Just What Mama Needs

When Abby plays dress-up each day of the week, she's always just what her mama needs. After all, a detective will definitely find that missing sock, and a pirate can help Mama swab the decks . . . er, kitchen floor, that is! But Mama makes no bones about the fact that what she loves most is Abby herself. Household chores are wondrously transformed into magical activities in this imaginative Mother's Day book that showcases the days of the week and celebrates self-esteem.

Sometimes, Mama needs a minute—and that's OK! From Nicole Sloan, founder of the Weird Mom Club—an inclusive Internet space for nonconforming moms—Mama Needs a Minute is an affirming, entertaining book for moms and toddlers to share. All about balancing a mama's needs with those of her kiddos, this sweet story teaches that love can look a lot of different ways. For kids, the book is a gentle introduction to concepts of self-respect and setting boundaries, and for moms, it’s a reminder to practice self-care.

A caring and hard working mother just trying to raise good kids faces many things every day...Dirty dishes overflow the sink. Your two youngest kids just began their third round of hand-to-hand combat today. And now the washing machine won’t start. Visions of putting a home-cooked meal in the oven while the family plays happily in the living room evaporate amid screaming, complaining, and slammed doors—and that’s not even counting what the children are doing. Happy parenting right? Lisa Pennington knows what those days are like. Whether you are a stay at home mom or single mom, she knows that even in the hard times you can find immense joy. In Mama Needs a Do-Over, Lisa offers hopeful, practical guide for moms full of ideas for resetting your family’s mood in the toughest moments. She also dives deep into your mother’s heart to show you the power you have to turn those challenges into gifts. Let Lisa bring you a little fun, a new perspective, and a go-to list for those do-over days, and you might just find joy in all those dirty dishes after all!

Celebrate the heart connection between adopted children and the forever families who welcome them with kindness, care, and unconditional love in this powerful picture book from the author of Honey Baby Sugar Child. Carol Olivia Clementine lives with Mama Rose. Mama Rose is everything—tender and sweet. She is also as stern and demanding as any good parent should be. In the midst of their happy home, Carol misses her mother and father. She longs to be with them. But until that time comes around, she learns to surrender to the love that is present. Mama Rose becomes her “home.” And Carol Olivia Clementine concludes that she loves Miss Rose, “just like a mama.” This sweet read-aloud is, on the surface, all about the everyday home life a caregiver creates for a young child: she teachers Clementine how to ride a bike, clean her room, tell time. A deeper look reveals the patience, intention, and care little ones receives in the arms of a mother whose blood is not her blood, but whose bond is so deep—and so unconditional—that it creates the most perfect condition for a child to feel safe, successful, and deeply loved.

Need a time-out from your kids and a moment or two with God? Mama Needs A Time-Out is just for you. Filled with mirth, encouragement, and a transparent view of mothering, this inspirational devotional leads you through the names of God as you march through the trenches of motherhood. Whether you are a mother of preschoolers or toddlers, this book satisfies your soul and reminds you that you aren’t alone! No other job requires our attention, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with a job expectancy of at least 18 years. We are pulled 1,000 different directions on a weekly basis. Between work, husbands, church, community, and kids, it’s a wonder that we are still sane! This leaves little time for our needs and nurturing our souls. Mama Needs a Time-Out offers personal insight of going deeper with God. These short devotions help you laugh at life’s most embarrassing moments, provide a unique view of God being with you in the midst of your worst moments, and help put things back into perspective. Mama Needs a Time-Out is your daily getaway, bookended by Scripture, Heather’s "been-there-and-done-that" transparency and tips for moms are a great way to refresh your spirit—you know, the sleep-deprived, squabbling-refereeing, hormone-wacked, woman your kids refer to as, “Mom." For more information and daily time-out moments of encouragement, visit www.heatherriggleman.com.

“Rachel Macy Stafford's post "The Day I Stopped Saying Hurry Up" was a true phenomenon on The Huffington Post, igniting countless conversations online and off about freeing ourselves from the vicious cycle of keeping up with our overstuffed agendas. Hands Free Mama has the power to keep that conversation going and remind us that we must not let our lives pass us by.” --Arianna Huffington, Chair, President, and Editor-in-Chief of the Huffington Post Media Group, nationally syndicated columnist, and author of thirteen books http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ DISCOVER THE POWER, JOY, AND LOVE of Living “Hands Free” If technology is the new addiction, then multi-tasking is the new marching order. We check our email while cooking dinner, send a text while bathing the kids, and spend more time looking into electronic screens than into the eyes of our loved ones. With our never-ending to-do lists and jam-packed schedules, it’s no wonder we’re distracted. But this isn’t the way it has to be. In July 2010, special education teacher and mother Rachel Macy Stafford decided enough was enough. Tired of losing track of what matters most in life, Rachel began practicing simple strategies that enabled her to momentarily let go of largely meaningless distractions and engage in meaningful soul-to-soul connections. She started a blog to chronicle her endeavors and soon saw how both external and internal distractions had been sabotaging her happiness and preventing her from bonding with the people she loves most. Hands Free Mama is the digital society’s answer to finding balance in a media-saturated, perfection-obsessed world. It doesn’t mean giving up all technology forever. It doesn’t mean forgoing our jobs and responsibilities. What it does mean is seizing the little moments that life offers us to engage in real and meaningful interaction. It means looking our loved ones in the eye and giving them the gift of our undivided attention, leaving the laundry till later to dance with our kids in the rain, and living a present, authentic, and intentional life despite a world full of distractions. So join Rachel and go hands-free. Discover what happens when you choose to open your heart—and your hands—to the possibilities of each God-given moment.

Do you ever feel like you're the only one who isn't totally loving this mom thing? We all get overwhelmed, and sometimes the chaos wins. Don't stay in that place. Get up, choose joy, and make tomorrow better. When your life is simplified and your eyes are focused on Jesus, you're able to roll with the waves and be the happy, involved mom you always wanted to be. Fake perfectionism is winning the internet, and with this book, Allie Casazza is taking it back. Real, witty, and infused with purpose, Mama Needs A Reboot will remind you of who you are as a mom, a person, and in Christ.

Being a mom is HARD—don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. The first few months (or let’s be real, 18 years) after bringing a new baby home can be tiring and messy. Mothers need encouragement, inspiration, and a good laugh. You Got This, Mama!: From Boobs to Blowouts, a Survival Guide for New Mothers is a visual guide to new motherhood with illustrated quotes, hilarious infographics, and encouraging thoughts to power new moms through another day. Real, honest, and beautifully designed, this is the guide for moms that we didn’t know we needed.