I’ll admit it to everyone and anyone — I am a book mom.  I’d been reading parenting books long before I even had kids (due in part to my background in education), but I stocked up during my first pregnancy.  I read everything about pregnancy, labor, delivery, the first year, sleeping, nursing, feeding, anything under the sun related to babies.  When my second son was born, though, I can’t think of one pregnancy/infancy book that I even cracked.  By that point, of course, I was reading everything under the sun related to potty-training, preparing for a new sibling, preschools — I knew how to do the baby thing, but how the heck was I supposed to handle this rambunctious three-year-old??

I had found a couple of great books that I liked for each stage, but I remember thinking how I wished that I could just find an author of a parenting book who had an entire series devoted to parenting.  That way, I wouldn’t have to read everything but could just turn to the book geared for the next stage of life.

Well, Erin MacPherson has solved that problem!  The Christian Mama’s Guide series includes four books that takes a reader from having a baby, baby’s first year, parenting a toddler, and through the first school years.

In her own About section on her blog, MacPherson admits that she isn’t really qualified to guide anyone about anything and then goes on to explain, “My house is a mess, my baby’s high chair is covered in sweet potato grime and I just stuffed an entire load of clean, dry laundry into a laundry basket without folding it.  The last time I attempted a craft with my kids, it ended in a tempera-paint induced meltdown (from me, not my kids).  I’m not particularly organized or style-savvy or discipline-wise.  But, I am a mom.  And a Christian.  And I love to write about life and parenting and God and every place where those three things intersect.”

Why, then, would these books be so appealing??

These books were delightful to read because they’re clean (not raunchy or filled with too many details), written by a mom (practical applications are invaluable!), and Christian-based.  MacPherson feels like a mom from your playgroup get-togethers who has the best ideas and makes you wonder why you hadn’t thought of something so easy.  She offers lots of encouraging words for moms who are trying to do their best in this special role that can be so difficult.  She gives suggestions and tips that actually work, and her writing has a great voice that makes this series engaging and hard to put down.

The Christian Mama also has website that includes a blog she updates frequently, freebies and resources to print and use by yourself or with friends, and includes information and details about writing a book for budding authors.

And, she’s giving away The Christian Mama’s Guide series to one lucky Dandy reader!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

** This giveaway is open to U.S. entries only.

** The winner of this giveaway will be drawn no later than the morning of May 11th and will be emailed within 24 hours.  If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new winner will be drawn.

** This posting and giveaway were sponsored by The Christian Mama’s Guide, but all opinions are strictly my own.