The Cranky Mom has some great tips for moms of younger children. I have adult children living with me, so unfortunately this did not resonate with me. For this reason I did not finish the book or write a review. Thank you for the opportunity to browse through the book.

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. These are my honest thoughts.

Who doesn’t want to kick the crankiness out of their home? Well, this book is great for helping with that. I loved the personal anecdotes that the author used to convey her points. There were lots of practical tips sprinkled throughout, and I can see how they would be helpful not only for mothers but also for single ladies who simply want to improve their personalities and work on their issues (because goodness knows we’ve all got at least a handful of those). This book is a great resource for mothers and singles alike, and I’m glad I read it. I’m planning on getting a hard copy at some point, because there are some sections I want to revisit as I work on my own cranky moments.

There was one moment of entitlement: “But I also want to maintain a level of authority as the grown-up who’s due some respect.” Personally, I’ve always believed that respect is earned, especially from those in positions of authority.

There was also one odd moment when church was made out to be only fun and not responsible at all for training up Christians with biblical standards and godly character: “At church, [Jesus is] a super fun guy… It’s not the church’s responsibility to instill Christian values in our kids.” I understand the author’s follow-up that it’s the parents’ responsibility to properly train up their kids, but the church is supposed to also play a significant role here as there is a huge responsibility and souls are at stake.

Overall, I found this book to be a treasure and a fantastic resource. It will open eyes and help bring healing and camaraderie into many homes.

Content: one bleeped-out expletive

This book was exactly what I needed during this season. I loved the author's honesty, sense of humour and very practical approach to parenting without being cranky and irritable. I felt like her suggestions were biblically based and could be implemented by anyone in any stage of parenting. I have a feeling this is a book I will come back to time and time again.

This is a good self development book if you’re looking for parenting advice. The author gives Godly advice on how to calm yourself when you’re feeling frustrated as a parent. Before the “momster” comes out try remembering a few bible verses to help you through your anger. I’m a momster, and I when I saw this book I knew I needed it. It took me a while to get through it, since I wanted to take my time reading each chapter and implementing the teachings. It has helped me calm my momster.

What a great resource for us tired moms! A fun and frank approach on motherhood with a biblical perspective!

I thought I was the only one. I must be the worst mother ever. Sometimes my temper flares and my anger comes out of nowhere. I know my boys are shocked, because I am shocked.

The struggle is real

It's embarrassing to admit that you struggle with anger issues. We all want to pretend to be that perfect Instagram mom with the beautiful smile and happy kids. But that isn't always the case. Sometimes we get angry and sometimes our tantrums are just grownup versions of throwing a toddler fit.

If you've never lashed out at your children in anger, this post is not for you. But if you've ever found yourself ashamed of the way you just reacted, read on, sister.

I knew The Cranky Mom Fix was for me on the very first page. Becky wrote about being exhausted, stressed and overwhelmed when her daughter was an infant. During a middle-of-the-night feeding the baby needed a complete diaper and pajama overhaul. In her new-mom, sleep-deprived state, Becky found herself getting angry at her brand-new baby.

Yep, just reading the introduction to this book had me in tears. I well remember those days, when all I wanted to do was sleep. And my baby just wanted to eat or be changed or be held. And my very own momster was born.

As I read this book I suddenly realized I was not alone. So many moms struggle with the exact same issues, but we are so ashamed and embarrassed, we never share them. I appreciate Becky's total honesty and openness about the constant struggle to be patient and parent our children well. And there are stories from other moms, too. How encouraging to know that I am not the only one!

Identifying my issues

In The Cranky Mom Fix Becky deals with our issues head-on. First, we identify who the enemy is. This is such a powerful reminder! Ephesians 6:12 reminds us, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood..." My children are not the enemy! But when I lash out at them, I'm treating them as if they are instead of addressing the real issue. That's where triggers come in.

Becky helps readers identify the triggers that cause our momster to appear. Stress. Worry. Anxiety. Even things like hunger or feeling under appreciated. When we've identified our triggers, we can learn the tools need to combat them. I love that Becky has a whole chapter dedicated to self-care. It's such a tough subject for moms to talk about, but so important!

Taking a deeper look at my kids

After discussing moms and our issues (which are many and varied!) Becky moves on to talking about our kids. I especially loved this part. It's easy to read the title and description of this book and start to feel guilty because of our terrible mom skills. But sometimes we need to take a quick minute and look at our kids. Are we expecting them to be just like us? Are we failing to appreciate their unique characteristics and parent them the way they need?

In this section Becky helped me to see that what I consider negative qualities in my kids, can have positive attributes, too. For instance, I have a child who is a terrible tattletale. Yes, this is a problem and must be dealt with (sometimes daily!). But if you look at the flip side, you can see that he values justice. And when I think about that, I realize it's a quality I also possess. I need to use my knowledge and experience to better guide him.


Yep, I have a child who is just like me. But I have another child who is opposite of me in every way. I have to parent them both, but in different ways. I can only do this through wisdom from God. And this book is full of verses about going to God and seeking His wisdom. While these verses aren't particularly written towards moms, they are easily applied to motherhood and parenting in general.

Learning to discipline

Then comes the section we don't always want to talk about. Discipline. It is a necessary part of parenting. Contrary to what our kids believe, we HATE discipline! I think it's for that reason that we avoid it at all costs. But we must be consistent in order for it to work.

This section is full of great info, but my favorite takeaway was this: Jesus is not a killjoy.

What?

When we deal with our children it's so easy to revert to statements like, "That was a selfish thing to do, and Jesus does not like it when we are selfish." Yes, it's important to teach our kids that Jesus doesn't like bad behavior, but we must also learn to tell them that Jesus is pleased when they do right. This really convicted me. I never want to be guilty of trying to beat my children over the head with Scripture so that they feel like Jesus is always angry at them.

Changes that last

In the final section Becky gives us solid advice for moving ahead to a future of F.U.N. with our kids. Slaying our momster and living happily and peacefully. Enjoying our kids and knowing we have the tools to fight against the anger--anger that no longer controls us.

Mama, this is hard. Being patient and understanding and gentle is hard. But we can do it. We have been given the power of the Holy Spirit. He has promised to give wisdom to those who ask. He offers us the fruits of the Spirit--love, joy, patience, gentleness...

If those qualities seem like they allude you, I encourage you to buy The Cranky Mom Fix. Read it. Use it. Tap into the strength your Heavenly Father offers. Your home (my home!) does not have to be filled with people who walk on eggshells because they are afraid mom is going to explode. I don't have to be controlled by my emotions and feelings. Let's do this.


I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

This book is like a how to manual on not letting stuff get to you. Once you know what it is that triggers your snaps and bad moods, you can avoid those things and stop feeling so stressed all the time. For me, that’s easier said than done but this book made it feel possible for me to overcome the cycle of craziness that I always feel trapped in.

I received this title from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Do you feel like your kids are running you ragged? As if you can never "let loose" because it's a constant battle between you and them? One second you are trying to relax and the next you are screaming because one of your kids is melting down for the third time in an hour. Becky Kopitzke felt this way too. She felt like her parenting style was turning into "sit down, don't speak, and quit pestering me." THE CRANKY MOM FIX was born. Follow Becky while she lays out Biblical principles to revamp your mothering, one step at a time. Learn how to cut down on your angry outbursts, discipline with grace, and create a family atmosphere that your kids actually want to be a part of. THE CRANKY MOM FIX helped Becky's family, it could potentially help yours too.

I truly enjoyed this title. I only have one young child, so it was more of a cautionary tale more than a guide for completely revamping my parenting. However, I still felt like Becky hit the nail on the head when it comes to any mother's frustration regarding parenting. This title was written in such a relatable way which I truly appreciated. Every tool that was provided to improve the family atmosphere was approachable and completely doable. I also appreciated that each chapter ended with reflection questions that allowed for deeper study into the Bible. Currently I am taking my time with these and using them as an additional daily Bible reading.

Overall, I feel like I could recommend this to any mother. It is real, applicable, and doable which is the best type of "Christian self-help" title. Even if you have yet to discover you have an inner "momster" you can still use this title to get an idea for how you would like your family to proceed moving forward. I plan on reading more from this author in the future.

Wow! This book has been working on, in, and through me! How often as Mom’s do we get cranky just because things don’t go our way of because our kids don’t do something the same way we would!? Becky share about ridding our homes of the “Momster” and how to fix our cranky! “The Cranky Mom Fix” has helped me to be more aware of my ‘triggers’ and what makes me cranky. Also, I’ve been reminded that I am responsible for me and I cannot blame my kids for my attitude, I need to be the example! Becky works the reader through having a more peaceful home by implementing practical tips and applying God’s Word into our everyday! I love the “Let’s Dig In” parts at the end of each chapter that helped me to see more what God says! This book is really changed my heart and is making a difference in my home and family!

I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Cranky Mom Fix: Get a Happier, More Peaceful Home by Slaying the "Momster" in All of Us is a must read for all moms! Five stars.

“I almost sent this book back” Great start for a 4 star review, right? It’s true though, I requested an advance copy of The Cranky Mom Fix and when I got my copy a few weeks later, I was NOT in the mood for homework! LOL But….. I went back a few days later and read all the way through and you know what? I’ll be implementing some of Becky Kopitzke’s ideas. I’ll also be going back, with my Bible in hand and truly use it as a study book.
My only gripe with this book (other than it not being the novel I was in the mood for LOL) is that I prefer a different Bible version than the variety that Mrs Kopitzke chose, But I also realize that not many people use my preferred Bible version anymore.

I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
#NetGalley #TheCrankyMomFix

WOW, what a honest and fun book to read. I read this book free on my Kindle for the purpose of review.

Now, as Mom to five and Mimi to fourteen, I can absolutely so relate to Becky in this fun yet applicable book. I am sad I didn't find it when I was in the day to day grind of motherhood. Certainly I could have spared my children living through some cranky days and would have been open to her suggestions. Of course, that is easy to say now that I would been open but we do know that we moms don't always take suggestions easily. This is especially true when I know that I am guilty, either 100% or 5% guilty.

Seriously, get this book and get into it and do many of her suggestions. From something as practical as sleep to taking a time out for Mom and everything in between is probably one of the most practical books I have read.

This was such a wonderful read! Becky Kopitzke speaks candidly. I loved how she shared her most vulnerable moments! This book provides practical help for Moms who struggle with their attitudes. ANY Mom would benefit from this!

This book is a God send for every tired mom! I read this book in tears as I got a wonderfully refreshing parenting course that I so needed right now. The author has such wonderful advice to give and this is a book that actually does help you to grow as a parent. I love that this book has Bible study material for further growth and development. I highly recommend this book and am thankful for the chance to read and review it!

This book was a lovely reminder of many things that I already know, but tend to forget in the moment. It's nice to have a Biblical perspective as well!

This book is biblically based, relatable, and encouraging. Each chapter starts with practical suggestions illustrated by personal anecdotes. The author calls the second half of each chapter Let's Dig In! and it is comprised of journaling prompts tied to Bible verses. Many of the ideas are things I already knew, but they are excellent reminders for this worn out and often forgetful mom of twin preschoolers. Maybe even more helpful than the ideas themselves is knowing that many other moms share the same struggles, and I'm not alone.

Small disclaimer: The book is written with the assumption that the mom reading it is in a married, heterosexual relationship, which I find disappointing but not surprising given the publisher. These are just quick references to a husband and nothing negative is said about other family situations.