What do you think?
Rate this book
Beyond Mere Motherhood: Moms Are People Too
Being a mom can sometimes feel like an overwhelming job with endless tasks and lofty, unattainable goals. It’s not easy mothering children. In the throes of motherhood, moms often find themselves forgetting something foundational to their own moms are people too. This is a book for mothers, but not about mothering. It’s a book about education, but not about teaching children.This is a book about self-education. It is a book about how a mother can capture her moments and days in such a way that they add up to a life worth living. Her life.In Beyond Mere Motherhood, Cindy Rollins shows moms how they can develop their own personhood—how they can keep thinking, growing, and playing. She casts a vision for them to cultivate beauty and wisdom in themselves, even as they faithfully—and busily—mother their children. Cindy shows moms how to pursue their ideal in the midst of reality.Moms are people too.
266 pages, Paperback
Published December 16, 2023
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 167 reviews
Read
December 26, 2023I feel too silly to rate my own book but I hope this book brings you hope and comfort in the journey.
April 1, 2024
Hard won wisdom shared with grace, humility, and humor
Cindy is the only writer whose books I buy as soon as they are released. This one was no exception, and I’ve gobbled it up in just two days. But I will certainly be thinking about it for a long time and then rereading it. Following her wonderful memoir, Mere Motherhood, this book focuses more on the mothers whom Cindy has such a love for and ministers to so well. She encourages us to apply Charlotte Mason’s principles to ourselves and to trust in God’s Word and the Lord Jesus Christ rather than the empty, vain promises of Instagram and the materialistic, utilitarian culture we live in. She encourages us to embrace the truth that what we do has meaning, worth, and value, but not according to the world’s standards where everything has to be measurable, Insta-worthy, and proven with dollar signs. I highly recommend this book to young mothers who need hope (and perhaps a dose of humility) and for older moms who think they’ve made too many mistakes. We need older moms like Cindy who aren’t afraid to show us their battle scars and share their hard won wisdom—Cindy does so with such grace, humility, good humor, and love.
Cindy is the only writer whose books I buy as soon as they are released. This one was no exception, and I’ve gobbled it up in just two days. But I will certainly be thinking about it for a long time and then rereading it. Following her wonderful memoir, Mere Motherhood, this book focuses more on the mothers whom Cindy has such a love for and ministers to so well. She encourages us to apply Charlotte Mason’s principles to ourselves and to trust in God’s Word and the Lord Jesus Christ rather than the empty, vain promises of Instagram and the materialistic, utilitarian culture we live in. She encourages us to embrace the truth that what we do has meaning, worth, and value, but not according to the world’s standards where everything has to be measurable, Insta-worthy, and proven with dollar signs. I highly recommend this book to young mothers who need hope (and perhaps a dose of humility) and for older moms who think they’ve made too many mistakes. We need older moms like Cindy who aren’t afraid to show us their battle scars and share their hard won wisdom—Cindy does so with such grace, humility, good humor, and love.
December 29, 2023
I laughed. I cried. I was challenged. I was encouraged. I was convicted. I was soothed. I heard my friend and mentor's voice. This is a special book.
January 12, 2024
What an amazing book! Cindy’s writing style is intelligent, funny, and endearing. Her voice shines like a beacon in every page as she is ever pointing us to Christ and the Bible.
I would recommend this book to every woman that I know, as well as men, because at the root of it, this is a humane book with insights that everyone would benefit from.
I was strangely emotional while reading this book , and I finally realized it was because my soul was being fed. Read this book as soon as you can!
I would recommend this book to every woman that I know, as well as men, because at the root of it, this is a humane book with insights that everyone would benefit from.
I was strangely emotional while reading this book , and I finally realized it was because my soul was being fed. Read this book as soon as you can!
March 26, 2024
True confession: I am a long time fan and follower of Cindy and quote her well-rounded wisdom all the time because it has helped me so. I wasn’t sure the concept of this book was that great. 🫣. What more could she tell us? I was a skeptic. I hate that about myself. And I am so glad I was thoroughly humbled.
It was completely, absolutely worth the read. I didn’t know how much I needed this book. I’m so thankful she wrote it. I have on many occasions wanted to just hug her for being herself and the help and encouragement she has been to me, and this book was no less encouraging.
I laughed out loud more times than I could count and had to stop many times to just let the tears flow on what she was talking about and how perfectly it was timed. She does not have advice to give because she was perfect, because she knows or knew all the answers, she has encouragement because she has lived and survived and very openly talks about the failures and the triumphs while brutally telling you the truth in the best way possible. Throughout the whole book she repeatedly reminds us the most important thing we can do is to get a good look at Jesus and keep on beholding Him.
Plus, there are book lists at the end of each chapter! 💕
It was completely, absolutely worth the read. I didn’t know how much I needed this book. I’m so thankful she wrote it. I have on many occasions wanted to just hug her for being herself and the help and encouragement she has been to me, and this book was no less encouraging.
I laughed out loud more times than I could count and had to stop many times to just let the tears flow on what she was talking about and how perfectly it was timed. She does not have advice to give because she was perfect, because she knows or knew all the answers, she has encouragement because she has lived and survived and very openly talks about the failures and the triumphs while brutally telling you the truth in the best way possible. Throughout the whole book she repeatedly reminds us the most important thing we can do is to get a good look at Jesus and keep on beholding Him.
Plus, there are book lists at the end of each chapter! 💕
January 1, 2024
This was exactly what I needed as I was slightly fretting about a new year and so that it entails. So grateful for Cindy taking the time to speak to mothers who are in the trenches.
February 11, 2024
Finished and immediately turned back to page one to begin again - which is high praise indeed. This is one to be savored. Also, fair warning that reading this book will cause your TBR list to grow exponentially.
February 19, 2024
I am overcome with gratitude to Cindy for writing this book.
Reading it concurrently with Wendell Berry's A Place in Time made me realize that I will never be truly satisfied with a book unless it contains both grief and joy.
I wrote responses to most chapters with my status updates. I hope they are visible.
Twenty years back, I used to chirp with delight whenever our family had what I called a "reading evening." Together in a room while we all read our own book. Now, in this season of life, it is the default for Curt and me. Our "rule" is that we interrupt each other when we read something wonderful. I raved about Cindy's book. I read paragraphs. I said to the man who I believe understands me better than I understand myself, "If you want to understand me, read this book."
Friends, he is! He even recommended it to a coworker who explained that he and his wife want to raise their family without the burden of perfectionism. "It's written for mothers, but it's full of wisdom for all."
Reading it concurrently with Wendell Berry's A Place in Time made me realize that I will never be truly satisfied with a book unless it contains both grief and joy.
I wrote responses to most chapters with my status updates. I hope they are visible.
Twenty years back, I used to chirp with delight whenever our family had what I called a "reading evening." Together in a room while we all read our own book. Now, in this season of life, it is the default for Curt and me. Our "rule" is that we interrupt each other when we read something wonderful. I raved about Cindy's book. I read paragraphs. I said to the man who I believe understands me better than I understand myself, "If you want to understand me, read this book."
Friends, he is! He even recommended it to a coworker who explained that he and his wife want to raise their family without the burden of perfectionism. "It's written for mothers, but it's full of wisdom for all."
December 30, 2023
10 stars!
February 4, 2024
Thank you dear Cindy! For this beautiful, precious book!
This is a book for old mothers with empty nests like me, for mothers in the thick of things, and mothers to be. It is a vision but with reality. I wish I had a book like this when I began mothering. Back then it seemed there were only books by perfect Mothers, with perfect children, perfect homes, and perfect schedules. This is a book for imperfect mothers with imperfect children. Pointing us to the only perfect one, Jesus Christ!
This is a book for old mothers with empty nests like me, for mothers in the thick of things, and mothers to be. It is a vision but with reality. I wish I had a book like this when I began mothering. Back then it seemed there were only books by perfect Mothers, with perfect children, perfect homes, and perfect schedules. This is a book for imperfect mothers with imperfect children. Pointing us to the only perfect one, Jesus Christ!
December 26, 2023
This book has been a comfort and a reminder to me to keep on. I am excited to begin reading this book again when my paper copy arrives. I appreciate the lists at the end of each chapter.
January 2, 2024
encouraging while completely convicting. I will return often to ponder. praising God that He is faithful to help us mamas journey beyond mere motherhood… and for a faithful, godly woman who points us to LIVE in Him!
February 11, 2024
This book seems to have been written for people like me. Moms who look back on their homeschooling career with profound gratefulness and profound regrets. Cindy reminds us of the work God is doing in us as well as on our children. But it is also for young moms and moms in the trenches. There is so much richness, so much wisdom, so much exhortation. And the main thing- God’s love and care for us, His knowledge of us and our desire to know Him - is the main thing! Thank you Cindy for writing this book!
January 22, 2024
Mothering in the age of social media is fraught with peril. Sometimes I wish I had done the past fifteen years without it. But one of the absolute positives is my small crew of Titus 2 mothers who have been mentors. Elizabeth Foss, Leila Lawler, and Cindy Rollins especially have been absolutely formative to me as a mother, homemaker, and educator, and this book is especially unique in that it focuses on our own intellectual and spiritual development as mothers and as persons. Charlotte Mason gave me a vision for a life of learning beyond educating my children, Cindy gave me the inspiration of a woman living it well and held our hands to take us along.
January 12, 2024
I really did love this book. Cindy is so real and so down to earth, that I think most moms would relate to her. I love how she covers different aspects of motherhood - thinking, creating, beauty, wisdom. Highly recommended, for more than homeschooling moms.
January 5, 2024
Deeply encouraging and exactly what I needed right now. Cindy's Morning Time for Moms last summer helped remind me of some of these things, but this book is a true gift. I am thankful she takes her calling from the Lord seriously to teach the younger women. We need reminding that we will not and cannot do it perfectly, that suffering is guaranteed, and that we matter more to our Father than we can imagine.
January 15, 2024
This is a must read.
“While you cannot have it all, you can have ever so much more than you ever imagined. You can choose to order your days and your leisure. You can cherish the tiny moments that make up our lives. You can hide God‘s word in your heart so that sin is kept at bay, at least some of the time. We are mamas. We’ve taken on a project we cannot possibly succeed at by ourselves. We are so out of our league, we hardly know how to judge each day. We have only one hope: the hope that the God who formed a hundred billion galaxies and stars and moon sees us, knows us, and will bless our humble efforts beyond what we could ever ask or imagine.”
“While you cannot have it all, you can have ever so much more than you ever imagined. You can choose to order your days and your leisure. You can cherish the tiny moments that make up our lives. You can hide God‘s word in your heart so that sin is kept at bay, at least some of the time. We are mamas. We’ve taken on a project we cannot possibly succeed at by ourselves. We are so out of our league, we hardly know how to judge each day. We have only one hope: the hope that the God who formed a hundred billion galaxies and stars and moon sees us, knows us, and will bless our humble efforts beyond what we could ever ask or imagine.”
January 30, 2024
I wish I was as eloquent as Cindy, so I could properly tell everyone how much I loved this book. But since I can not craft my words sufficiently, I have to say as sincerely as I can: "This book is just brimming with beauty and wisdom. It is a must-read!"
March 7, 2024
Very much enjoyed the time I spent with this book, which reminded me (in the vein of Elisabeth Elliot or Edith Schaeffer) that it's all about trusting God*. Cindy catalogs lots of different mothers: the natural mother, the beautiful mother, the studious mother, the wise mother. Each chapter fleshes out her thoughts on that quality and then gives an example of someone she knew and finally book lists relating to it. Along the way, though, there's a repeated theme of thinking about these ideals in light of our own surrender. We can't control the future or our children or outcomes, but we can trust God to be good and do good. Also to reward faithful day-to-day plodding in what's right. Reading this book added many new titles to my to-read list, as well as prompted me to join Cindy's Patreon.
*While she does write this book from the perspective of a long-time homeschooling mother and the title and chapters reference mother, this is really a book for a woman who follows God. Whether or not you homeschool or have children.
*While she does write this book from the perspective of a long-time homeschooling mother and the title and chapters reference mother, this is really a book for a woman who follows God. Whether or not you homeschool or have children.
March 7, 2024
Because I bought this, I was well within my legal rights to mark it up and fold over pages.
To refresh: homeschooling Christian mother of 9 shares her realizations and discoveries.
Loves Jesus more than most. And promotes the idea that anybody can read the Bible. Only one minute of reading can yield 15 verses, and "even the most overwhelmed of us has one minute." (doing this method you can read through the Bible 10 times in your life) or better yet do a study plan that involves reading three chapters in the Old Testament and two in the New Testament each day and this will get you through the Old Testament in one year in the New Testament twice a year, which she has done several times. !!!!
Makes a case for learning Latin and poetry 😩
"Remember, if you can understand that people live in their own times, it will save you from becoming a politically correct ignoramus, only able to read things you agree with. Moderns are so quick and so arrogant to throw out things from the past because we are so much wiser in our own eyes. This phenomenon scares me." Yes, stop hating on people from the past who don't have up-to-date beliefs that match the current ones.
"A habit needs a sabbath" - the idea being that any habit we spend our time on needs a break to give us fresh perspective.
It takes time to be a part of a church community and you need to give yourself many years and not just try it out for a weekend expecting to make strong bonds overnight.
On bodies: "we have a duty to care for what hamlet calls this "mortal coil", to enhance it to cherish it, but we must be aware of that old enemy who's favorite trick is sleight of hand. One minute you're caring for your body, and the next year worshiping it in front of the mirror at the gym. Healthy habits come down one word moderation."
Like me, she had a blog years ago, and like me, she cringes at her old blog posts . She talks about how that allowed her to hone her craft of writing.
I love this so much: "there is an easy, modern way to keep your house clean. Don't have children and work all the time so that you were never home. Then you can decorate and have popular cool toned colors like white or gray and have Pottery Barn white couches. There will be no fingerprints on the walls. No stains on the upholstery. No crying in the background. Your sterile palate will be free from disease and failure and all the things through creativity feeds on." So true.
She encourages us to not wait till our home is perfect before entertaining people at our house. We aren't there to show off our latest decor pieces or fancy table. We are opening our hearts to hear their stories. (although I love showing off my fancy table.)
Another truism: "sometimes we have what I call River snobbery. We feel more comfortable in someone's messy house, then someone's pristine one when really, we should be accepting of both." I've been guilty of preferring the messy house so I can feel less intimidated.
"I am not sure." Same.
Make sure your children see you smile. Also, how hard it is to stop lecturing and barking orders and just listen. Just listen.
She dislikes hearing a constant barrage of opinions just like me!
"I think this is complicated by knowing a lot about our mothers, while at the same time, knowing very little ". Yes how much do we really know about our mothers And their lives.
Menopause: "I felt tremendously angry, and emotionally unstable for a couple of years. Suddenly one day, I stopped, crying and feeling angry, and I realized I had been through life's notorious upheavals. I haven't sobbed uncontrollably since then, and I am rarely upset. That's hormones for you". We need to factor in our hormonal state when judging our feelings and opinions.
"suffering is having what you don't want or wanting what you don't have"-Elisabeth Elliot.
"While it is easy to share our little disappointments in life, like our inability to keep the house clean or children in line, it is much harder to share our real failure and our real suffering."
Power of older women in your life to guide you along.
"To tell the truth, often no matter how many ball game you attend, It is the one you miss that the child remembers." Sad. That makes me wanna fight.
Love to the growth, ideas at the end of each chapter. Ex: google the 1000 good books list and check off the ones you've already read.
OK this is getting long I have spent an hour on it already.
To refresh: homeschooling Christian mother of 9 shares her realizations and discoveries.
Loves Jesus more than most. And promotes the idea that anybody can read the Bible. Only one minute of reading can yield 15 verses, and "even the most overwhelmed of us has one minute." (doing this method you can read through the Bible 10 times in your life) or better yet do a study plan that involves reading three chapters in the Old Testament and two in the New Testament each day and this will get you through the Old Testament in one year in the New Testament twice a year, which she has done several times. !!!!
Makes a case for learning Latin and poetry 😩
"Remember, if you can understand that people live in their own times, it will save you from becoming a politically correct ignoramus, only able to read things you agree with. Moderns are so quick and so arrogant to throw out things from the past because we are so much wiser in our own eyes. This phenomenon scares me." Yes, stop hating on people from the past who don't have up-to-date beliefs that match the current ones.
"A habit needs a sabbath" - the idea being that any habit we spend our time on needs a break to give us fresh perspective.
It takes time to be a part of a church community and you need to give yourself many years and not just try it out for a weekend expecting to make strong bonds overnight.
On bodies: "we have a duty to care for what hamlet calls this "mortal coil", to enhance it to cherish it, but we must be aware of that old enemy who's favorite trick is sleight of hand. One minute you're caring for your body, and the next year worshiping it in front of the mirror at the gym. Healthy habits come down one word moderation."
Like me, she had a blog years ago, and like me, she cringes at her old blog posts . She talks about how that allowed her to hone her craft of writing.
I love this so much: "there is an easy, modern way to keep your house clean. Don't have children and work all the time so that you were never home. Then you can decorate and have popular cool toned colors like white or gray and have Pottery Barn white couches. There will be no fingerprints on the walls. No stains on the upholstery. No crying in the background. Your sterile palate will be free from disease and failure and all the things through creativity feeds on." So true.
She encourages us to not wait till our home is perfect before entertaining people at our house. We aren't there to show off our latest decor pieces or fancy table. We are opening our hearts to hear their stories. (although I love showing off my fancy table.)
Another truism: "sometimes we have what I call River snobbery. We feel more comfortable in someone's messy house, then someone's pristine one when really, we should be accepting of both." I've been guilty of preferring the messy house so I can feel less intimidated.
"I am not sure." Same.
Make sure your children see you smile. Also, how hard it is to stop lecturing and barking orders and just listen. Just listen.
She dislikes hearing a constant barrage of opinions just like me!
"I think this is complicated by knowing a lot about our mothers, while at the same time, knowing very little ". Yes how much do we really know about our mothers And their lives.
Menopause: "I felt tremendously angry, and emotionally unstable for a couple of years. Suddenly one day, I stopped, crying and feeling angry, and I realized I had been through life's notorious upheavals. I haven't sobbed uncontrollably since then, and I am rarely upset. That's hormones for you". We need to factor in our hormonal state when judging our feelings and opinions.
"suffering is having what you don't want or wanting what you don't have"-Elisabeth Elliot.
"While it is easy to share our little disappointments in life, like our inability to keep the house clean or children in line, it is much harder to share our real failure and our real suffering."
Power of older women in your life to guide you along.
"To tell the truth, often no matter how many ball game you attend, It is the one you miss that the child remembers." Sad. That makes me wanna fight.
Love to the growth, ideas at the end of each chapter. Ex: google the 1000 good books list and check off the ones you've already read.
OK this is getting long I have spent an hour on it already.
June 6, 2024
This book felt like a beautiful, humorous, practical guide for how to move "further up and further in". I am sad this book is done but I will revisit it, especially the last 3 chapters, frequently I am sure.
May 19, 2024
Once I understood the format of what she was getting at in the book, I enjoyed what Cindy shared. I especially liked the last chapter because after the rest of the book it’s easy to slip into places of discouragement or see how you’re coming up short. The last chapter tied it nicely together! I really enjoy her easy and honest writing style.
January 5, 2024
Thank you, Cindy. So helpful and moving.
Read
March 20, 2024I really enjoyed this book. It felt like a warm, wise conversation with a friend.
April 3, 2024
Absolutely fantastic! I need to buy my own copy, because I plan to re-read, periodically. This was so encouraging, and gave me many “Ah-ha!” moments.
March 15, 2024
What does self-education for the mother look like? Cindy shows moms how they can develop their own personhood and cultivate the same truth, goodness, and beauty for themselves as they hope to instill in their children.
Whenever I read other books in similar genres, I usually get about 100 pages in and I’m ready for it to be done. Not this one. I didn’t want it to ever end. I’m so passionate about this topic and I set it down between each reading brimming with inspiration. I mentioned this in my stories but Cindy has a way of writing that feels like the freshest breath of air and realness. She is humble and doesn’t shy from grief and joy. I could go on and on but I’ll stop.
Warning: reading this will likely cause your TBR pile to triple.
Whenever I read other books in similar genres, I usually get about 100 pages in and I’m ready for it to be done. Not this one. I didn’t want it to ever end. I’m so passionate about this topic and I set it down between each reading brimming with inspiration. I mentioned this in my stories but Cindy has a way of writing that feels like the freshest breath of air and realness. She is humble and doesn’t shy from grief and joy. I could go on and on but I’ll stop.
Warning: reading this will likely cause your TBR pile to triple.
April 10, 2024
I didn’t think I was the target audience for this book about homeschooling mothers because I am nearly not a homeschooling mamma anymore. But my sister and a friend both encouraged me that this book was EXACTLY for me, a mother who had happened to homeschool and who values the very things that the author values and who has strived after those self same things with varying degrees of failure and slender degrees of success. I am so glad they convinced me. This book, as well as the volume that preceded it, spoke deeply to my heart in this strange new season I’m about to enter. Strangely, I’ll be recommending it to mammas of all strips as I can see the value of it for all of us at whatever mothering stage in which we may find ourselves.
January 11, 2024
I loved this book. Cindy Rollins is a wise grandmother. One of my favorite quotes: “Change, and then change again. That is what it means to be a woman.” Isn’t that the truth?! And also “In my opinion, reading aloud is the single best investment in the future a busy mother can make.” I loved this because I have many failings as a mom, but I LOVE finding good books to read to my kids.
February 8, 2024
I didn’t think Cindy could possibly top Mere Motherhood but she did! Wow! It was so good I read it in one day. I’ll definitely be re-reading it at a slower pace in the future. As I formulate my thoughts hopefully I’ll put down more of an actual review. For now I’ll just say how much I appreciate Cindy’s grace and wisdom. I love learning from older women and I appreciate what she has to say so much.
January 13, 2024
I did not think my love for motherhood could increase, but it has and it is because of this book. Though this book is about beyond mere motherhood, Cindy captures everything beautiful of what is means to be a mother, to be a woman, & to be a lover of Christ. I laughed and cried through the whole book and I can’t wait to read it again.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 167 reviews