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Did this title scream out to you from your feedreader? Are you too busy?
I honestly feel like I try to guard our family against too much busyness, so why are we always on the go? Since my kids are over 5 years apart, it’s only been in the last couple of years that I’ve had to juggle activities for more than one.
Because even though it seems like caring for little ones who can’t care for themselves takes a lot of work and attention, it seems to get worse. In Just Too Busy: Taking your Family on a Radical Sabbatical, Joanne Kraft says:
Little ones are an insane amount of work. There is no book out there that is going to solve that. The busyness I needed help with came as my children got a little bit older. . . Things didn’t slow down. As a matter of fact they began to move at warp speed.
Band practice after school, baseball games and practice, AWANAs, Youth Group, time with friends, concerts — all of these activities keep my family in the car. This spring there were several days that we get home, ate dinner at some absurdly early time like 4:45, hopped in the car to go to baseball practice or game where my husband joined us straight from work, and then I left to pick up or drop off my daughter at church, and it was 8:30 before we were all back home. It drove me nuts!
The busyness of that sort of Spring schedule left me craving rest. The kids have been out of school for a couple weeks and we’ve binged on doing nothing! It turned out to be a great time to read Joanne Kraft’s Just Too Busy: Taking your Family on a Radical Sabbatical. Yep, Joanne took her family on a radical sabbatical for a whole year, cutting out all extra activities. That meant no voice lessons for her teen daughter, no baseball for her teen son, no soccer for her tween daughter. . . . nothing.
In spite of Joanne’s choice for her family, what makes this book so valuable is that you see that it’s not all or nothing. That sort of approach would have been overwhelming and offensive to most readers, so I love that Joanne bit the bullet and did it for a whole year so that she could learn a big lesson and share it with her readers. She shared a lesson about how one of her daughters turned to books over at 5 Minutes for Books today. Please check it out.
The tone of the book is not judgmental. Joanne Kraft guides the reader by sharing a closing prayer that the reader can use to seek God’s wisdom on each particular area, and then asking some questions for the reader to discern what small changes she can make.
That’s right — you don’t have to do as Joanne did and take an entire year off from every single activity to benefit from her advice.
I loved this book. Joanne is funny and real and realistic. She doesn’t live in some alternate universe totally cut off from the rest of society. She’s real. Her kids are real. But she make a big radical change in response to the disconnect that she saw in her family, and helps readers identify the areas in their families that might need some tweaking.
This would be a great book to read with some girlfriends. You can download a free leaders guide here.
Find out more about Joanne Kraft at her website and blog. Also, read her great guest post for us at 5 Minutes for Books: Too Busy to Read?
Leave a comment here and you’ll be entered to win a copy of Just Too Busy (U.S. residents only). We’ll announce the winner on July 4.
The winners of our previous giveaway for two Outdoor Exploration books are #5 Jenn and #72 Christopher.
Original post by 5 Minutes for Books managing editor Jennifer Donovan who also blogs at Snapshot
Tracy B. says
Sounds like a great book!
Where does the time go? I look at the clock and then look back a “few minutes” later to find that it’s been much more than a few minutes!
apple blossom says
love to win thanks
ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com
Bluerose says
I would love to be entered. 🙂
Mozi Esmes Mom says
I’d enjoy reading this – it certainly fits my life at the moment…
janemaritz at yahoo dot com
Liz says
This past week my husband and I have been away for an anniversary celebration. Not having all the distractions of our normal life has been eye-opening for me. We’ve literally had to drive into town once a day just to “connect” to our email and our online lives. I’m looking forward to reading Joanne’s book! It sounds like just what the Lord has been laying on my heart lately and this week has confirmed it.
Kate says
Oh man, I think I would be too busy to even read this book! But I definitely need some help.. I am a single mom trying to balance a demanding career and I just feel too busy to even deal at times. Would love to win it though. 🙂
Ellen C. says
I’d love to win. Thanks!
Mia Dentice Carey says
This book looks VERY INTERESTING!
Mama Zen says
I would love to read this!
Nancye Davis says
Sounds like an interesting book! Thanks for the chance.
nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net
Staci A says
It sounds like a perfect book for our family. I’d love to read it!
Ruth Hill says
Please enter me. Thanks!
Terra Heck says
I’d like to read this book. Thanks.
partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com
John says
Please enter me
riTa says
I think my DIL could relate to this book enjoy and benefit from it. This past year with two different sports scheduled and an 18 month old have been hectic!
katklaw777 says
Great review…I think I would find this book helpful, thanks!
Mommyteaching.com says
Love all the useful information on your site. I’ve been back a few times.
Thanks again!
Nevine Spicer says
I’d love to win this book. Definately a topic to which we all relate.
Mommyteaching.com
Angela says
Sounds like a good book to read.
Hailey says
I would love to win this!
LaVonne says
Thanks! I think this sounds great.
Alison S. says
Sounds like a book I need to read.
angie says
love the name of this book as it is how my life often feels
[email protected]
Idaho Jill says
Looks super interesting, thanks!
Leah Courtney says
Oh, I’d love to win this!
Mary H says
Would love to win this. Maybe it would give me some ideas for slowing down. Every time I try, we just seem to get busier!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nancye Davis says
I would love to win a copy of this book. Thanks for the chance!
nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net
Tammy Gordon says
Would love to win this.
June says
Sounds like a good one.
Alyse says
This sounds like a great read! Sounds like a great way to reconnect with your family and your values. Finding the time to slow down and live meaningful lives really resonates with so many people, and I like what you say about her non-judgmental approach. I can’t wait to read it!
Shelly Ballou says
This is an area that the Lord is constantly dealing with me on. I can’t wait to read it.
Natalia says
Would like to win
Krissa says
Sounds like a great read!
elaine says
Great review! Love Joanne and her new book so very much. Readers can hop over to my blog as well and enter for a chance to win a copy as well. “Just Too Busy” is well worth the reading.
peace~elaine
Joy says
I’m throwing my hat in the ring to win this book. We need it. Our lives are overscheduled and any little tips or changes will be welcome.
Katrina says
I’d love a chance to win this book. It lines up with what I “believe” I’d like for our family, but don’t always seem to implement!
Pam M says
I would love to read this book and then pass it along to some friends!
Ticia says
Oh, I could use this book!
Melissa B says
Thanks for the chance to win this book! Im a Single Mom – my son is 20 years old and mildly Autistic . He does really well! My Daughter is grown and married – and even though they are older..it seems like life is still very busy! =)
Vilmarys says
I would love to read this…..our family is all over the place and would love new ways to reconnect. Thanks!
Tina Phillips says
I NEED this book!! LOL…I’m a mom of five boys and they are all in different schools and doingf different things and wearing me out!! Thanks for a chance to win!!
Makennah says
I’d LOVE to win this as well (:
Cleo says
Ooooohohhhhh…how I would LOVE to win this book! 🙂
Lisa says
Yay – I’m reviewing Joanne’s book later in the week! It is such a good book with lessons that many moms can take from it whether or not they choose to take a total sabbatical. I had the privilege of meeting her and hugging her in real life at her book launch party!