More Than A Mom: Finding Purpose In the Everyday Monotony Without Losing Yourself Or Your Sanity Paperback – August 9, 2020

“Tie yourself to the truths of who you are so that you are anchored to them during the storms.” Ashley Carbonatto💗“Let me say it louder for the peanut gallery in the back to hear...”“The TRUTH is...your circumstances have nothing to do with your identity or worth.“YOU ARE DOING BETTER THAN YOU THINK.💥And let me tell you why.”✨Ashley shares vulnerably how Motherhood, aka: her “Holy disruption,” has been chalked FULL of “simply something that I just never saw coming.” Reading this book is getting to know her-and whether you’re thriving or surviving through motherhood, you want this type of friend in your life! She speaks my language in pushing her reader towards community (oh so necessary!), but offers her experience with relatability for those who may still be searching for their people. FIND your people! Hold on to these TRUTHS in the meantime if you need some inspiration that all mamas should be clinging to. “Perseverance and endurance aren’t uncommon words, but they ARE uncommon characteristics.”I have so often expressed to my close friends how many more surprises would have come my way if we weren’t living through this journey of Motherhood together, but most importantly, TALKING ABOUT IT! And not just the highlights, or sleep training questions, but ALL OF IT! Processing the little things in life can be a gateway to healthy separation of the emotional reactions we can let define us.Ashley allows all the mamas (or future mamas!) into her highs, lows, and everything in between, by sharing so much fruit of what we ‘all wish we’d known’ with humor, and easy conversation. This is the arrow to the tribe and honest vulnerability you need to walk through any season of life healthily, but with so many nuggets that walking into motherhood, allow perspective that could give anyone more peace.✨This book is a great place to hear some of that honest truth, pointed to a ONE truth that surpasses all! You are MORE then your role💗and it is possible to find yourself in the current one you’re in✨*My personal take away for ANY season of this journey called life✨

A great read!!! As a mom of 3 going from a full-time RN to a SAHM after my third child, the transition has not been the easiest. Trying to find my new identity has been a struggle and sometimes lonely and isolating. Here I was thinking I was the only one that felt this way but this book taught me how common it is! Lots of laughs and lots of self-reflection occurred while reading this book. Ashley nails every aspect of the SAHM life and validates your feelings. To say a book changed your life may sound extreme but it definitely gave me the confidence I needed as a SAHM!

Being a mom to a 3 year old and a 1 year old, I’m in the thick of it right now. This book felt like the author peered into my soul and pulled out everything I was thinking and feeling. It’s great read for any mom at any stage, but I think will really resonate with those in the earlier stages of motherhood. Her style of writing is conversational and breezy, like you are talking with a friend, so it’s a pretty quick read. I didn’t realize there were book club questions until I was almost done with the book, so I recommend looking at them at then end of each chapter and reflecting on what was discussed.

A great read for moms. Quick, easy and insightful. Im not religious, and she does add religion into a few chapters but it was good!

As a stay at home mom that had transitioned from full time employment, certain days are harder than others. It’s like we feel we have no purpose. Even though I am set and solid in my relationship with the Lord and my identity in him, books like these help as reminders that it’s ok to not feel ok and that what we are doing actually is a purpose in itself. Well written, funny, real, and very binge worthy. Totally recommend!

This book is such a great read for any mom (or dad) who may need a reminder that they are more than a parent. As many of us begin the parent journey this fall homeschooling our kids I find reading Ashley’s words a very LOUD reminder that if you do not take care of yourself you can’t truly take care of any one well. Ashley’s story takes us on a journey through the past 15-ish years of her life. She takes us through college, her marriage, her corporate high stakes career and then into her 1st baby. After having her first kiddo she felt the need to be a stay at home mom to nurture and love that baby boy into his future self. What came from that decision was a multitude of emotions that Ashley so vulnerably shares with the reader from postpartum depression, miscarriage, anxiety and more to finding hope and finding her purpose again. Ashley helps to share her life with all mothers (parents) to remind us all that we are more than a mom. She helps to remind us that there is purpose and meaning in each of our lives that does not involve our children. She reminds us over and over again to take time out of your day, week or month for YOU. This book truly is a must read whether or not you need her story to inspire you to lift your head up and see beyond your home or your office or your marriage you will walk away from this read with a new path forward. Ashley will help to remind you that you need to find JOY for you not just creating joy for your children. Whether or not you can relate to her journey, her kids or her marriage the message you will and can pull away from her words will apply to your life and will be worth it. This book is a great read for the stay at home parent or the working parent or even the single folks who just need a reminder to put themselves first sometimes.

I honestly love this book for all the help and encouragement, and it's really helped me feel good about being a mom and knowing my strengths. However, the author brings up political stances that don't need to be in the book. I get that she doesn't care what I think of her and that's fine, but why can't these books just stick to facts and keep politics and opinions out of it. If it wasn't for that I'd give it 5 stars.

Be careful reading this book. I found myself discontent, shopping, and wanting the highs of life (at a time when it’s not possible) after reading this book. I realized it’s messages of materialism were subtlety disguised by the encouraging theme.