What if taking care of yourself was the first step to helping your family thrive?
If you’ve parented long enough, then you’ve learned firsthand why your personal wellness matters. You’ve felt the pain (or consequences) of devaluing yourself. Whether your wake-up call came from a diagnosis, a breakdown, an issue with your child or spouse, anxiety, or simply feeling depleted and numb, it most likely unveiled this truth:
Mothers are humans too. We require love, compassion, rest, and renewal. Taking care of our needs strengthens us and equips us for the road ahead.
In More Than a Mom, bestselling author Kari Kampakis offers a practical, approachable, and attainable framework to stay on a healthy path. You can take your kids only as far as you’ve come–and since their strength builds on your strength, you must take time to focus on you. More Than a Mom is about unleashing God’s power in your life and standing on timeless truths that will help you
know your worth and embrace your purpose, build strong, uplifting friendships that you can model for your children, quit the negative self-talk and make peace with your body, and learn to mother yourself by resting and setting boundaries. The world shaping your children is more callous and complex than the world that shaped you. Kids need to be stronger, smarter, and more rooted in what’s real. Empower your son or daughter by tending to your heart, soul, body, and mind. Give them a vision of a healthy adult–and know that as they launch into the real world, they will build on what you started.
Kari Kubiszyn Kampakis is a blogger, author, speaker, and newspaper columnist from Birmingham, Alabama.
Her bestselling books, 10 ULTIMATE TRUTHS GIRLS SHOULD KNOW and LIKED: WHOSE APPROVAL ARE YOU LIVING FOR?, have been used widely across the country by teen youth groups and small groups to empower girls through faith.
Kari’s work has been featured on The Huffington Post, TODAY Parents, and other national outlets. She and her husband, Harry, have four daughters and a dog named Lola.
Learn more by visiting www.karikampakis.com or finding Kari on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter.
I really wanted to like this. But unfortunately it is basically just a "trust God" book. As an agnostic, that's not the advice I want. I tried to read around those parts, but it was just too much. The cover is misleading as nothing on the front or back suggests it's a Christian based advice book. Nothing wrong with that if that's what you are looking for, but it's not what I wanted.
What a perfect book to read over Mothers Day weekend. Honestly this book is even great for wives and grandmothers, anyone caring for others besides themselves. Author Kari Kampakis does an amazing job of reminding the reader that in order to be whole for your family, you need to care for yourself. Kind of like being on a plane and placing the oxygen on yourself before helping your loved one. If we don't get enough rest,don't control our stress, don't do a little self-care at the end of the day we have nothing left to give. I had 4 kids very young and all close together, so I know it's not easy to find time for yourself. I went to a mothers group at church and I remember after the meeting was done feeling lighter and excited to pick up my kids and get home. That one hour a week with other moms refilled my soul and met me right where I needed it. My kids were/are my whole life but I've learned over time I'm a better mom when I take time for myself. Of course now that I'm a read-a-holic and a GiGi I take time while Luna is napping to get cozy in my reading chair and relax with a book.Sure I could be doing laundry or cleaning something, but I know what my body needs, and I want to feel refreshed and ready to go when she wakes up. It's important to take care of yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally. So many moms/women are so hard on themselves. Maybe your neighbor lost her baby weight and you didn't, maybe your friend can eat whatever she wants and never gain a pound, all of these things can cause you to be hard on yourself. No two people are alike and we shouldn't compare ourselves. Even that mom that we think is beautiful and has it all has stress, even if she doesn't express it. Kari explains we all go through seasons and we need to accept the time were in, try not to rush things, and just enjoy it, because we will surely blink and our baby will be graduating from college! One day your trying to get your child to sleep through the night, next it's the tantrums, then it's the refusing to eat, etc etc it can feel like as soon as your recover from one stage your thrown into another. As the author reminds us, hang in there and be kind to yourself and the other mommies around you. We all need each other even if our babies are all grown up!
This is one of the best devotional books I have read. I started giving it as gifts to other friends.
I would encourage every mom to read it. It really is important to prioritize yourself in order to be a good mom. I loved all of the embedded scripture.
This book spoke to my spirit and was very encouraging. I would recommend this book to others, and I plan on referring back to it when I need to be reminded to take care of myself. My children deserve an example of a whole and healthy mother, and I want them to be happy and healthy adults by following my example.
I really enjoyed this book. It was honest, helpful and y encouraging, I felt the small questions at the end of each chapter, as well as the mom’s perspective were very important and read each one. This is a book I intend to keep.
Kari Kampakis's More Than a Mom: How Prioritizing Your Wellness Helps You (and Your Family) Thrive has been an incredibly timely read for me. I don't think I am overstating how exceptional it is when I say that it could truly change a mom's life; and as a result, her family's. Kari, a mom of four, knows what being a mother asks of us; to love, to serve, to give up sleep, to cram more into days than should be possible. However, when moms are taking wonderful care of their children or families, sometimes they're taking horrible care of themselves.
In More Than a Mom: How Prioritizing Your Wellness Helps You (and Your Family) Thrive, Kari outlines ten things moms should and can be aware of as they care for their families; things that can improve their lives, their minds, and their hearts. These include: knowing their worth; rest; friendships; dealing with stress and anxiety; choosing joy; quitting negative self-talk; making peace with their bodies; feeling capable; embracing our purpose; and living in hope. I know that these all sound wonderful, and they are! But Kari doesn't leave her readers hanging with lofty-sounding ideals. Instead, she unpacks each of these with wisdom, humor, kindness, Scripture, and then, the actual ways women can implement them.
I recommend this to you SO highly. It is a remarkable book that will come alongside you, tired and overwhelmed mom, and help you understand how to make changes that will bring you joy, peace, and rest. It truly is wonderful.
I received a copy of this book from FrontGate Media. All opinions are honest and my own.
I wanted to read this book because of the title, "More than a Mom" thinking it would have insight and wisdom on not losing yourself in motherhood and being your own person outside of the role. I think it's fair to say that the content isn't exactly what I had anticipated when first selecting this book. Kari outlines 10 habits to grow into a healthy person using Biblical truths (Know Your worth, Rest, Build Uplifting Friendships, Conquer Stress and Anxiety with Truth, Choose Joy, Quit the Negative Self-Talk, Make Peace with Your Body, Fight the Good Fight, Embrace Your Purpose and Live in Hope) so that you can ultimately be a better Mom. In each chapter, Kari writes about excellent daily habits and then heaps on the importance of a MOM role modeling each habit to her children. When I reframed the book's topic in my head, leaning more heavily on the subtitle, I could appreciate the book and the life-giving wisdom it held. Definitely have a highlighter handy!
More Than A Mom by Kari Kampakis is the first book I have read by this author. I decided to make it a priority read this year since my word of the year is "thrive." I want to thrive in every aspect of my life, and prioritizing my wellness is something I need to work on.
(this book) It's your guide to inner wellness and includes ten ways to grow stronger from the inside out through ten life habits you can incorporate to become the mother, woman, and role model you are meant to be.
In some ways, the author sells this book short by marketing it only to mothers. It is relatable to all women, whether they have children or not. We are all so busy that we do not prioritize our health. I shared tidbits of this book with my daughter and teenage son, as some parts are relatable to everyone.
Rest has never felt more elusive because we live in a world of unrest.
You are a human being, not a human doing, and while there is certainly a time to work, there is also a time to stop, breathe, pray, and give thanks for your life.
Today's world has no boundaries, and this puts more demands on your time.
While I enjoyed this book, and it has valuable information, I don't feel like it necessarily had new information. I don't know exactly what I was looking for, but I didn't find it.
I do recommend this to anyone who feels like they are not living their best life. It is an easy, uplifting read.
If you’re a mom, you know that being a mother is the greatest job on the planet…but, it’s also the most under-valued one, too. Yes, there are plenty of tough jobs in the world, but nothing will test your strength, courage, loyalty and love quite like being a mom. With that in mind, I was excited to read this book about the importance of prioritizing one’s wellness in order to keep family harmony. As the old adage goes, “if Momma ain’t happy, NO ONE is happy”…and it’s so true.
There are times when I know I have burned the candle at both ends and played the martyr game because that’s what I thought a “good” mother had to do. However, over the years I’ve really learned that there aren’t any awards for needless suffering and my kids feel it when I’m not taking care of myself. So, in order to be the best mom I can be, I also have to prioritize my wellness. Period.
I loved how this book broke down this topic in bite-sized chapters and helpful bullet points. It really motivated me to look at all the ways I might be short-changing myself. There were some things I hadn’t considered (like learning how to rewrite the scripts in my head) and some areas I know need lots of work (like taking time for friendships). Even though this book is written in the Christian bent - and I am not of that faith - I still took valuable lessons from its wisdom and look forward to employing the techniques to bring more harmony to my home.
More Than A Mom is a perfect read if you’re a mom feeling numb, exhausted, and defeated. As moms, we can’t fill from an empty cup, and this book encourages and reminds us that we are loved, needed, and worthy of care and attention.
This book takes you through practices ways we can turn our focus back to Jesus, as it is in Him that we can truly live out our callings as moms. It has ten chapters that offer a framework to stay on a healthy path. They encourage action toward creating a balanced life. They inspire self-reflection and hope. As you blaze towards wellness, you will start to set a positive example for your children and encourage them also to invite Jesus into their journey.
“In short, it is our job to turn around and empower those behind us.”
“More Than A Mom” is an excellent resource for finding Christian guidance as a mom. I enjoyed the reflection questions at the end of each chapter and thought they provided a fantastic biblical view of motherhood. This book was a great reminder that “God is with you, God is in you, and God is for you. He can help you become the mother and giver you hope to be – and the human you deserve.”
I received a complimentary copy from TLC Book Tours to participate in a publicity tour. I was not otherwise compensated, and the above represents my honest opinion about the book.
Motherhood is an amazing adventure and an incredible gift. Recognizing that, is it ok for a mom to desire to be anything more than a mom?
What if being more than a mom made your family stronger? What if taking care of your own soul, mind and body were the first steps to helping your family thrive?
In her new book More Than A Mom, bestselling author Kari Kampakis makes a strong case for prioritizing your own wellness as a mom.
More Than A Mom is a guide to inner wellness centered around 10 practical life habits to incorporate to help you grow stronger as a mom, woman and role model. Using Scripture and real-world examples from all seasons of motherhood, More Than A Mom will empower you to prioritize self-development and practice self-compassion.
This is the kind of book you want to hold on to and reference when you feel overwhelmed and off balance. Use it as a guide to help you avoid losing yourself in motherhood and stay on a healthy, balanced path that allows both you and your family to thrive.
Read more about this book and my thoughts at AdventureSeekingMom.com.
*I received an advance copy of the book to review from Smith Publicity. All opinions are my own.*
Is it possible to bookmark more pages than not in a book? If so, More Than a Mom: How Prioritizing Your Wellness Helps You (and Your Family) Thrive is that book. Each chapter goes further beyond the ways you can be a better, more fulfilled mother with examples of how your actions are examples to your children for their future development. I LOVED that! It's hard to excuse self-care in a vacuum and it was so encouraging to see how a healthy mom really should be a priority for the family as a whole.
In addition, each chapter also included reflection questions, encouraging the reader to really get involved with her own development and come to peace with the knowledge of her worth. Filled with love and advice that jumps off the page to give the reader a warm hug and a spiritual boost, this should be on everyone's "buy for myself and a friend" list.
Is it possible to bookmark more pages than not in a book? If so, More Than a Mom is that book. Each chapter goes further beyond the ways you can be a better, more fulfilled mother with examples of how your actions are examples to your children for their future development. I LOVED that! It's hard to excuse self-care in a vacuum and it was so encouraging to see how a healthy mom really should be a priority for the family as a whole.
In addition, each chapter also included reflection questions, encouraging the reader to really get involved with her own development and come to peace with the knowledge of her worth. Filled with love and advice that jumps off the page to give the reader a warm hug and a spiritual boost, this should be on everyone's "buy for myself and a friend" list.
What keeps me interested in a self-development read are the following: stories, reflective questions, quotes, and a bit of encouragement. More Than A Mom offered all of the above with heavy Christian influence and a focus on how God can play a vital role in the journey of motherhood. If Christianity beliefs do not apply to you - I found the questions and thought process relatable - for example, "Do you believe hard times serve a purpose? Has God ever comforted you in your troubles so you can comfort others?" As a first time Mom, I had poured all my energy into Austin and this is a good reminder to remember to pour into my cup as well so I can continue to thrive in being a Mom.
Kari Kampakis gives real, attainable advice on how to focus on your own mental and physical health from a Christian perspective. While the ideas and thoughts are all ideas and thoughts we all have heard, it’s great to be reminded once again that focusing on your health isn’t selfish - but a great model for your children. And with her Christian influence, you also get the benefit of fostering your relationship with God. Loved this book and her easy writing style. It feels good to take time out for yourself and realize that you’ve actually taken time out for your children…and your relationship with God.
The book itself is pretty generic and common sense advice. It hits a lot of topics and stays pretty surface level with each. And the chapter that mentions anxiety shows she definitely doesn’t understand people who struggle with anxiety. But my church did a women’s class based on this book and that was amazing! We had great conversations inspired by the topics in this book. If I was reading it on my own it wouldn’t have resonated as much as it did with the discussions we had in class. So if you’re thinking about doing more of a group discussion about motherhood and faith I would recommend this book.
I enjoyed this book. It was encouraging and had some really great insight. While there wasn’t a lot that i hadn’t heard here and there before, it was great to see it all together—in the same context. She does a great job of weaving in scripture, and she offers practical thoughts and advise and real and relatable examples. This was a quick read, and I would recommend it! I wish it had been around when I had little kids!
More Than a Mom: How Prioritizing Your Wellness Helps You (and Your Family) Thrive by Kari Kampakis is a book that all moms need to read. I am so glad that this publisher put this book into publication. This message is not often pursued in Christian circles. This is a Christian perspective on self care and what it looks like. It is a gem to read again and again. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.
We read and discussed this book a chapter at a time in a mom’s group that I belong to. Hence the time it took me to finish. I really like the approach the author took in each chapter inserting scriptures to back up her advice as well as emphasizing Christ’s love for all. I only wish I would have read it back when I was a new mom, because a lot of it made me feel like I ruined my kids! 😂 Overall, it was a great book!
I have heard Kari Kampakis speak as a guest on several of my favorite podcasts and was excited to receive this book as a GoodReads Giveaway. I appreciated the message and encouragement of this book so much! I thought the advice was practical and helpful and the reflection questions at the end of each chapter helped personalize the content even more. I can’t wait to read more of her work and listen to her podcast too.
A great devotional/ bible based book that encourages moms to take care of themselves in order to better care for their family. Not the best writing but sound advice that was much needed for me at this time in my life. I appreciate a Christian perspective on self care versus the secular focus on self love or self worship.
More than a Mom is a great book that is more than a book about a mom's physical. It covers spiritual, emotional and social wellness. If you're a mom that is worn out, I recommend this to energize you. It will also encourage you in your walk with the Lord.
Self care for moms with a Christian perspective! A really thought provoking read, definitely got some good takeaways and food for thought. Easily accessible chapters, well organized. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy.
Short, encouraging read…probably more sorted to a young mom or a mom newer in the faith or a mom struggling with her self-worth/esteem. I could have used this book about 10 years ago but still enjoyed it today.
Sometimes you just need a little pep talk. That is what this book felt like. A reminder of things that you know, that you have been told multiple times, and have been trying to live out, but you just need a little encouragement.
Highlighter ran outta ink with this one. Precious reminders that though the struggle is real there is so much joy in parenting even in the hard parts. Taking care of ourselves as mothers is just as important as the love we pour into our family.