My 2020 Reading List: 8 Books for Moms

Do you have reading goals on your list this year?  If so, you are not alone.  Here are 8 books that are currently on my 2020 reading list.  All of them, great books for moms.  Full of practical advice, fun stories, encouraging (& sometimes challenging) truth for busy moms. 

Happy New Year, friends!  I’m excited to be getting back into the swing of things over here as we wrap up the holidays and work to get back into some regular rhythms and routines.  

One of the things I’ve been doing the last couple of weeks is really spending some time thinking about and praying about our goals for the new year.  What is it that we want to accomplish this year, individually, in our marriage, and as a family? 

If you’ve been around here any amount of time, you already know this, but in case this is your first time here, we’re busy preparing to welcome our third baby into the mix in just a few short weeks, so our goals (and our capacity to complete them) might be a little different this year.  

I’m hoping to be able to share some of our goals on the blog in the next few days, but one of them is to spend more time reading.  

So today, I’m sharing my 2020 Reading List.  And to be fair, this is only the start.  There are several more on my wish list, but these are the ones that I currently HAVE and am hoping to work my way through this year.  

My 2020 Reading List: 8 Books for Moms

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GRUMPY MOM TAKES A HOLIDAY by Valerie Woerner

To be fair on this one, it’s one that I’m currently reading and almost finished with.  And it is SO GOOD.  It was recommended to me this past summer by a friend of mine who had just finished it.

The tagline the book reads, “Say goodbye to stressed, tired, and anxious, and say hello to renewed joy in motherhood.”  And it is certainly fitting.  

This book is for every single mom who wants to find a sense of renewed joy in motherhood.  In Grumpy Mom Takes a Holiday, Valerie has challenged me to not only acknowledge what triggers “grumpy mom” moments for me, but HOW to get past those and enjoy motherhood.  There are chapters on motherhood specifically, time management, marriage, and even friendship. 

Each chapter is full of practical advice, action steps, a key Bible verse, and a prayer for moms.  

HIGHLY recommend this one if you ever find yourself feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or just plain grumpy sometimes in your motherhood journey. 

ONE THOUSAND GIFTS: A DARE TO LIVE FULLY RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE by Ann Voskamp

Another book that I have actually already read a couple of years ago, but I’m adding it to my 2020 reading list because it is THAT good and I want to read it again.  

Ann Voskamp has such a beautiful way with words and this books is both challenging and encouraging.  

Rather than seeking fulfillment in more things or the next big adventure, One Thousand Gifts challenges you to actively seek out and acknowledge those everyday blessings that are all around us – even in the seemingly mundane (or most challenging) circumstances of our lives.  

It reminds us that through giving thanks, we can come to know God and his extravagant love for us even deeper and in doing so, we can begin to live more fully right where we are.

12 WAYS YOUR PHONE IS CHANGING YOU by Tony Reinke

Now onto the books that I have not read or started reading for this year.  Another of my goals this year is to create healthy boundaries with my phone and screen time.  Our smartphones have so much information on them and serve so many different purposes, it can be so easy to spend large chunks of the day at least partially paying attention to the screen. 

But, I want to be more mindful of the ways I use my phone – especially around the boys and during family time.

In all honesty, I think that being on my phone is an easy “grumpy mom” trigger for me when I’m using it around the boys.  When I’m focused on my phone, I am more likely to be impatient, feel interrupted by them, and get frustrated with them.  I’m sure I’m not the only mom that can relate to this. 

So, this is the next book on my list after I finish Grumpy Mom Takes a Holiday.  

HOW TO BREAK UP WITH YOUR PHONE by Catherine Price

How to Break Up with Your Phone is a 30 day plan to “break up” with your phone and then “make up” with it in ways that are healthy and useful.  I’m planning to read this after 12 Ways Your Phone is Changing You.  

Can you tell that setting healthy phone and screen time boundaries for myself is a high priority for me this year?  

CULTIVATE: A GRACE-FILLED GUIDE TO GROWING AN INTENTIONAL LIFE by Lara Casey

You’ve probably heard of Lara Casey before – she’s the creator of the beautiful and super popular Power Sheets for intentional goal planning as well as the Write the Word journals.  (I’ve never used the power sheets, but I am going through this Write the Word journal currently.)

This is the first book of hers that I’ve gotten and I’m excited to see what she has to say as I continue to work on being present and intentional with my life.   

RAISING GRATEFUL KIDS IN AN ENTITLED WORLD by Kristen Welch

Raising Grateful Kids was also recommended to me by my friend (the same one who recommended Grumpy Mom) and it was on my Christmas wish list this year.  Now, it’s on my reading list.

I think I can speak for most moms when I say that we want to raise kids that are grateful and kind.  Appreciative and content with what they have rather than feeling entitled. 

I’m excited to read this book about one family’s experience of teaching their kids about gratitude, hard work, and faith. 

RHYTHMS OF RENEWAL by Rebekah Lyons

This book found it’s way onto my reading list via my friend, Keri’s suggestion.  She recently shared it on her Instagram and it looked like such a good and helpful read.  So here it is.  

You may remember one of my goals from 2019 was to create systems to combat overwhelm for myself as a stay-at-home mom and homemaker.  

This year, I am thinking more about what sort of rhythms I want to create in our home and family as well as in my personal life.  

This faith-based book goes through 4 intentional rhythms: rest, restore, connect, and create.  I’m excited to read it!

SIMPLY TUESDAY: SMALL MOMENT LIVING IN A FAST MOVING WORLD by Emily P. Freeman

And finally, Simply Tuesday by Emily P. Freeman.  Another one that was on my wish list that I got as a gift in 2019.  

Can you sense a trend here in this book list? 

My 2020 book list, so far, reads very much like a reflection of the many of the goals that I’m setting for this year.  Especially as we get ready to transition to a family of five, I’m working to slow down, simplify, and soak in all the pieces of this season with a grateful heart.  

Do you have a reading goal for this year?  I’d love to know what books are on your list!

If you’re a blogger, I’d love to invite you to join us for this week’s Welcome Wednesday link up!  Link up your favorite posts from the week and then be sure to check out a few others! 

Welcome to the Wednesday Link Party! Meet your hosts:

Jaclyn from Coffee, Pancakes, and Dreams
Brittany from Dreams and Coffee
Mary Leigh from Live Well Play Together
Tiffany from Lake Life State of Mind
Lindsay from Lindsay’s Sweet World
Keri from Cultivate an Intentional Life

 You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!