Millions of married women raise their children alone because their husbands are not available. Whether the cause of the husband’s absence is business, the military, ministry, study, illness, or hobbies, the effect is the same: a lonely wife and mother who faces a life more challenging than she had ever imagined.
Married Mom, Solo Parent: Finding God’s Strength to Face the Challenge helps Christian women deal with their emotions as well as the practical aspects of this lifestyle. And, unlike many who address this topic, author Carla Anne gives godly advice.
Her book is summed up in the challenge she says God has prepared for married solo moms:
The Challenge
for the married solo parent is to be
a woman whose heart seeks after God;
a wife who honors her husband and teaches her children to do likewise;
a mother who teaches her children how to
seek after God, honor him, obey him, and love him in all things
while practically caring for their needs,
all the while leaving room in the family for her husband to be
the man, husband, and father God created him to be.
Carla Anne candidly discusses the emotions of solo parenting including the danger of becoming emotionally divorced, and always points struggling women to God and away from self-pity. While discussing discipline, chores, celebrations, and needs, she freely acknowledges the sadness that accompanies this lifestyle but dwells on our calling to trust and honour God as well as to honour our husbands. It’s not easy, but it’s the life God has called many of us to live.
Carla Anne does not promote the worldly viewpoint that has led to countless divorces, even among Christians. Instead, she shows wives the narrow path, difficult but right, that leads to God’s blessing on their husbands, their children, and themselves.
Although the book contains other women’s stories, Carla Anne opens up about her own life as well. What’s more, the final insightful chapter was written by her husband.
How I wish this book had been available when my husband was always away! With God’s help, I struggled through those dark days as well as possible, discovering many of the truths presented in this book. I also made many mistakes that could have been prevented by Carla Anne’s book.
If you are a married solo mom, invest in your family, your marriage, and yourself: buy this book. By repeatedly pointing you to God, it will comfort and strengthen you to face the challenge He has given you. With all its practical advice, it will equip you to meet it.
I’ve discussed this book further here. For more on this topic, read my review of Father Hunger by Douglas Wilson, my review of The Reunion by Dan Walsh, and my review of The Wise Woman’s Guide to Blessing her Husband’s Vision.
If you wish to meet Carla Anne, read the ‘other bio’ , or visit her blog.
You can check out other reviews on the LitFuse blog tour.
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Disclosure: I received a free copy of Married Mom, Solo Parent from Litfuse in order to give you my honest opinion.
For more great tips, see Works For Me Wednesday , Women Living Well Wednesdays, and Encourage One Another Wednesday.
This is my 36th book in the 52 Books in 52 Weeks Challenge.
Thank you, Annie Kate, for a beautiful review! I’m so glad you included ‘The Challenge’!
I’m so grateful to God that He also showed you so many ways to live the life while you were in the midst of it. My prayer is that many marriages will thrive and even be ‘saved’ through the hope in my book!
Bless you!
Carla Anne
P.S. I hope to “meet” you and your readers at the MomChat Facebook party on Tuesday! 🙂
The party is in my calendar! 🙂
And thank you for writing ‘The Challenge’!
Annie Kate
I do believe you have hit on something so important here. many women walk through parenting alone and can get bitter or distant setting them up for the distance to grow and the children to have to choose sides (like in a divorce)
Thank you for reviewing this and recommending it. I know a lot of mom’s that are there, and I was for years as my husband worked so much. There has been fallout, but with the Lord Jesus, all things are possible!
Thank you for linking this yesterday! I am looking forward to getting to know you as time goes by! PS I ‘Liked’ you, Annie Kate!
Yes, it’s terrible when children need to chose sides. Devastating to the entire family. That’s one reason this book is so great. I wish I had had it 15 years ago!
Annie Kate
I have a few friends who could use this book. It’s a very hard way to go for sure. I am so glad you have relied on God to get you through the rough spots.
If they could use it, do tell them about it. It will really benefit them.
Annie Kate
I have known many moms in this situation, and I think a book that helps them resist bitterness and divorce is a great idea. Does it give any advice for helping the father and children reconnect when he becomes available again? Some of the older men in my family had trouble bonding with their children because they were away in World War II for long periods in the children’s early lives; some of them reconnected very successfully, and others didn’t. With so many parents having been deployed recently, I am wondering what the solo parent can do to get the returning parent back on track, without getting in the way of his bond with the kids.
Yes, this issue is also addressed very well.
Many moms’ attitude is recognized by a chapter title (So Now You Want to Be a Part of this Family, Huh?). Often moms need to deal with their own subtle anger. Carla Anne addresses this issue and shows its importance to the family.
Throughout the book, the emphasis is on leaving space for Dad in the family.
This would be a wonderful resource for such families.
Thanks for raising such an excellent point.
Annie Kate
This sounds like a great read. Does she address the fact that women for centuries have dealt with this? I imagine that the experience cannot be unique to our time, especially given the huge number of wars in world history.
[…] this issue in their own families, I have reviewed two wise, encouraging, and practical resources, Married Mom, Solo Parent and The Wise Woman’s Guide to Blessing her […]
[…] to love him back. (For more on this topic, read my review of Father Hunger by Douglas Wilson and my review of Married Mom, Solo Parent by Carla Anne […]