{"id":7964,"date":"2014-01-26T15:05:30","date_gmt":"2014-01-26T20:05:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/meganstrange.com\/?p=7964"},"modified":"2014-01-26T15:05:30","modified_gmt":"2014-01-26T20:05:30","slug":"book-review-hands-free-mama","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/meganstrange.com\/?p=7964","title":{"rendered":"Book Review: Hands Free Mama"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The Hands Free Pledge<\/b>
\nI\u2019m going Hands Free.<\/i>
\nI want to make memories, not to-do lists.
\n<\/i>I want to feel the squeeze of my children\u2019s arms, not the pressure of over-commitment.
\n<\/i>I want to get lost in conversation with my spouse, not consumed by a sea of unimportant emails.
\n<\/i>I want to be overwhelmed by sunsets that give me hope, not by extracurricular commitments that steal my joy.
\n<\/i>I want the noise of my life to be a mixture of laughter and gratitude, not the intrusive buzz of cell phones and text messages.
\n<\/i>I am letting go of distraction, disconnection, and perfection to live a life that simply, so very simply, consists of what really matters.
\n<\/i>I\u2019m going Hands Free.<\/i><\/p>\n

Well…I think that Rachel Stafford and I might be twins separated at birth. \u00a0Hands Free Mama<\/em><\/a> by Rachel Stafford is basically the transcript of what I have been struggling with in my heart and mind lately. \u00a0I often talk about the #7000days that a parent has with their child from crib to college, but lately I’ve not been living that out the way that I should…not in way that honors the Lord and demonstrates that I have so much to be grateful for. \u00a0How many times have I missed something that my 5 year old daughter wants to show me because I’ve been scrolling through Instagram pictures of people I barely know? \u00a0How many times has she wanted to tell me something, but I am too focused on tweeting about something that really doesn’t matter? \u00a0I don’t want Emma to look back on her childhood and think of a Mom who loved her phone more than I loved her and treasured every moment with her. \u00a0Honestly, my first thought when I read this book…to chunk my phone in the lake behind our house. \u00a0I realize that’s not exactly the goal of this book, but today I took a small step in the right direction. \u00a0When we went out to lunch after church, I left my phone in the car. \u00a0And you know what…Emma sat by me at lunch and we talked the whole time. \u00a0She even leaned over and let me put my arm around her while we were waiting on our check. \u00a0I definitely want more of that! \u00a0I didn’t even miss looking at pictures of other people’s lunch on Facebook!<\/p>\n

I pray that the Lord will renew my focus to put him first in all things and then put my family second. \u00a0It’s when I get my priorities mixed up and put myself first that things get out of control. \u00a0I’m grateful for this book and a chance to realign my heart and mind to pursue God’s best for me and my family.<\/p>\n

I highlighted several things while reading and have posted them below…<\/p>\n

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