Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World Book Review

Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World- Kristen Welch

Its been a very long time since I had read a parenting book, or a book about families, or teens or anything like that. I wasn't quite sure where this book would fit for our family personally because I have a student in college, and then two juniors in High School. I am so thankful for so much of what was said. The real truth behind so much of what we are seeing in the world today. Sometimes I think we are fortunate to at times have less than some, even in the midst of having so much more than most of the world. My children understand American Struggle. They live without central heat and air, in Texas. They live with the real possibility of having to miss things in life because there truly is no money, not even the $10 needed for choir dues at times. They are also able to learn so much, how to work hard, how to save their own money for things like Mission Trips and Church camp. They learn what is truly important the good lunch in their bag at school or the Mc D's they would love to stop and get. 

One thing in our family that we truly focus on is service. I always want them to see what it takes to run a community. How they can help others, how they can serve at school and church and even in the world. While they may do without a lot of what their friends have they truly see how much they have daily to make life better through their acts of service. It helps them be compassionate, loving, caring, responsible young adults. 

There have been so many times were I am sure I am messing it all up. I feel bad when they get so little at Christmas, or when we can't take a single vacation in the summer because home repairs have taken everything extra. Then I think of what they do have, a parent that works from home quilting and sometimes subbing so that I can be the volunteer at the field trip, so that I can take them to and from school most days instead of them having to ride a bus with kids that make them uncomfortable. How many conversations we have in the car going to so many volunteer days and church events/activities. There isn't much I don't love about our life, despite some hard ships. 

One really important thing that I learned that I am failing my husband in is having a child centered home. I hadn't really thought about that before. I put the kids above nearly everything. My daughters school schedule pretty much trumps my plans with my husband. After reading this book I felt pretty convicted. I realized that the reason that I don't go on anniversary dates or a get away is that I am too worried they won't get what they need done. It really made me evaluate and for once we actually left with school in progress, with my daughters schedule full to the brim. Our son even called after dropping him off at college and said that classes didn't start until Tuesday, he had nothing to do. We were both tempted to go get him but then we stuck to our plan- time for us.

I love this- I think we do a really good job in this area, however I know with friends its hard to always know what they see otherwise. This is probably my second favorite point among all the great real life stories and ideas. For us our kids just have $10 non internet phones, even our child in college. We just decided that its all they truly needed and our phone bill could not be the same amount as our food or utilities bills. We do have the rights to their passwords on any device and I check text messages and such at random. While that may not work for every family it has worked great for us.
I really recommend this book to anyone with children, or even grandchildren. It helps you truly look at the inner makings of your family. There are ideas at the end of each chapter that are age appropriate, to meet you at the stage or stages that you are right now, also potentially to help you be thinking about the next stage. It helps you realize how much we forget and take for granted in America. We have so much and can give back so much. Kristen has a wonderful Blog you can follow at We are that family, she is also on Facebook, right now you can get her book through various online sources such as Amazon, Barnes and Noble etc. There is a really low preorder price of $10. If you purchase it and read it come back and let me know what you think. I am thankful that it refocused us on looking at the every day parts of life we need to be Grateful for in the midst of chaos that often strikes.

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Sunday Moments January

I am so thankful for today's sermon at church. I have been working hard at simplifying life and relying on the Lord more. It is hard to not feel discouraged at times. I have felt very alone and depressed lately. I have been finding myself spending more time in my devotion just pouring over what I am reading and my prayers. I think mainly I felt disconnected from my husband. We both work so incredibly hard to provide for the kids that it leaves little time for ourselves. Today I was talking about just that as we thought we were going to have to cancel plans to get away for our anniversary. The timing and money just weren't working out. We came home and he wanted to till in the garden. I found myself sink to an all new level of depression. I just wanted to spend time with him. I knew he needed to till. He had worked a side job yesterday morning and then we had things to do and he helped me clean, we had gone and picked up quilting fabric and something from Walmart. Then this morning we went to church, then he had the game, then we had to run kids back to church and then there was my current moment. So he suggested I find some comfy clothes and join him outside. That meant not working on my quilt or cleaning inside, but I would be spending time with him, which is what I was complaining about. So he taught me to use the tiller. Boy is it a workout. It was fun though. We got a lot done and then we were able to pick up kids from church/band and have dinner then drive my daughter to her friends. He had a little time so we got one more thing off my list and the rest of that list goes to tomorrow. It all worked out but I have to remember to stop and take a deep breath, realize that there are days were getting it all done is not possible and that if I need time with him I need to ask, he can't read my mind.

We didn't use this part of the garden last year so it had not been tilled yet. We found TONS of rocks and limbs/roots in it. It was a lot of work.

He had a little section in the middle about 5 rows worth that I did. He caught a picture at the end because I was getting exhausted~

Between the two of us we got it all done. He left the row of okra, not sure if it will produce anymore and then the pepper plants that are still blooming from our summer/fall crop. We have mulch, manure and such to add to it, but this is a good first till for our Spring/Summer garden, which I pray is more successful then last year. 

google.com/+JennWellsandSunshineOfAutumnQuilts