How Are You Feeling, Momma? (You don't need to say, "I'm fine."): Authentic & Encouraging Psalm Reflections on the Many Emotions of Motherhood

by Shelby Spear, Lisa Leshaw

Overview

2020 PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY BOOK LIFE PRIZE grand prize finalist and Inspirational/Spiritual category winner.

Have you ever laid awake at night and asked yourself, "Why do other moms seem to have it all together when I'm over here exhausted and overwhelmed? Will I ever figure this mom thing out and feel like I'm enough for my kids? When does the worry end?"

If you have, you're not alone. Motherhood is hard whether you are a new mom or an empty nester with 30 years of experience. All moms struggle with these big emotions, which is why Shelby and Lisa wrote this book. How Are You Feeling, Momma? (You don't need to say, "I'm fine.") is a safe space to turn to when trying to manage your biggest fears, deepest regrets, and heartfelt longings as a momma.

In this book, Shelby and Lisa give you a peek into their hearts as they share 62 authentic and candid stories from their motherhood journeys, giving you two perspectives on how they dealt with 31 momma emotions. Whether you feel anxious, afraid, confused, depressed, overwhelmed, worried, or otherwise, their reflections are full of loving encouragement and practical tools to help you process the many emotions of motherhood. In addition, the book contains over 70 scripture verses and Psalms to help you feel fully loved, fully seen, and fully heard as you cling to God's promises and apply them to your mom life. Sometimes simply knowing we aren't alone in how we feel is enough to help us do hard things.

These moms have been through the trenches, a combined 66 years of parenting/stepparenting/grandparenting between them, and their authentic and vulnerable sharing meets you right where you're at as they love you forward.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780578424187
Publisher:	Shelby Spear
Publication date:	01/25/2019
Pages:	142
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.30(d)

About the Author

A self-described "sappy soul whisperer and sarcasm aficionado", Shelby Spear is a wife of 25 years and a mom of three 20-something kiddos who has a deep love for Jesus and storytelling. Most days she muses in rhetorical wonder over what God was thinking when He put her in charge of three humans. Although God's quick to remind her how capable she is, apparently He sometimes does so while crossing His fingers behind His back.
Now that she and her husband, John, are in a season of empty nest, Shelby spends her days writing about all the ways motherhood has shaped, transformed, inspired, and aged her. You'll find her stories all over the web at places like Her View From Home, For Every Mom, Today, Love What Matters, and others. She has several stories in print at Guideposts magazine as well, the most recent in the January 2019 issue called, Our 40 Day Soul Fast. She is the loving and goofball hostess of a growing family of friends on her blog at shelbyspear.com and across social media outlets.
While John and her children graffiti her soul, all things chocolate melt her heart. Music stirs her like no other, crying fulfills her, and a love of sports keeps her competitive streak alive. Some of her favorite things in life are books, yoga, This Is Us, and a comfy pair of jeans-most notably the stretchy kind. Denim defines her in a bluesy kind of way.

Lisa is excited to be entering a new frontier in her life; meeting the eligibility requirement for Dunkin' Donuts senior discount. Because she's now a 'biddy,' she lives in the same attire as new mommas: tshirts and sweats for daily living and extravagant affairs.
She is an avid storyteller with plenty of material to pull from in her role as wife of 40+ years to Stu, step-mom to a son and daughter, both in their early forties, and a grandma to six grandbabies: five boys and one girl, ages 6-16.
You can find her words online and in print at places like Her View From Home, Grown and Flown, Guideposts, and Chicken Soup for the Soul.
Her decades of experience as a mental health professional along with her weekly empowerment circles give mommas of every age a place to celebrate themselves and one another. She prays every day that the world becomes a more tolerant and accepting place-hoping that each one of us will work towards making a lasting contribution to ensure this outcome.
Lisa also loves children's theater and is ready to pursue a career in stand-up comedy if someone discovers she's funny. Her children's book, A Royal Mistake, is ready to be published if someone discovers she's written it.
When it's all said and done, Lisa's wish is that everyone walk with lightness, giggle easily, and land softly someday in the arms God.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

Foreword

Introduction

1 Psalms for Afraid Moms

2 Psalms for Alone Moms

3 Psalms for Burned-Out Moms

4 Psalms for Cheated Moms

5 Psalms for Confused Moms

6 Psalms for Depressed Moms

7 Psalms for Distressed Moms

8 Psalms for Elated Moms

9 Psalms for Guilty Moms

10 Psalms for Hateful Moms

11 Psalms for Impatient Moms

12 Psalms for Insecure Moms

13 Psalms for Insulted Moms

14 Psalms for Jealous Moms

15 Psalms for Like Quitting Moms

16 Psalms for Lost Moms

17 Psalms for Overwhelmed Moms

18 Psalms for Penitent Moms

19 Psalms for Prideful Moms

20 Psalms for Purposeless Moms

21 Psalms for Sad Moms

22 Psalms for Self-Confident Moms

23 Psalms for Tense Moms

24 Psalms for Thankful Moms

25 Psalms for Threatened Moms

26 Psalms for Tired Moms

27 Psalms for Trapped Moms

28 Psalms for Unmotivated Moms

29 Psalms for Vulnerable Moms

30 Psalms for Worried Moms

31 Psalms for Worshipful Moms

32 More about Shelby

33 More about Lisa

34 For More Info and Resources from Shelby

35 For More Info and Resources from Lisa

Editorial Reviews

How Are You Feeling, Momma? is helpful, but it is so much more. Eloquently written, fresh, and dear. I felt seen and heard. Perfect.--Jami Amerine, mom of 6 and author of Sacred Ground, Sticky Floors and Stolen Jesus

It's in this book where you will find freedom from hiding, from holding in those true emotions, from having to keep it all together with a perfectly coined, "I'm fine." You can be real here. You can be you.--Christine Carter, mom of two teens ages 13 and 15, and author of, Help and Hope While You're Healing: A woman's guide toward wellness while recovering from injury, surgery, or illness. Blogs at themomcafe.com

How Are You Feeling, Momma? (You don't need to say, "I'm fine.") had me at its subtitle. As women--and especially as women of faith--the pressure to be fine...or seem fine...or say "I'm fine" always feels like it's hovering over our interactions. But as God speaks to us through the Psalms, He clearly gives us permission to express the full range of emotions He intentionally equipped us with when He created us!-- Elizabeth Spencer, mom of one teen and one 20-something daughter. Blogs at guiltychocoholicmama.blogspot.com

Whether we identify as Jewish or Christian, as moms, when we open Scripture, we're reading the same Psalms. It's a beautiful thing to realize, as these women did, the way we apply the truths we read, in our home lives, our communities, and in our places of worship, are remarkably similar too.--Traci Rhoades, mom of one 11-year-old. Blogs at tracesoffaith.com

As a mother of six, reading How are You Feeling, Momma? is like sitting on my front porch with a couple of friends and having a much-needed conversation.-- Laura Wolf, mom of six, ages 10 and under

This book is a delightful guide for mothers and grandmothers to reflect on the spiritual joys & challenges of motherhood. I enjoyed the two different perspectives, which bring alive the love of God through all the turmoil of motherhood and theworld.--Sandy McLeod, mom of two, grandmother of three

From the Publisher