"When I stop speeding through life, I find the joy in each day's doings, in a life that cannot be bought, but only discovered, created, cherished, and lived." These are the words of author Katrina Kenison in her refreshing and thought provoking book Mitten Strings for God: Reflections for Mothers in a Hurry (Warner Books, 2000, ISBN 0446525316).
Summary
Kenison began this book as a series of reminders to herself to slow down, dwell in the powerful simplicity of the present moments and say 'no' more often. The author's visual writing style has a way of bringing the reader in to the story, right there in the moment she's talking about. Her approaches to parenthood, as described throughout the book, are thoughtful and calming to read.
Mothers often struggle with how to strike a balance between being a wife, mother, teacher, housekeeper, chef, taxi driver, playmate and individual. While many parents spend time around their children, sometimes it's difficult to find the time within this juggling act to spend quality time with them whether it's playing a board game together or showing true interest in what they are excited about at that very moment they call out "Hey Mom! Check this out!".
The twenty-nine chapters in this book discuss topics such as:
- Dailiness
- Simplicity
- Play
- Wants and Needs
- Listening
- Nature
- Enchantment
- Grace
- Rhythm
- Discipline
- Nurturing
- Spirit
- Balance
- Choices
Peace
In the chapter on peace, Kenison tells a story of a Sunday afternoon spent knitting with one of her sons curled up next to her as snowflakes drift past the windows of their New England home. In this essay, the author reflects on peacefulness:
- "So often we bemoan our children's hyperactivity and short fuses. But what kind of example do we set for them as we race from here to there ourselves, trying to accomplish more, have more, experience more, in the course of a day?"
- "As a mother of two lively boys, I am forever seeking a balance in our family life between activity and stillness, sound and silence, society and solitude."
- "Many days we simply throw a handful of balls up in the air and start juggling: work, school, music lessons, swimming lessons, volunteer work, playdates for the kids and social obligations for Mom and Dad, school meetings, housework, homework... The list goes on."
- "When I am feeling really rushed, overworked, and stressed, that quality seeps into the very air around me; everyone else is on edge, too."
This chapter, as with many in the book, invites the reader to do a bit of soul searching and reflection of their own. Do you always need to be trying to accomplish more? Do you always need to be experiencing more? In trying to find or create a more peaceful family life, this chapter may also leave reader questioning whether their children truly need or want a certain activity, if an activity is something they are passionate about, how much effort you as the parent have to put forth and how much family time will an activity consume. Kenison ends this chapter on peace by saying "In stillness, we find peace. Knowing peace at home, we bring peace into the world".
Motherhood is a Journey
Loving, compassionate and thoughtful, Katrina Kenison speaks to the reader in the voice of a treasured friend as she offers a glimpse into the musings of a mother in the throes of parenting in a holistic, centered, peaceful way. Mitten Strings for God makes the reader think clearly about their priorities as a parent in today's fast-paced society. This book is about stopping to enjoy the little things in life. Both calming and refreshing, Mitten Strings for God will renew you on your mothering journey.
Leigh Vozzella - Homeschooling mom of four children; Board member of the Massachusetts Home Learning Association (www.mhla.org); former Publicity ...
