936 Pennies: Discovering the Joy of Intentional Parenting

by Eryn Lynum

Make the Most of Your Time with Your ChildrenOn the day of their baby dedication, Eryn and her husband were given a jar of 936 pennies. The jar contained a penny for every week they would raise their child until graduation, and they were instructed to remove one penny each Sunday as a reminder, placing it into another jar as an investment. At some point every parent realizes time is moving swiftly, and they ask themselves, How am I investing in my child? Through personal stories and biblical examples, 936 Pennies will help you discover how to capture time and use it to its fullest potential, replacing guilt and regrets with freedom. Meanwhile, your kids will see how simple choices, like putting the cell phone down and going on a family hike, will make all the difference. Together you will stretch time and make it richer. Craft a family legacy in tune with God's heartbeat as you capture a new vision for your children and learn the best ways to spend your pennies.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Christian, Christian Living

256 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 6, 2018

About the author

Eryn Lynum is a certified master naturalist, Bible teacher, national speaker, and author of 936 Pennies: Discovering the Joy of Intentional Parenting and Rooted in Wonder: Nurturing Your Family’s Faith Through God’s Creation. She hosts the podcast Nat Theo: Nature Lessons Rooted in the Bible.

Eryn lives in Northern Colorado with her husband, Grayson, and their four children, whom they homeschool—mainly in the great outdoors. Her family spends their days hiking, camping, and adventuring through the Rocky Mountains. Eryn leads nature classes and hikes and has been featured on Focus on the Family, FamilyLife Radio, Christian Parenting, Proverbs 31 Ministries, MOPS International, Bible Gateway, Her View From Home, and For Every Mom. Every opportunity she gets, she is out exploring God’s creation with her family and sharing the adventures at www.ErynLynum.com.

Reviews

[Kathleen C · Rating 5 out of 5]

936 Pennies was a helpful reminder that our time with our children is limited and goes by quickly. She calls it a book about making family time "richer, not busier" which was a good distinction. Each chapter begins with a story from her own parenting (or occasionally childhood) that leads to her explanation of a way to parent intentionally. (Note - sometimes these stories are "how not to" - she isn't tooting her own horn here. Also note - if you're someone who gets annoyed with personal anecdotes in sermons and just wants to get to the thesis statement, I think the frequency of her stories will irritate you. I didn't mind them, though - they helped me imagine how the strategies might play out in real life.)

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this, and felt that reading a bit each morning helped me maintain a better perspective on the (worthwhile) work of engaging little ones.

Takeaways I want to remember:
1. Time outside
2. Laugh and enjoy each other's company
3. Deliberately avoid rush and bustle
4. My kids are worth my time and my attention - do I act like they are?
5. Pursue peacefulness in our home and schedule ("peace plan") - don't overbook us
6. Document their childhoods from my perspective
7. Speak carefully - in our words and in our voices, our children find belonging
8. Tell the kids who they are to me - what I love about them and what's special.
9. Stewarding the current time well sets us up with the potential for good future time
10. The only foolproof parenting advice is scripture.
11. We'll only remember the brilliant moments to the extent that we're paying attention now.
12. I am the expert on how my own kids tick - don't get too caught up in peers' parenting advice or methods.
13. Surprise experiences are a gift that will be memorable to them.
14. Choose play and laughter over guilt and shame.
15. Show my priorities by putting down the phone.
16. Make the ordinary tasks a fun time together.
17. The real problem with screen time is what it replaces- time talking to each other, time being active, time outside enjoying God's creation.
18. Help them pursue their interests and ideas.
19. Refuse small love - overlook inconvenience and love them big

[Callie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I somehow found Erin Lynum on Twitter a few years ago, and I specifically remember clicking through to her blog and reading her post about receiving a jar of 936 pennies as she dedicated her baby at her church. The 936 pennies represented the weeks she would have with her baby from birth until their 18th birthday. In that post she challenged moms to make sure they were spending their 936 pennies well. That idea stuck with me, so when I saw this book, I knew exactly who had written it and I snagged it!

I would classify "936 Pennies: Discovering The Joy Of Intentional Parenting" as memoir/encouragement for moms. Erin shares a lot of her own mothering journey and ways she has learned to "spend her pennies well" over the years. She doesn't get preachy or tell you what you "should" do, but instead presents her personal experiences as an encouragement and challenge to parent intentionally, with the passing of time in the forefront of our minds. Her kids are about the same age or perhaps slightly younger than mine, so while there were certain sections that I no longer struggle with as much, I could deeply relate to 95% of the book.

There were a couple little quibbles I had here and there with how she worded certain things, but I can definitely say this book is solid doctrinally and is thoroughly grounded by biblical truth and the gospel. She doesn't just focus on superficial suggestions to make our days smoother or more fun, but she digs down deep into what it means to parent our children with not just 936 pennies but eternity in mind. I especially enjoyed the chapters toward the end about memory-making and keeping (something I spent some time writing about last fall), and about how we can gain some time back by using technology well.

I highly, highly recommend this book! I found myself so encouraged to invest in my kids and put some of my own strategies in place to use my time with them in a way that will matter for eternity. I also think this would make an excellent baby shower or first birthday party gift, along with a jar of 936 pennies, of course. If you are a mom, check this one out!

Note: I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher in exchange for a review. This is my honest opinion.

[Caleb Wells · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book opens with all its best ideas, petters out a bit and then comes back with more ideas. The most powerful idea is not to become upset when your child inconveniences you by being a child vs. when they have actually done something wrong/disobedient.

[Lydia Howe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why I Choose This Book:

I try not to choose books solely on the cover, but goodness, folks! This is one of my favorite book covers ever. The colors, the design, the fonts, the title, all of it comes together perfectly.

Plus, as y'all know I like parenting books - even though I don't have any kids. There are several reasons for this, the main one being that I really enjoy the thought processes behind how and why parents parent the way they do, and the other is I figure the knowledge will be helpful one day. ;)

What I Thought Of This Book:

This book was different from most of the parenting books I've read recently. It focused a lot more on what the parents do instead of what the kids do, and that was a pretty neat perspective.

The lady who wrote the book has three little boys, so we get to see life from the perspective of someone who's still very much in the midst of crazy motherhood. She talks a lot about the decisions she's made in order to be a more intentional mother, and how she's been working at redeeming the time to pour as much into her children's lives as she can.

The premise of the book is how parents have 936 weeks with their children from the time they are born until they are eighteen. When I first heard that number it sounded like quite a lot, but after pondering it for a little bit, I could see how it would feel like it was going by really fast. It's so important as parents (and from my perspective as an older sibling/aunt/friend) to make sure that you invest in children and really use those weeks wisely.

Miss Eryn tells about different ways she's learned to invest in her children, from having specific screen-free times of the day to getting outside with the kids, to taking time to read and cuddle. The book is really practical, well-written, easy to read, and lyrical.

I could tell Miss Eryn was a blogger. I'm not sure how to explain it, but her writing style was just very much the style of a blogger. It was beautiful, descriptive, peaceful, and somewhat wordy. Reading the book made me feel restful, like sitting on a porch swing and sipping lemonade.

Conclusion:

I'm not a mother, so I try not to have very many opinions (at least that I share) on parenting books, but I thought this one was pretty spot-on. ;)

*I'm thankful to have received this book for reviewing purposes

[Stephanie Bishop · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must. It brought to light the fact that I only have about 936 weeks of parenting before I send my son out into the world. And though the days can be long, these weeks feel so short. Especially when I see them as a round number. 936 weeks- that’s it?

Eryn had the same realization, and she decided that she needed to be intentional about the short amount of weeks that she got to pour into her children, and she has helped me to see where I need to make some changes in my parenting in the process.

Parenting is hard. SO much harder than I imagined it could be. Sometimes I’m left emotionally and physically exhausted, overwhelmed, and anxious. Eryn says,

“I believe that one of the devil’s strongest strategies against parents is to uproot their peace, to leave them confused, hurt, fearful, and overwhelmed.”

I could not agree more!

I never thought about it being a spiritual attack- the emotional rollercoaster we take on as a parent. The fears, doubts, the judgement. Maybe they’re all to make us question whether or not HE is good. And all of that bad stuff can take over and make us miss out on all of the wonderful, great stuff about motherhood.

Postpartum anxiety stole so much of my joy when my son was a newborn. I feel like the pennies for those weeks were wasted. So, now more than ever- I want to spend these remaining 614 weeks that I have left enjoying, instilling goodness, and spending attentive time with my son.

So less time on social media. More time curled up together reading. Less tv time, more board games. Lots more chasing each other outside, and answering his seemingly endless amount of questions. Because I only have 12 years left until he’s an adult and time keeps slipping through my fingers.

This book was so inspiring, and has probably changed our lives. Seeing how little time I have left has motivated me to spend that time wisely. Because one day my house will be clean, I’ll have endless amounts of free time on my hands, and it will all seem too quiet.

*I received a copy of this book from Bethany House in exchange for an honest review- all opinions are my own.*

[Amy Juett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love that the book is not just a bunch of “Stop wasting time. Be more intentional. You are messing up.” Rather it is a breath of encouragement straight to the heart as Eryn talks about ways to amplify the time we are given, redeem time we have been previously wasting, preserve time as it passes, and many more ways to make the most of the time we have been given.

As Eryn says on the last page, “Legacies are made today. And that is exactly what we do have; today. These jars are never meant to evoke guilt. They are meant to speak hope into the deepest parts of us. They are meant to constantly remind us that today matters. Yesterday is done, tomorrow is a new opportunity. Today is what we have right now, so let’s invest it well.”

The short chapters are perfect for moms as we juggle the needs of our family, our responsibilities, and our hope to be intentional parents. This book is the perfect gift for new parents as well as parents already in the middle of raising their children.

[Morgan Tyree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Parenting is such a privilege. 936 Pennies is an inspiring and encouraging read that convicted me to live more in the moment and get outside more!

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I love the idea of the 936 pennies but I love the remembrance of intentional living! The ideas are easy...get outside, less screens, laugh, hold hands, remember moments and be spontaneous, etc...and this book feels like it would be super impactful even in the ease!

[Jennifer Buczynski · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book wasn’t what I thought it would be. I mostly skimmed the last half. I was looking for fun ideas of things to do with my kids— not lessons on parenting! It just wasn’t my style of book. I wanted more practical ideas and didn’t get them.

[Regina Chari · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was moving, I loved the concept. When her children were dedicated at church, she was given a jar with 936 pennies representing the number of weeks we have with our kids until they are 18 years old.

I loved the idea. The book at times is a bit flighty and unrealistic for most moms. I think the most challenging things about this book is how poorly it is written. That is hard to overlook no matter how much you enjoy the content!

The publisher provided an ARC through Netgalley. I have voluntarily decided to read and review, giving my personal opinions and thoughts

[Jessie Clemence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clear, specific encouragement for moms who want to make the most of the time God has given them to raise their children.

[Jennie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Parenting most days is easy, but often times we do mess up and fail, and feel like maybe we aren't doing it right or not enough, because we are not perfect and our culture often views parenting differently. Well I knew from the beginning I wanted to raise my children different, then what culture says. Eryn reminds you through her book, with practical advice, reminders, Scriptural references, and also her own journey how we can be intentional and why it matters!! She learned about 936 Pennies through her Pastor one day when he shared a jar of pennies with her. That jar of pennies represents how many weeks you have with your child from birth until age 18. Each week, you are to remove a penny, which reminds you the importance of time. So she asks us, how we will spend them? Well, I want to be intentional and wise as I can be, but that doesn't always happen, and Eryn admits that too. So why we need Jesus and the reminders God has given us through His Word. Psalm 90:12 Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. That is what I want in my journey and my family! Of course, things don't always go according to plan, there will be heart-aches, there will be moments of struggle, and sometimes our children are not born or leave this earth early. To which Eryn shared her heartbreaking loss and a friends loss, but yet we need to be reminded God has a plan, and even though that happened, it mattered, even the short time. "When we choose to count time, we realize just how precious every single penny inside that jar is."

This book is so much more though than counting pennies and being aware of how precious time is, or just how fast it goes sometimes. It is full of encouragement in our journey of parenthood, helpful suggestions on how to create an intentional joy in your journey, questions to reflect on, how to stretch moments into memories, how to glorify our time to God, and what matters. She reminds us also to make sacred pauses in our day, asking ourselves are we spending this day on things that truly matter. To take time to stop, reflect, refocus, and rest. So we can redeem our time when signs of chaos or stress or rush start to take over.
Here are some notes I made in my book:

Countless things have changed in the arena of motherhood since the very first birth story, when Eve welcomed baby Cain into the world. But two things have not changed. One is the reality of the limited time we as parents have with our children before they enter into adulthood. The other is the responsibility we have as parents to use that time well, to nurture and shape and guide our children into an abundant life.
Every week, no matter how demanding and exhausting, God has promised you His presence, and that is everything you will need for walking this road of parenthood. No matter your situation, He knows it, and He is waiting to meet you right where you are. He goes before us, and He already knows what lies ahead. He knows the way.
Each moment is an opportunity to teach and to be taught - to love, to nurture, and to shape our children.
They are His gift, the equipping and enabling of us as fallible humans to take on this high calling of raising the children He has given us.
As parents, we are given the task of telling our children about Jesus. We have the great privilege of explaining to them just how wonderful God is, and all that HE has done for them. We are called to do this not only during bedtime prayers. We need to weave words of grace and biblical truths throughout the fabric of our days, and what better opportunity to teach our kids about their Creator than by walking side-by-side with Him int he beauty of His creation!
When we spend our days doing exactly what God crafted us to do - living in enjoyment of Him - time is amplified.
Our job as parents is to be peacemakers. We can make peace in our homes by first discovering a deep sense of peace for ourselves, the sort of peace that roots itself only in Christ himself.
The answer is always, But God. But God in His mercy will provide. But God will come through. But God will make a way. But God is more than enough. For He is the one who "gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak (Isaiah 40:29)".
In a culture that has succumbed to passive parenting, it has great strength and courage to do things differently at the expense of looking authoritarian, strict, or even harsh - but it is worth it.
Every prayer, every opportunity for grace, every toy picked up, every playdate at the park, every sit-down over homework and cookies - God looks down on it all and says, This is good." And so we can, too.
This is one of those parenting books that all moms should read and it would make a great gift to give a new mom. I think we all need encouragement and reminders in this parenting journey, and Eryn did a wonderful job of writing about it.

[Felicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you start a new book, it’s a risky relationship. I hesitantly turn the first couple pages as I decide if this is my new best friend or if I’m going to hurry through it just to mark it off my list. Well 936 Pennies: Discovering the Joy of Intentional Parenting is my new best, best, best friend! Look at that! See all the dog-eared pages? (PS. why is it called dog-eared?) There were literally tons of quotes and thoughts I wanted to remember and be able to come back to. As I read through the pages, I got so excited about this vision of intentional parenting and really…intentional living. Parts of it I read aloud to my husband or simply gave him my summary of it.

Eryn Lynum writes 42 mini chapters revolving around a life event that showed her an eternal principle. She discusses topics such as spending time in nature, dealing with anger, having a house filled with laughter, helping kiddos learn to entertain themselves, setting boundaries between work time and play time, being mindful of what our kids observe us holding the most (our phone, a book or their hand), investing in a child’s dreams/interests, building memories, and many other topics.
The premise of the book is that with each child we are (ideally) given 936 weeks from birth to age 18, and our question is: “How will we spend them?” I say ‘ideally’ as time is never guaranteed to us. Some may only have one penny or 237 with which to invest. The author was given a jar of 936 pennies at her son’s dedication, which started her journey of being intentional as she transferred a penny each week from the future jar to the ‘time spent’ jar.

I love her perspective at the beginning of the book.

“As I counted them out, I placed them into the new jar, and this is when it hit me-we had not lost those weeks. We had used them We were using them for the creation of something beautiful. These pennies, and the weeks they represent, were not being cast to the wind. They were being invested. And we wanted to invest them wisely.” (Counting Time, pg. 18)

I haven’t been on this parenting journey very long, so I have much to learn. I’m thankful for books like this one that give me vision for how it could be. This book gives me goals and dreams for how I want to intentionally invest each one of my pennies. Things like listening carefully to my children’s dreams and taking steps to help them pursue them, recognizing the beauty in the simple moments such as our “Poetry Tea Times”, setting down my adult tasks or goals to enter into their world, and being careful what I communicate through actions, what’s constantly in my hands, and through my words so they hear my love for them loud and clear.

How will you invest your 936 pennies?

I was given this book by Bethany House Publishing for review purposes as part of their blogger program. However, all of the opinions were completely mine.

[Ada Tarcau · Rating 4 out of 5]

A light parenting book written mostly in memoir fashion that focuses on redeeming time, being more present and intentional, taking more in, savouring every phase, being more joyful over your children, etc. It does not tackle discipline, hard problems, difficult children (her children seem so delightful and sweet, I wonder how much of that is due to her living these joy-promoting practices). I did feel that the idea of seizing time and making memories was too repetitive and tiresome, though... at least for my taste (too much emphasis on making memories and being emotional over the swiftness of their growth and the passing of time), perhaps i am a more optimistically-forward-looking person being easier for me to see the past as an investment or treasure that is never lost, if well-lived), but i did LOVE some chapters, especially the one about slowing down and guarding the peace in your heart and home. Some are delightfully written, in my estimation, and also containing such valuable ideas; but some chapters felt less well-crafted, too loose. 



As a summary, the book is about redeeming the time with your kids through enjoying creation (meeting there the Creator), through laugh-line making (I liked how she put it, the lines on our face - whether frowning/stern or laughing - do say so much about the spending of our lives, about our values), by slowing down (not rushing, embracing boredom, pursuing and guarding peace: more intentional and less reactive living, less doing and more being, a no-do list instead of a to-do list), through life-giving words of encouragement/appreciation, by adopting a right perspective on time (the wisdom of knowing the shortness of our days, trusting God in that which is out of our control), by remembrance (there were some various suggestions about how we can preserve memories), by un-plugged/screen-free time (today’s kids, according to a study, spend 205 waking weeks in front of screens!!), by loving big… 
 


The quote which spoke volumes to me:
“It is alarming what we can miss when we succumb to rush, because rush seems to promise fulfilment, reward and purpose, but in reality what is does is steals from us what we will long for 10 years from now. If we are not careful, we will trade our whole life away in the name of speed and efficiency.“

And a new-favorite verse to treasure: ”Those who promote peace have joy”.

[Kacie Woodmansee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book really challenged my thoughts on parenting and gave me the encouragement to make some changes to how I interact with my girls.

The author, Eryn Lynum, was given a jar of 936 pennies on the day of their baby dedication at church. Each of the 936 pennies represents one week out of the 18 years that child will hopefully live in their home. Each week, she would take one penny out as a reminder to use that time wisely. The purpose of the book, 936 Pennies, was to help parents see how to invest the time a child lives in your home in an intentional way so that when they leave the home, they are prepared to live their lives according to the god-honoring example set during each of those weeks.

Eryn presents realistic and practical ways of "investing" those pennies in a child. From spending more time outdoors and less in front of a screen to relying on God when fears in parenting threaten to overwhelm us. Through stories with her own children she shares insight into the ups and downs of parenting.

As I mentioned before, many parts of this book really challenged me. I know I'm not always intentional with my time. I give into my laziness and selfishness and don't take advantage of enough opportunities to spend quality time with my children. I've recently found myself saying yes to my kids more often when they ask me to play with them because I know that is time I'll never get back. This book was a great reminder of the blessing my kids are in my life, and I would strongly recommend it to any parent.

The main issue I had with this book was how child-centered it made the family. And while she mentions the need for Jesus in parenting, she still sometimes makes it sound like how your child turns out completely relies on your parenting. What a terrifying thought! She wouldn't say that, I don't think, but she could have made it more clear in some cases. In spite of that, I highlighted many parts of the book, and I look forward to seeing how I transform my parenting through the principles I learned.

I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Kathryn Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wherever you are in your own parenting journey, “936 Pennies” graciously reminds us that each day, indeed every moment matters, and encourages us to invest well. Eryn Lynum writes with grace, humor and vulnerability sharing very personal parenting experiences and struggles -- and her own transparent trepidation upon receiving that first jar of 936 pennies.
Leaning into God’s word for wisdom and guidance, this book is filled with musings that apply to every season of parenthood and beyond. Lynum writes with sensitivity and humbleness, “Each of those jars of pennies is a legacy, no matter how many or few we get to invest.”
The visual of time – each penny representing one week between birth and age 18 – hits me hard as a parent of a grown daughter and son. Were my pennies spent too recklessly, especially during those middle years of overly full calendars juggling schoolwork, music lessons, scouts, sports practices and games, church activities, jobs, and more? Back then I wish I’d had this book to remind us that “we need to use the day we have today in order to create something beautiful for the remainder of the days we are afforded…each penny sets the next penny up for more potential.”
Written by a busy mom of three to share encouragements with other busy parents, it includes chapter reflection questions that are perfect for parenting groups and small group Bible studies. This book shares a beautiful message. I have already ordered copies for baby shower gifts!
Eryn Lynum

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was greatly encouraged by Eryn's book. She has a lot of really great thoughts and challenges to think through concerning parenting these precious gifts we have been given. I had not heard of the 936 pennies in the jar before to count the weeks from birth to age 18 yrs. I think it's a great way to remind myself every day of the short time I have these 3 children in my house. And like Eryn addresses, we aren't even guaranteed to have those 18 years. No matter how much time God gives us with these kids, we must remember to count our days being mindful of the great task He has given us. This task can seem overwhelming especially on the days that our kids are pressing every button possible. One of my children was doing just that yesterday, and I lost the battle with my anger. I appreciate this thought from Eryn, "Perhaps that is the greatest lesson that counting these pennies teaches us: Jesus is enough when we are not." (pg. 21) I appreciate Eryn's call to live in the moment and slow down life. "If we are rushing around to get everything done, then we are bound to miss something. And most likely it will be our kids." (pg. 64) If you're looking for a book to encourage you (and maybe make your eyes mist up as you think of the remaining time left with your kids still at home...), then pick up this book. It'll help you think through your role at home with your kids, and re-evaluate how you are spending the pennies you have been given.

***I received this complimentary book from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

[Wendy Hoops · Rating 5 out of 5]

936 seems like a pretty big number until you start thinking about it as the weeks you have to spend with your children from birth to eighteen. Then, 936, seems like a pretty small number! I have loved reading this book! I may not be able to slow time down but I can make my time count! I encourage all young moms to put this book on your reading list. I love the idea of giving expectant couples a copy of this book and a jar of 936 pennies. I am thankful our children are still young enough that we have weeks left to be intentional parents. Thanks to many of the ideas in this book, I have changed some of my ways and am going about my day different to focus more on our children while I still have the time. Eryn offers practical advice on being an intentional parent not only counting time but making time count! She offers personal experiences throughout her childhood and her being a parent of four beautiful kids. I personally enjoyed the “Buying Back Time” section. With our time of instant gratification with screens and television.....It is great to have some other ideas/thoughts on raising kids with limited screen time. Don't let your time with your children be a regret or a “I wish I would have...” Take the time now to be the parent you strive to be. Visit her website to find out if she if offering the online book club through Facebook. Join the book club as you read the book. Eryn has a wealth of resources she shares with you!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading Eryn Lynum’s new book 936 Pennies: Discovering the Joy of Intentional Parenting. Despite a busy schedule, I found myself truly enjoying Lynum’s conversational and personal way of describing what intentional parenting feels like and looks like to her. Describing a gift she received of 936 pennies that were meant to track the time she spent with her son between birth and 18 years, Lynum describes the feelings of trepidation and anticipation that came with the gift and the charge to spend those pennies well.

I appreciated the short chapters that allowed me to savor her thoughts and experiences in short bites. I loved her personal and forthcoming honesty as she shared hard and happy experiences about her mothering. I appreciated her focus on learning to slow down and savor the unexpected yet sweet experiences that our families share as we focus on relationships and remembering what matters most to us. I especially liked her sharing the idea of a peace plan, a way to discerning how to best use our time and energy to live a peace filled life. I loved reading Lynum’s well written, thought-provoking book. Bethany House gave me a complimentary copy of 936 Pennies by Eryn Lynum for my candid review.

[Melanie G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’d never given much thought to the actual number of weeks my children would be with me. As a mom of three boys in under three years, I felt like I had all the time in the world especially in those early days that seemed SO long. This book has been such a blessing to me. It reminds us that although we’re not promised those 936 weeks, the days, weeks and years will pass by quickly. The book suggests setting up “penny jars” as a visual of passing time starting off with an empty jar for a new baby and a second jar of 936 pennies representing those precious weeks ahead. Each week, you move a penny (invest a penny) from one jar to the other. Eryn Lynum encourages parents to intentionally invest in our children daily in a myriad of simple, practical ways. This book stresses the importance of allowing ourselves serious grace when we don’t get this parenting thing just right while gently nudging us to actively engage with our children. It offers ideas for meaningful, intentional investment in a judgement free zone and weaves perfect Bible verses throughout the book to encourage the reader. Highly recommend to parents with kids from 0-18. It has truly changed the way I parent.

[Janine Kunz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Based on a teaching moment in the author's and son's life, Lynums narrative here is based on the idea that there are 936 weeks in a child's 18 years for parents to "spend well." She talks both about that legacy of investment (the "spent" jar) and plans for investing well (the waiting pennies). I appreciated that she thoughtfully acknowledges that many parents don't get 936 weeks with their children. I also appreciated her chapter on fear and anxiety, addressing how faith plays a role in how parents can address their concerns for their children.

Unfortunately in an effort to capture every audience there's a lot of adjusting this annology to suite different circumstances along with a large dose of over explaining. I also felt Lynums spent so much time addressing the feelings of parenting that the authority she has on a thoughtful topic was lost in her vie for relatability.

If you happen to think and feel like Lynum does you'll probably gain much from experiencing this book. If not, then a cliff notes version (maybe on her blog) would suffice.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, let me say I just love the idea of handing someone a jar of 936 pennies the day their child is being dedicated. I have never heard this idea in my life until I read Eryn's book. I thought it was just the neatest thing. I am not a parent myself, but I have hope that I will be someday, but this book was incredible.
This book is a wonderful reminder that investing and being intentional with your children truly matters. This book is filled with personal experiences, struggles, humor, grace and encouragement from Eryn. She writes with pose and humbleness, which I greatly admire. I love that I have this book now before children, because it is a gift to me, to remind not to be wreckless with my pennies, but to create days that having meaning, which will create a lifetime of meaning.
This is a perfect gift for that mom to be, for a parenting group, a Bible study or even as a conversation starter at a MOPs group. I give this book 5/5 stars.

[Kristina Wieners · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has been revolutionary in parenting my three young boys right now. I am not a big reader and this is a book I actually finished! Eryn writes in a such a way that you know she has “been there, done that” and she speaks from experience with great stories, but not in a way where she claims to have it all figured out. She is very much with you in the process of parenting. Her book is relatable and relevant. One of my favorite quotes from the book is, “Many of us, myself included, have fallen prey to the lie that we’re told as parents: We can’t control time. It will always goes by too fast. We can’t slow it down. But we do have the power to control time, and we must—for the sake of our children and our relationship with them….” I have already bought three additional copies of this book and given them away! It is a must read!

[Beverly Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

This sweet book will have you reading with a lump in your throat and tears in your eyes. The author received a special gift of a jar holding 936 pennies...one penny for each week of her child's life from birth. As she removes a penny each week, she is reminded how fast time flies by and she learns to embrace and appreciate each moment.

This is such a beautifully written book. I love the author's poetic and emotional writing style. This really made me think about how important family is and how I should enjoy each moment with them. This made my heart ache at times when I was reading it, just because I thought of how fast my children are growing and how precious each moment is. I love the idea of the penny jar and I think it's such a great visual reminder. Thank you so much to Bethany House and the author for the chance to read and review this book!

[Susan Karsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Susan here, with my latest book review….This book is super-inspiring. The title concept refers to a jar the author received when her child was very young. The number 936 relates to the number of weeks in your child’s life from birth to eighteen years old.

The mom/parent takes one penny out every week and meditates, contemplates, and looks within, making sure to relish, maximize, and enjoy the parenting journey. Reading about this plan is fascinating and the author brings out many anecdotes to spark one’s understanding of the momentous privilege of raising children.

For me, personally, if was a little sad to read, since I am done with those years. But, I would love to give someone a jar of pennies some day. This was a nice book to read and reflect on the ideas presented.

[Trisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an Amazing book by Eryn Lynum about emphasizing the importance of investing in my kids whom Lordwilling I will have 936weeks to invest in their lives! Each and every day, we as parents need to be intentional. Eryn’s style of writing is one that I loved... personal, stories, and ways to make it practical. Building a firm foundation on God and His Word. Making it a point to have fun, to laugh, to encourage, to ignore the “to-do” list in order to listen intently and love deeply! My prayer as I read this book (and after) “Lord, help me to invest each moment wisely and give me and my husband wisdom as we raise our kids to love You first and foremost!” Read the book 936 Pennies and be forever changed as a parent, a spouse, and a friend.

[Bible Gateway · Rating 5 out of 5]

How can a jar of 936 pennies transform our parenting? What can it teach us about making family time richer, not busier? When we practice “counting time,” as David penned in Psalm 90:12, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom,” God begins to bring new life to our home and family.

Bible Gateway interviewed Eryn Lynum (@ErynLynum) about her book, 936 Pennies: Discovering the Joy of Intentional Parenting (Bethany House, 2018). Read our interview with Eryn here: https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/201...

[Cindy Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poignant, practical and powerful. Weaving scriptural truths into her parenting experience, Eryn’s story will encourage and challenge you to live a life of holy intention. Intentional parenting not only brings joy, but helps brings into focus God’s purposes to raise up a generation that know and love him. Every chapter is infused with inspiration to change one thing at a time so that the priceless and fleeting gift of childhood turns into treasured memories; inspiring the next generation to follow the Lord. I promise you’ll never look at parenting or grand-parenting the same again!

[Gena - My Book Reviews for You · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just imagine the idea and the significance of these 936 pennies! One jar full of 936 pennies, one penny for each weekend until your newborn child will graduate. The concept is to move one penny to a different jar every Sunday. This book was encouraging and motivational. It really made me think about children, the importance of them, and the shortness of childhood. It is full of words that will make you nod your head in agreement or perhaps give you new, wonderful ideas you can use with your own family.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading the first few chapters of this book, I was inspired to smile more, play more, and get outside with my kids more. I had to buy my own copy because there were so many things that I wanted to underline and remember. I love Eryn's passion to remind people to invest their time with their kids, not just watch it pass by. And this was done in a way to inspire, not instill guilt. A very good read, I would definitely recommend this book to any parent!