If motherhood is your full-time job, treat it like one! Learn everything you can about how to be the best mother, wife, and homemaker for your family. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to homemaking. But there are resources you can use to grow your skills and nurture your family well.
Busy moms deserve to snuggle up with a good book! Whether you’re looking for inspiration, guidance, or encouragement, here are the books I recommend as must-read books for stay-at-home moms.
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Best Books for Moms
Let’s address the working mom for just a second.
I don’t know how you do it, friend. I was a working mom for about four months of my first born’s life. And my home life was a wreck. We were in survival mode and I failed to balance my home responsibilities with my job.
When I transitioned to being a full-time homemaker again, the peace was instantly restored in our home!
These books apply to the working mom just as much as they do the stay-at-home mom. Theses are books about child development, motherhood, and spiritual growth.
I hope that they encourage moms from all walks of life!
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Homemaker and Happy List of Books for Moms
These are not just books that I checked out from my local library and spent a week reading.
The titles included in this blog post are books I have purchased, keep in my home library, and reference regularly. These are books I recommend to my friends.
As I read more books, I will add to this blog post! Check back for even more great books about motherhood and homemaking.
If I collaborate with other authors, that will be clearly defined in this post. Just check the title for the distinction!
Habits of Happy Mothers
These books include practical advice for your own personal growth as a mother. Some of these titels are a practical guide, while others are filled with simple strategies you can pick and choose from.
Mother Culture by Karen Andreola
Karen Andreola loves Charlotte Mason’s principles. And in “Mother Culture,” she beautifully outlines how we can seamlessly merge some of Mason’s principles in with our own lives. Specifically, the attention and care we as mothers give to ourselves and our home.
That’s why I’m starting my book list with this book. “Mother Culture” was the first book that challenged me to consider whether or not I was practicing what I was preaching.
I want my kids to be avid readers. Am I reading as much as I should? I want my kids to enjoy nature. Am I enjoying nature, too?
Most of these chapters are barely 10 pages long. Yet, they are filled with practical wisdom you can consume in one sitting or sporadically throughout the day.
Mama Bear Apologetics by Hillary Morgan Ferrer
If anything says, “Mama Bear,” I’m immediately intrigued.
“Mama Bear Apologetics” gives moms the know-how to help their children spot, think through, and challenge cultural ideas that seek to destroy their Christian faith. The book encourages Christian apologetics, or reasoned arguments and writings, for the justification of the Christian faith.
Not only do Ferrer and her cowriter walk through some of the most popular, cultural lies attacking Christian children today, but they end each chapter with the ROAR method – Recognize the message, Offer discernment, Argue for a healthier approach and Reinforce through discipleship, discussion, and prayer.
I highly recommend this book for all Christian mamas. It’s been an incredible resource.
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The Ministry of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson
Born out of a desire to pass on spiritual gifts to her children, Clarkson wrote this book to encourage mothers as they seek to raise, nurture, and teach their children as Jesus taught the apostles.
“The Ministry of Motherhood” is written with discussion questions to encourage thought. And it can even be used as a devotional in a larger group.
The Mission of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson
“The Mission of Motherhood” dives into motherhood’s beginnings. What’s the point? What are women looking for as they have children and find themselves bewildered and alone?
This is also a wonderful book for Christian mothers because it encourages you to stand firm against society’s ever-changing opinions on what a mother should be.
The Life Giving Home by Sally Clarkson
If you are looking for ways to encourage your children to come back home, this is that book! It is full of ways to grow family culture and create a home full of life.
“The Life Giving Home” is full of practical ways to grow family culture.
The Life Giving Table by Sally Clarkson
“The Life Giving Table,” in my opinion, is an extension of “The Life Giving Home.” It details the ways you can build a strong family culture from the dining room table.
The ABCs of Big-Impact Homemaking by Rachel Ramey
From the social to the practical, Rachel’s book breaks down the intricate ways you can define what kind of homemaker you are, what matters most to you, and how you can distill down what your focus needs to be.
Rachel reached out to me to review “The ABCs of Big-Impact Homemaking” and after reading it, I couldn’t wait to recommend it to my friends!
Even though she brings Biblical principles to the table, she encourages all homemakers to simply defend what they believe no matter what that is.
You can learn more about Rachel at Titus 2 Homemaker.
Books for the New Mom/Young Mother
The previous books I talked about are aimed at the heart of the mother. While these hold to some of the same themes, they’re directed at child development.
Some of these books have effective tips you can adopt in your parenting, while others simply break down the science behind why kids do what they do.
Do you know someone who’s about to have a baby? Send them this list! They can read what they can while they’re on maternity leave or up with their little one during the night.
Bringing Up Boys by Dr. James Dobson
From the role of a mother to the ways hormones impact a growing boy, Dobson details (with ample scientific evidence) the why behind little boys’ behaviors. But it’s not just understanding little boys – Dobson’s mission is to educate us so we, as parents, can serve our children as best we can no matter their stage of development.
Even though the technical nature of “Bringing Up Boys” can be overwhelming, Dobson sprinkles in hilarious stories he has heard to lighten the mood and show us there is a not-so-serious side to raising children. Children were meant to be enjoyed, too.
Bringing Up Girls by Dr. James Dobson
“Bringing Up Girls” is the mirror to “Bringing Up Boys.” It stresses the importance of understanding our daughters and modeling our Heavenly Father to them as they grow.
Babywise by Bucknam and Ezzo
My husband is a first responder. Needless to say, he doesn’t sleep well when he’s at work! That’s why we sleep-trained our babies.
If you are interested in sleep training your babies, “Babywise” is the only book I recommend.
The 5 Love Languages of Children by Gary Chapman and Ross Campbell
When my husband and I were going through premarital counseling, I read “The 5 Love Languages” and loved it. When I realized there was a version for children, I bought it!
Chapman and Campbell simply walk you through how to nurture your children’s needs through their “love language,” or how they give and receive love.
His Needs, Her Needs for Parents by William F. Harley, Jr.
“His Needs, Her Needs” was another title I read in premarital counseling. So I was thrilled when I found there was a version for parents!
Harley encourages parents to find ways to support each other as they navigate their roles in parenthood.
Finding Time to Read as a Stay-at-Home Mom
I am an avid reader. Not only do I love to read, but I want my children to love to read. I know that for that to happen, I need to model it for them!
Finding time to read hasn’t always been easy, though.
I like to grab a book before I take my kids outside. I read while they play! If I’m with them in the garden or playing in the sprinklers on a hot summer’s day, I’ll snuggle up with a book during quiet time.
Instilling these points of quiet time as a mom has helped give me the time I need to take a break and grow hobbies! We don’t need to stash away hobbies and reading into bizarre, fringe hours (although some seasons of life may call for that).
I have so many more tips in this blog post for how to find quiet time as a mom.
Have You Read a Great Book Today?
There is a wealth of advice found in each of the titles listed above. As I grow as a mother and I find resources I can use with my own children, I can’t help but be thankful for books and those willing to share their knowledge and experiences with me!
I hope that even if you aren’t a reader, you grab a short book and find a few moments to rest today. If you do, let me know! You can find me on Instagram and Pinterest. I would love to know what you’re reading!
If reading isn’t your thing, perhaps it’s baking or cooking. I’m not a huge fan of sewing, but I love to do other crafts!
If you’re looking for other hobbies, check out this list of simple homemaking skills. There are so many ideas for you to get started with!
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