Coming Home to Roost: A Mennonite Mom Reflects on Life Choices, Adult Children, and Country Living

by Dorcas Smucker

After age fifty, life brings not only joy and rewards but also reflection and regret. In Coming Home to Roost, her seventh book of essays about raising a family, Dorcas Smucker takes a long view. She has watched children growing up, stories playing out, and choices leading to logical or surprising ends. Formerly the mom who “knew everything,” she writes of relinquishing that role as her children follow their passions but remaining the one they turn to for advice and connection. In this special season, she follows new interests and, as always, finds wisdom and laughter in ordinary days.

147 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 24, 2023

Reviews

[Rebekah Barkman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Dorcas’s books. She writes in a tone that makes her mundane life seem beautiful and majestic, which then has a way of making you realize your own life is a meaningful symphony of its own. She doesn’t write with placitudes but writes in a very conversational manner, as if you were sipping tea at her table together.

[Kristi Horst · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was enjoyable enough for me to read through quickly. However, some chapters had me a little bored, but thankfully, the chapters were short and each one a different subject/story.
I'd like to read another one of her books. I enjoyed her humor and her honest way of writing/story telling. It also made me excited about someday having adult children. And I might start drinking more tea like Dorcas does...

[Jolene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love that not only are the stories in this book fun, encouraging and relatable, but there are little nuggets of wisdom tucked into the pages that just might jump out and stop you short as you are reading.

[Lynette Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some chapters were funny, but some were kind of scattered and rambling. The author has a sense of humor and wit that runs through all her stories. I found the Chapter "When Parent's Change their Minds" and "Untangling the Threads" particularly encouraging for the season of parenting that I am in right now.

[Alea Weaver · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ I really enjoyed this collection of essays. Even though I'm not in the same stage of life as the author, I still related to many things. It was very easy to read and was filled with humor.

[Ruth Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Her writing style is so practical and full of wisdom, served with a side of good humor. Such a delightful work!

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you loved Dorcas Smucker's Letters to Harrisburg that she published in the Eugene Register Guard for 18 years, then you will treasure this little book of essays. She is witty, poignant and wise, sharing her ordinary days, watching her six children become adults. One of my favorite pieces is called "When Parents Change Their Minds"...."Maybe this happened to you, too. You were so sure of yourself, back then. This was how the world worked...the world spun around, life took strange turns...maybe there were other ways of doing things, and good reasons for doing so. You changed your mind. You do things differently now." Available from muddycreekbookscom.

[Mary Hake · Rating 5 out of 5]

This delightful collection of tales from life will touch readers’ hearts and minds. I thoroughly enjoyed each one. The author’s essays about relating to adult children both encouraged me and challenged me—my children are older than hers, but I could use her wisdom at times to better connect with them. All of Dorcas Smucker’s books are wonderful reads. She is a great storyteller, and I highly recommend them. I got my copy directly from the author. All opinions are my own.

[Rose Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another delightful collection of stories from Dorcas Smucker! A favorite quote:”Most of our influence as moms will be unintentional, and we should work not so much on shaping our children as on becoming the person we want them to be.” YES!

[jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I appreciate the honest and humorous stories!

[Darla Horst Brubacher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wished it were longer! That's a good thing ;).

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

All of Dorcas Smucker's books so far, are 5 stars for me! I can relate so well, and she tells the real life stories with such humor and warm insights.