsake book, you’ll discover how this time can be fertile ground for deepening your relationship with Jesus. You’ll also gain the practical tools you need to help you pause, reflect, and capture the words on your heart during your own unique journey as a parent of a young adult fledgling—from high school graduation through the years that follow.
With every chapter of Release My Grip , you’ll
• Compelling reflection questions that draw you into the peace of God’s presence and promise, gently shifting your focus from the loss you feel to the richness and hope of a new season that’s just beginning.
• Relevant Scriptures to ponder—words that reveal God’s heart, bringing relief and hope in the midst of wondering and worrying.
• Practical challenges that help you adjust to the rhythm of life’s “new normal” and maintain meaningful connection with your young adult child.
• Journaling spaces that make it easy to capture your letting-go journey as it unfolds, making this book a treasured keepsake to reflect back upon.
In this keepsake book, you’ll discover how this time can be fertile ground for deepening your relationship with Jesus. You’ll also gain the practical tools you need to help you pause, reflect, and capture the words on your heart during your own unique journey as a parent of a young adult fledgling—from high school graduation through the years that follow.
With every chapter of Release My Grip , you’ll
• Compelling reflection questions that draw you into the peace of God’s presence and promise, gently shifting your focus from the loss you feel to the richness and hope of a new season that’s just beginning.
• Relevant Scriptures to ponder—words that reveal God’s heart, bringing relief and hope in the midst of wondering and worrying.
• Practical challenges that help you adjust to the rhythm of life’s “new normal” and maintain meaningful connection with your young adult child.
• Journaling spaces that make it easy to capture your letting-go journey as it unfolds, making this book a treasured keepsake to reflect back upon.
144 pages, Hardcover
Published May 1, 2017
29 people are currently reading
353 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
September 24, 2025
What a good book for moms who are getting ready to or have just left their kids at college.
February 23, 2020
This could be read over many months from before high school graduation through college years. The prayers for high school graduation and college drop off had me in tears. The short but thoughtful chapters and accompanying verses helped me see the bigger picture and understand that college is a new beginning instead of a painful ending. Thank you, God, for knowing my sons better than I ever can and for having plans for them greater than any we can dream.
July 4, 2018
My first daughter is leaving for college this August, and I have had a lot of mixed emotions..excitement, anxiety, etc. This book has set my mind at ease about her leaving home. It offers some great "food for thought" and has reminded me of things I already knew about putting my trust in God. I recommend this book to anyone who has loved motherhood and is feeling a little anxious about their child leaving home for the first time.
June 26, 2021
A must read for anyone having a child go off to college. Although I do not consider myself especially religious, this book has helped me work through the fears and questions that I had. It helped me cry and it helped me laugh. Consequently, I purchased several copies to gift my friends that are traveling through this stage of parenthood as well.
As I write this, we are dropping our youngest son at college for the start of his freshman year, Summer B. I know the tears will streak my face as we drive away, but I also know that he will be all the better for this tiny parental sacrifice we are making today. Thank you Kami Gilmour for giving us a new, and better, perspective of this moment in time.
As I write this, we are dropping our youngest son at college for the start of his freshman year, Summer B. I know the tears will streak my face as we drive away, but I also know that he will be all the better for this tiny parental sacrifice we are making today. Thank you Kami Gilmour for giving us a new, and better, perspective of this moment in time.
June 19, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. It’s mostly journaling (probably 80%) which helped me slow down and reflect. The prompts are thoughtful and helped me process the emotions of sending my twins off to college. There were tears, but this book is hopeful and leaves you with a feeling of excitement for the future.
August 21, 2023
A very dear friend who is like a sister gave this book to me after I dropped off both Nate and Sam last week to colleges. So much to unpack in this book - wow, I highly recommend it for parents in this life chapter.
A few key points - we must remember, our children are God's. We are here for a bit, but they are His and He loves them and we can trust Him!
She writes during college sophomore drop off "I've realized the secret to surviving my kids leaving the nest is to be fully present to support them and look forward to the future through the lens of their life, not backward through the lens of my life. I'd been so preoccupied by the suffocating vice grip of mama-mourning that I was 'losing' that I hadn't paid much attention to how exciting this new phase of life was going to be for him/her."
She also talks about how this is a phase of leaving the nest...coming and going. A process that can take years.
"Parenthood is a lifelong journey - and it's also a lifelong (often painful) practice of letting one season go as a new season begins."
"Parenthood will never be over, and God will never be done with them. It'll just be a different season."
"Parenthood is a lifelong collaboration with God."
A few key points - we must remember, our children are God's. We are here for a bit, but they are His and He loves them and we can trust Him!
She writes during college sophomore drop off "I've realized the secret to surviving my kids leaving the nest is to be fully present to support them and look forward to the future through the lens of their life, not backward through the lens of my life. I'd been so preoccupied by the suffocating vice grip of mama-mourning that I was 'losing' that I hadn't paid much attention to how exciting this new phase of life was going to be for him/her."
She also talks about how this is a phase of leaving the nest...coming and going. A process that can take years.
"Parenthood is a lifelong journey - and it's also a lifelong (often painful) practice of letting one season go as a new season begins."
"Parenthood will never be over, and God will never be done with them. It'll just be a different season."
"Parenthood is a lifelong collaboration with God."
March 31, 2021
Read this book together while traveling with a friend who is also preparing for her first child to leave for college. The book deals a lot with the issue of moms finding their identity in motherhood rather than in Christ. This is not an issue for either if us at this point in our lives, so much of the book wasn’t as applicable or relatable to us. There’s a lot of space for journaling so for a reader who processes that way it would be a great read. It’s a beautiful layout and shorter, easy read so would also check that box for some people. We did have great discussions over half of the journaling questions but overall while we gleaned a couple of good thoughts from it this book didn’t help us a great deal in preparing for our kids to leave home. It’s hard not to compare it to the other two books I read in preparation for this life change. This was far, far more helpful than one but severely lacking in comparison to the other. The best book of the three and my highest recommendation on this topic is the book “Give them Wings” by Carol Kuykendall. (Again if not a reader, or more of a journaler, or no life outside of motherhood I’d recommend this book over “Give them wings”)
January 31, 2019
Exactly what I needed and full of great scriptures and perspectives for this season of letting go! The book takes you from preparing for high school graduation thru college season! I have kids in all different stages and some not in college and I still connected greatly with devotional. I liked the journaling questions and praying prompts. Biggest takeaway was this statement “Parenthood is a lifelong journey-and it’s also a lifelong (often painful) practice of letting one season go as a new season begins.”
November 7, 2020
A wise fellow mom who has sons older than us gave me this book. The timing was perfect. This book follows events in the senior year, graduation, drop off at college, and the comings and goings afterward. The author shares from her own experience with her children plus incorporates Scripture. There are pages with each chapter with space for journaling. I love the gentle way this book helped me process this transition. I found it very comforting and helpful. I would recommend this to any mom who will have a graduate.
December 16, 2024
This was a great devotional to have in my pocket as I started this first season with my oldest away at college. I found the majority of the book insightful, helpful and provide some good reflection prompts. The last several chapters didn't seem like they really belonged in this book, but they were helpful all the same. All in all, this was a series of good reminders.
August 22, 2022
I related to almost all of Gilmour’s points of view and sentiments about this business of launching a child. She offers a great mix of humor and truth. I will re-read this, for sure! This is a short book with devotional-type reflections at the end of each chapter.
March 4, 2018
Read as Megan was leaving for college. Some good advice.
August 25, 2018
Slightly preachy for me but perfect for this time in my life.
January 9, 2019
Quick read full of the authors experiences. Laughter & tears as I read this. A great perspective for those going through this season of life.
March 19, 2021
Started this the day before Caiden left for college. Tremendously helpful and encouraging, especially those first few days! I'll read it again for each of the kids as they go.
December 9, 2021
Good for an ugly cry every time I opened it up to read.
January 19, 2022
Lots of tears. Even though I’m 2+ years away from “releasing my grip” on my oldest I will certainly be rereading this!
March 16, 2022
I truly appreciate Gilmour's honesty throughout the book. I only wish there was a little more to read.
November 10, 2022
“He won’t release His grip” encouraged my heart, and the reminder that this season isn’t just a time of lasts…it’s one of firsts too.
August 27, 2025
Good tips for parents of kids in the process of becoming adults. Love how it keeps pointing back to God and His Wordq.
December 5, 2025
Thankful for this book. It walked me through my first senior year and first semester of college. Highly recommend!!
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews