Death by Minivan

by Heather Anderson Renshaw

Here's a bit of advice, mom to Throw down the minivan keys, brush the cereal off the table, kick the toys into a corner, sit down with a cup of coffee (or glass of wine), and read Death by Minivan . Author Heather Anderson Renshaw, mother of five, is a lot like you. She knows all about the wild, crazy, and often hilarious experience of motherhood. And she feels sometimes like she's barely keeping up and maybe even failing at the whole “mom thing.” Thankfully, as she shares in these pages, motherhood isn't a trip that's meant to be taken alone. God's got this, and the more we let him lead, the more we find the fruits of his Holy Spirit taking root in our hearts and in our families. So buckle up, because you're on the road to a more joyful, more peaceful, more faithful motherhood. Along the way, Heather offers tips for getting past the inevitable roadblocks, the “GPS” for finding your way (it's Scripture), and roadside assistance courtesy of the saints. With humor, honesty, and spirit, Heather Renshaw employs personal insights and timeless truths to help us harvest the fruits of the Holy Spirit, our companion and GPS along our path to God. Insightful and fun for individuals and even better for group study, this book should be required “drivers training” for busy moms navigating family life. Lisa M. Hendey, Founder of CatholicMom.com and author of The Handbook for Catholic Moms

Genres: Catholic, Spirituality

216 pages, Paperback

Published October 3, 2018

Reviews

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rated—G (my personal opinion based on content)

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Any mother who has battled the carline, ferried kids to and fro like a grossly underpaid taxi driver, or otherwise felt like she lived in her vehicle will laugh and cry her way through Death by Minivan. Heather Renshaw's poignant, relatable examination of motherhood's not-so-glamourous side is like Amy Poehler, Mother Angelica, and St. Therese rolled into one. Far from shallow, Heather dives righ into the sanctity that can be found in the depths of the mundane. Give this one a read!

[Katherine Brodersen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious, But Something Is Missing

First and foremost, Heather is hilarious and so accurate in her descriptions of motherhood! I related to the stories and could see myself in her place at times. I really appreciate her openness and honesty with her faith journey. It is nice to have a modern mom discuss Catholicism.

The thing that I didn’t like was that she lost me a few times. Her stories didn’t always relate back to her chapters. It felt like she was sort of stuck in the chapter layout and needed stories. Rather than saying “I am still working on this”, she chose some stories that didn’t quite bridge the gap to the chapter’s topic.

It is a very good book! It is a good reminder that we are not alone in motherhood and that at times someone is having a worst night because kids do the darnedest things.

[Ellie Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve had the book on my radar for a while and I know the Holy Spirit nudged me to finally order it. It was a book that I desperately needed at this time in my life. Any mama who has ever struggled with feeling lost, lonely, overwhelmed, like a failure (you name it), this book is for you! Not only did I enjoy reading this book, but I found it extremely helpful with some great tips to incorporate into my daily life. I especially loved the prayers at the end of each chapter.
I would highly recommend this book, I’m sure I’ll return to it again!

[Angelica · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a catholic mom it’s hard to find non-fiction books I can relate to in a spiritual way, but this one hit the mark. I read this with my parish’s moms book club and it was such a great pick. The author has such good insight and storytelling in this book. The way she tied it in with her faith as a catholic mother was totally relatable and inspiring. Highly recommended.

[Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Certainly after surviving a year like 2020, this was very needed. Funny, well written, moving, inspirational. If you're a Catholic mom looking for some solidarity, reassurance, encouragement, anything of the sort...this is it.

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

This refreshingly honest and humorous book about Catholic parenthood uses the driving many moms do each day as a metaphor for their spiritual lives. Each chapter tells a personal anecdote, addresses roadblocks many parents encounter as they live out their vocations, and provides citations for related scripture readings. I listened to the audiobook narrated by the author, and it felt so much like chatting with a mom friend and gaining some practical encouragement from her years of parenting experience. Heather Renshaw is down-to-earth, funny, and strong in her faith, and she really puts parenting struggles into perspective. This may be my favorite of all the parenting books I've read!