Here’s a recap of all the blogs who participated in the tour.
WEEK ONE
5 Minutes for Mom -”After reading the book, I realize that my parenting has already embraced some of these changes. I’m sure that if I keep my mind and heart open, I will continue to evolve with the culture in some ways, while remaining steadfast in areas which I know that the Lord would not want me to change or compromise.”
Christian Preschool Printables-(quote from an interview with Mary)”Every pre-school parent can absolutely prepare their children for the future by loving them firmly, establishing boundaries, and walking and talking with their kids, establishing a great relationship.”
Christian Work at Home Moms-“This book is a great introduction to the thinking found in our ever-changing world and Mary’s open and honest parenting advice is a breath of fresh air.” Jill also posted an audio interview with Mary on July 17th.
Getting Real-(quote from interview with Mary)”The greatest challenge? For parents to deliberately take time to consider their role as soul-nurturers of their children. How do we nurture souls? A lot of time together.”
Good Word Editing-“There’s a strong element of this book that functions as a memoir for Mary. She tells wonderful stories from her experience as a parent, then interprets them for the reader.”
Illuminating the Word Through Fiction-“It’s a new experience for me to join a blog tour, but it’s the least I can do as a fan and as a parent who believes in Absolute Truth.”
Radiant Lit-“Mary is amazing – articulate, honest and very authentic.”
Simplifying Motherhood-(quote from interview with Mary) “I love this verse: ‘But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ’ (2 Corinthians 11:3). For me, for my children, that’s my prayer, that we’d be simply and purely devoted to Jesus no matter what worldview we find ourselves in.”
Snapshot-(quote from interview with Mary, answering question on how to stay connected as a family)”…make it a point to read to your children. Choose all sorts of books, nonfiction, fiction, picture books, and keep your ears open.”
Spaghettipie-“In the book, Mary is not trying to make a statement for or against postmodernism. She’s merely pointing out that postmodernism is the state of the culture we live in. Our children will encounter postmodern thinkers. So, how do we parent in light of that?”
The Journey of Writer Danica Favorite-“I’ve always loved Mary and her perspective on parenting, because she’s not one of those “perfect” moms who get it all right, all the time. However, she is intentional about being the best mom she can and improving all the time.”
WEEK TWO
Christian Work at Home Moms-”Filled with day-to-day stories from DeMuth’s own life, this book is a powerful tool for any parent. The author is open and honest in such a refreshing way that I connected with her and didn’t want the book to end.”
Aspire2 Blog – “Here’s a quote from Mary’s book that I especially appreciated: ‘Coaching is different from showing or directing. A coach simply helps someone who wants to change to effect such a change.’ ”
Be a Barnabas – (Mary in response to how the book relates to single moms) “The book stresses the importance of going to Jesus first as the best way to parent…The key to great parenting isn’t our own parenting skills and prowess, it’s our ability to admit our weakness SO THAT Jesus can be strong.”
Dobsons 411 – “Mary DeMuth’s latest book, Authentic Parenting in a Postmodern Culture, is an honest look at raising children in a world where truth is relevant and black and white morality has blurred gray. She looks at how to live out truth today and demonstrates how to use the strengths of postmodern thinking to prepare our kids to live out their faith outside of home.”
Eleanor Joyce – “Reading through this book has made me uncomfortable at times. Being made to feel uncomfortable can be a good thing. When a position challenges my thinking, it’s an opportunity to grow…Reading Mary DeMuth’s book has been an invigorating change for me.”
Good Word Editing – “She offers parents practical resources (like SoulPerSuit, more on that later) and practical tips.
In fact, at one point in the book, I wrote in the margin, “I need to try this with Lyle.” Her tips were so applicable and engaging that they called me to action. They called me to change something about the way I interact with my kids.”
Preacher’s Daughter – “She (Mary) is truly one of those who has a grace and a peace about her. But an intensity too. Something that God gave her, some purpose that is being spilled forth into these books that she writes.”
Sky-High View – “Mary guides parents through her ongoing postmodern parenting journey, encouraging readers as they travel the same road…”
Spaghettipie – “What I loved about reading Mary’s book is that it felt more like a mentoring experience than reading words on a page.”
The Law, Books and Life – “But Mary DeMuth’s new book is making me think. So much that my brain almost hurts — but in a very good way…Mary invites us to come alongside her as she wrestles with the best way to prepare her kids for the culture around them.”
The Master’s Artist – “Mary E. DeMuth tackles the profound cultural shift taking place in the West and what it means for Christian parents in her latest book Authentic Parenting in a Post Modern Culture. Through her family’s experience in France…she examines how best to equip children to live out a Christian faith in a world very different from the one most Baby Boomers grew up in.”
The Surrendered Scribe – “Authentic is one word that I absolutely think who Mary is and what she does in her writing. I’m a better parent, person and writer from reading her work, even though I know those came at a hard cost for her in the experience department.”
The Surrendered Scribe – “I’ll be honest, the title of the book intimidated me at first, but I’m so glad I read it. If you want a candid parenting book from an author not looking down at you but instead is navigating right there with you, this book is for you. In my opinion, it belongs on any parent shelf next to anything Dr. Dobson has written. Seriously.”
Through My Window – “We ought to walk with our children, laugh with them, and train them to be independent citizens. Good parenting must be intentional. From that first infant cry we must keep their adult lives in focus and pass through the stages of letting them go and teaching them how to live in the world.”
Writer-lee – “Her premise was that she had to move out of her comfortable Christian home and explore the world in which her children would have to live – a world that was antagonistic to their faith. Mary admits she is a learner and invites the reader to journey with her as she explores and comes to conclusions.”
WEEK THREE
Mis-fits – (Mary, in offering ten ways to make your home a haven) “The most haven-producing thing I do as a mommy is simply to read to my kids.”
Actual Unretouched Photo – “…while reading it (Authentic Parenting) reminded me of my many short-comings as a parent, I like Mary’s writing and her thinking. I felt encouraged by her stories and ideas.”
Bluebonnet in the Snow – “. . . I was amazed at how many of the practical ways that Mary provided for parents to use with their children would benefit individuals who don’t have children by allowing them to draw closer to Christ in their own spiritual walk.”
Child of Divorce/Child of God – (Mary, in an interview) “Today’s kids want reality, authenticity. They’re skeptical. What reaches them? Our authenticity. Our connectedness to God in such a way that invites fellowship.”
Geaux2Girl – “Writing it while she and her family were missionaries in France, Mary gleaned from that challenging situation some fascinating truths about parenting.”
RappFamilyAixtremeLife – (Mary, in an interview) “The question for parents is how will we mine the current worldview, even as it shifts? What in it can we embrace as biblical? What is not biblical? What I’ve seen in the church is a fearful adherence to what is familiar. So we cling to modern ideas, even though they may not be biblical and shun postmodern ideas even when they might be biblical.”
Ripples and Reflections – “Mary shares insight that brings us to the heart of “Christ-like” parenting. She addresses the important issues of truth, honesty, community, refuge, encouragement, grace, forgiveness, purpose and selfish abandon, as we nurture our children and lead them through the example of our own journey with Christ!”
So Many Books – (Mary, in an interview) “But through it all, I realized that Jesus calls us all to be engaged in the culture we live in, yet not to be stained by it. That’s the beauty of engagement and purity.”
Tiffany Colter – (Mary on what the book is about) “. . . it’s about parents learning to fall in love with Jesus, and then mentoring their kids (through example) to do the same.”
Toni V. Lee – (Mary, in an interview) “We are all frail, needy humans. If we present ourselves as perfect parents, never failing, always doing this correctly, we show our children we have no need of Jesus.”
WEEK FOUR
Almost Hypergraphic – “I am highly cynical, constantly critical, and desperate for a new creation that will change me into something bigger, better, more worthwhile. I wonder what bearing my postmodernism will have on my daughter.”
Ask Mean Mom – “DeMuth shares how she has come to terms with the culture our children are growing up in and, rather than being frightened of it, shares how she adapts her parenting to the culture. That is something that I appreciated and hadn’t given a lot of thought to.”
Audra Marie – (Mary, in an interview) “Good parenting flows from the inside out. The best thing we can do for our kids is to run to Jesus and have Him move us, heal us, help us, empower us.”
Blogging for Writers – “I thought it was so cool to be able to go “behind the scenes” in a writer’s life because of technology. The blog tour is another example of how she’s using the internet to reach new readers and communicate with fans.”
Camy’s Loft – (Mary, in an interview)“I help parents learn how to walk alongside their kids, intersecting their world (and understanding it), as well as how to model authentic, vital Christianity in an irresistible way.”
Coming Home – (Mary, in an interview) “For me, for my children, that’s my prayer, that we’d be simply and purely devoted to Jesus no matter what worldview we find ourselves in.”
Edgewise – (Mary, in an interview) “The parent in a postmodern world has to learn how to translate the gospel to a generation that is highly skeptical, and balks at the idea of knowing all truth. In this storytelling generation, we need to learn how to approach our kids with stories alongside Biblical truth.”
Fresh Brewed Writer – “. . . she (Mary) continues to pursue the writing life while spreading the word about postmodernism awareness in the context of Christianity. Let’s face it, folks, we can no longer bury our heads in the sand about the world around us.”
Good Word Editing – “In a publishing world filled with Bible studies that provide two or three lines of space for response, Mary’s meditations on each phrase demonstrate what it looks like when absolute truth becomes personal.”
Heather in Madrid – (Mary, in an interview)“More than anything, I want my kids to be Christ followers, not culture followers. I want them to be infatuated with Jesus and His kingdom. Most of that comes through the bread and butter art of modeling my own love for Jesus.”
Lexical Light – “. . . the subtitle, “Practical Help for Shaping Your Children’s Hearts, Minds and Souls,” assures you it’s not merely a lofty, idealogical book on parenting. Instead, it’s quite user friendly.”
Mother Inferior – “We as modern parents can learn so much from the DeMuths struggle to integrate honest faith into every single aspect of their lives–and, in doing so, impact their world for Christ.”
Pattie’s Place – (Mary, in an interview) “But through it all, I realized that Jesus calls us all to be engaged in the culture we live in, yet not to be stained by it. That’s the beauty of engagement and purity.”
Portrait of a Writer. . . Interrupted – (Mary, in an interview) “Basically, the premise of the book is falling in love with Jesus, that parenting is more about our vital relationship to Him than it is about following a set of parenting rules. . . That applies universally, to every relationship we face, even our relationship with potty-training toddlers.”
Seedlings in Stone – “I’m puzzling… do we have a sense of things being “true or false”? Authentic or inauthentic? Why does this matter to us, or doesn’t it?”
Spoiled for the Ordinary – “Authentic Parenting is a well-crafted resource for parents in considering their parenting skills and how to raise our kids to deal with the new world that is still in process of developing. Like any book, there are going to be points you may not fully agree with Mary on – so eat the meat and spit out the bones. Don’t choke on them, because you’ll miss good nourishment for your parenting life.”
They Hang Like Paper Lanterns – (Mary, in an interview) “Just love Jesus. He transcends cultural shift. Dare to be all about the Kingdom of God, following hard after Him. That’s what we live for, anyway. That ‘well done, good and faithful servant.’ ”
Traveling Together – “I was also challenged reading this book because I was shown that I have often mistaken protection for parenting. . . I don’t think I’m alone in not fully trusting God with my children. We say that we’ve given our children back to the Lord, but we try to control so much of their lives that we are showing them (and the world) that we don’t trust Him with our children.”
Writer. . . Interrupted(Mary, in an interview) “It’s about learning how to parent our kids in a winsome, authentic way, so that our kids are well-prepared to face life when they leave home.”
Almost Hypergraphic – “The idea, I believe, is to exchange fear-based parenting with faith-based: we have to trust ourselves and our kids and above all, we have to trust in that grace that covers all our mistakes and sins.”
Chat ‘n’ Chew Cafe – (Mary, in an interview) “Favorite Outfit as a Child: A polyester (peach!) pantsuit my friend Pam’s mom MADE for me.”
Experiencing the Journey – “Creating a safe environment for our kids to question, be supported, and to share helps them to struggle and begin to own their beliefs. By doing this, their roots grow deep and are not easily swayed or damaged. They will then be empowered to reach out with the tools they need to lead, influence and shape the people around them.”
wide-eyed fiction – (Mary, in an interview) “. . . model your own relationship with Jesus for your children, encourage each of them as they pursue Him, and walk alongside them when they start straying toward the culture. Above all, pray, and keep communication lines way open.”
I Wish You Enough – “Christian parents can pitch their tent between communion with God and engagement in the world.”
Leanna Ellis – (Mary, in an interview) “Teach your children to joyfully engage their world, while holding tightly to Jesus’ hand. Teaching this comes primarily from modeling it in your own life. Do you engage your neighbors? Are you more interested in God’s kingdom than your own?”
Margaret Daley – (Mary, in an interview) “For me, for my children, that’s my prayer, that we’d be simply and purely devoted to Jesus no matter what worldview we find ourselves in.”
Partners in Prayer for our Prodigals – “Authentic Parenting in a Postmodern Culture is an important book for every parent who wants to empower their children at any age to better ‘engage with the people who populate the world.’ ”
raindancer’s map of memories – 1 – “Mary speaks of authentic parenting from the standpoint of a parent who is just like us. I like how her openness and her honesty allow me room to admit I’m a parent in progress…a parent desiring to be the best parent I can be in the midst of a society whose culture doesn’t resemble the culture I grew up in.”
raindancer’s map of memories – 2 – “As I read through the chapters of this book, I found myself touched by this mom who shares her own fears, her hopes, her failures and her moments of vulnerability. I am reminded too of the strength of stories and how the sharing of life experiences can be life giving.”
Robyn’s Ramblings – “(Authentic Parenting. . . ) is a book that looks to my relationship with my kids, rather than following a model. It is not a “hands off” approach, but rather a “holding hands” approach. It’s a book that shows parents how to lead their child’s hand in an authentic way and ultimately put it into the hand that desperately reaches out for it: the nail scarred hand of Jesus.”
See Ya on the Net – (Mary, in an interview) “. . . I remind myself of my friend Jeanne’s son Jacob, whose heart after Jesus takes my breath away. Living with a brain injury, Jacob throws off pretense as he worships God, arms vaulted to the sky in unashamed heart worship.”
Sometimes I Feel Like a Piece of Bologna – “I realized that many of her tips are also useful for parenting our parents. If we can remember to be authentic with them, to ask questions, and not be as dogmatic as we might be tempted to be, we’ll find that we get along better with our parents.”
Sormag Tours – (Mary, in an interview) “Take seriously the mandate that you are responsible for the soul-nurturing of your children.”
The Authentic You – (Mary, in an interview) “I don’t parent perfectly. But, we did live through two and half years in France, the hotbed of hyper-postmodernity. We had to learn how to parent our kids in that culture. It occurred to me that the things we learned would be helpful to American parents too.”
The Spiritual Mom – 1 – “What I found the most intriguing after reading this book, is that it confirms that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. . . Mary reminds readers that as Christians we make Christ our absolute Truth. . . We follow Jesus Christ—The Truth—who remains the same no matter the time period or culture.”
The Spiritual Mom – 2 – “Mary DeMuth’s Authentic Parenting in a Postmodern Culture not only provides parents with practical ways to steer their children towards God, but she challenges readers to embrace a life of obedience. How refreshing to hear someone write about the “cost” of following Christ.”
Why Didn’t You Warn Me? – “This book would make a great discussion guide for a parenting group, especially for parents of school age children.”
lorrieorr.com – “Authentic Parenting in a Post-Modern Culture is not a theoretical treatise on parenting. It’s a hands-on, practical guide to navigating the waters of modern parenting. And it also tells a story. Mary and Patrick’s heart for their children is revealed through the stories and examples Mary shares.”
A Peek at My Bookshelf – “Our world is changing; our gospel message is not. And it should not. But how we communicate it to our children must change if we are to impact them for Christ.”
A Peek at My Bookshelf – “Our world is changing; our gospel message is not. And it should not. But how we communicate it to our children must change if we are to impact them for Christ.”
Ane Mulligan – (Mary, in an interview) “Dare to believe that God has much to teach you through your kids. Be humble enough to learn from them.”
Declaring His Marvelous Work – “One of my favorite authors. . .Mary DeMuth, just released a book for those of us who long to raise our strong, Godly kids in a not-so-godly world.”
Five Bazillion and One – “It also involves seeing our children as valuable not only for who they are but for how God uses them to teach us more about Him and more about the life of faith. . . By using creative, everyday things, we can ground our children in the truth of the Word of God and nurture their souls, preparing them to do the work God has for them in this broken world.”
Generaton NeXt Parenting – (Mary, in an interview) “. . .I realized that Jesus calls us all to be engaged in the culture we live in, yet not to be stained by it.”
GraceReign – “Central to everything Mary communicates is her impassioned desire to raise children who know and love Jesus and are equipped to share Him with the world. . . She also challenges parents to personal growth, encouraging them to see their children’s behaviors as windows into their own spiritual life.”
Holy Experience – “This book fires the neurons in the gray matter…and stirs the soul. A book that makes one think, on a number of levels. And that is what a good book does. One may not entirely agree on all points, but one is sharpened, compelled to ruminate and seek the Lord further.”
Hopeful Happenings – “I highly recommend the book to anyone wanting to experience authentic relationships, period. . . We can all stand to learn how to hang onto the benefits of our past while engaging in the present – helping to create a better future.”
In the Dailies – 1 – “This book is about consistent Christ-filled parenting in spite of the culture. . . The difference between this book and other parenting books discussing culture is the persistence of absolute truth. . . As Christian parents, we must instill the knowledge and respect of this Truth in our children while preparing them to live in a culture that refuses to acknowledge it.”
In the Dailies – 2 – “. . .my parental guilt is gone! I no longer have this nagging whisper that I must do everything perfectly or that, if my weaknesses show, I’m truly a failure. The book has flooded me with grace and reinforced tools to provide greater freedom and stability to my family.”
Leap of Faith – “She (Mary) does an excellent job of demystifying what’s going on in your child’s mind and explains how to engage your child or teen in meaningful conversation rather than alienating them by just giving orders.”
Lift My Noise – “Mary did not grow up in a spiritually & emotionally harmonious home, which is something she writes about with candor. So the fact that she is writing (and selling!) parenting books illustrates this truth – that through her suffering and wandering, the Lord has divinely taught Mary and her husband some foundational truths and insights to pass on to others. And she’s faithful to that calling.”
Llama Momma – “And as my children grow and become increasingly independent, I pray for the courage to lovingly guide them on their journeys, but ultimately, to trust God. He loves my kids even more than I do. This book is a beautiful reminder to me today, the second day of Kindergarten for the noisy boys: God is faithful.”
Sprightly – “As parents journeying alongside our children through a postmodern world, this concept of pitching our tent between communion with God and engagement in the world should encourage us.”
Write on the Edge – “A life jacket is designed to keep you afloat until help arrives. In this case Mary’s book takes you the first several, important steps, keeping your head above water as you learn a new cultural vocabulary and process through the implications of rethinking your worldview – and the one your children are being immersed in. As always, the rest is up to you.”
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[…] activities at the end of each week. Here is a sample of the summary from week one and her final summary for the entire tour. Also, Tina posted the lessons she learned from the tour this […]
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