Archive for August 16th, 2011

I’ve been listening to The Strong Willed Child by Dr. Dobson. It’s been a very good listen and has been helping me quite a bit. My daughter as you all know has hit the age of three and where as I know she’s not as strong willed as some other kids, she has a will none the less. She’s always been independent and now she’s acting out a bit more than she has in the past. I guess some would say she’s becoming hard headed or hard of hearing. I know she hears me but sometimes she acts like she doesn’t and a battle begins. But this one she won’t win and I can’t let her. I’m mom and I know what’s best for her and I don’t want every day to be a challenge and struggle like it’s been becoming. I honestly have been dreading taking her out to the park or wherever else wondering if it’s going to be good or bad day and it shouldn’t be like that.

For an example I guess it really shouldn’t have surprised me that once my daughter could walk that she would just take off charging ahead. This is a great characteristic in life to be bold but to be bold without wisdom and sound judgement is a bad thing. I swear I’ve had my heart jump out of my chest on more than one occasion when she’d get a little to close to road, or dart out of the car in a busy parking lot, and when she’ll run off with a group of children in park we’ve never been to before. So when these things happen we quickly get down on her level and tell her she shouldn’t do these things and that she needs to listen to us. Sometimes she’s reasonable and other times she talks back and acts out in whiny fit. Usually when that happens we have to take her back to the car while she whines over us overruling her enthusiasm and the desire for independence.

I’ve been getting worn out with the “Why…?” response to things when corrected. And the “I’m doing it” phrase.  Curiosity and once again Independence. I simply having been giving my daughter the because I said so response. And that’s that. She shouldn’t always have to question my authority when it comes to things.  There’s a lot more to say on raising my preschooler and right now I’m dealing with her PICKY EATING but that’s another blog post.

And for the other parents out there dealing with these same issues know you aren’t alone. Sometimes I think I am when I am out in public and I see all the very well behaved children. I see their parents glances of disapproval of my child and at me. Makes me want to crawl under a rock and never leave the house! I’ve been finding Focus on the Family to be a very wonderful resource and highly recommend checking it out.

The Daughter’s Walk is the first book that I’ve ever read by the author Jane Kirk Patrick and it won’t be my last. This book would be categorized under the historical catagory and it does not disappoint. The author does an exceptionally well job in describing the era in which the main character Clara Estby resides in. I loved reading the tale of the character and deeply felt for her in the struggles and great joy when things were going in a blessed way in her journey.

This story I found to be a quick read because it was so hard to put down! The story itself, The Daughter’s Walk by Jane Kirkpatrick is about a mother, Helga Etsby and her nineteen year old daughter Clara. Who accept a wager from the fashion industry to walk from Spokane, Washington to New York City within seven months in order to save the family farm. And what journey it was! Can you imagine traveling 3,500 miles in the late 1800′s? In this story, you’ll be reminded of the importance of determination, family, forgiveness , and waiting on God. Overall, it’s a wonderfully epic story in my eyes. I would encourage everyone to give it a read. I’m very eager to pick up a few more books by this author!

Jane Kirkpatrick is the award-winning author of 17 novels and 3 non-fiction titles, including the 2010 WILLA Literary Award winner, A Flickering Light, and her latest, The Daughter’s Walk.  A Mental Health professional, she brings her interest in healing and inspiring the human spirit into researching and writing about the lives of actual historical men and women. For twenty-six years, she and her husband Jerry ranched in a remote and rugged section of Eastern Oregon, where she discovered her own homesteading story. She has spoken internationally about the power of story in our lives and is a frequent retreat, conference, and keynote speaker. She and her husband now live with two dogs and a cat on their small acreage near Bend, Oregon.  www.jkbooks.com

Thank you to Jane Kirkpatrick and WaterBrook Multnomah for a free copy in exchange for my honest review.