Hold On, But Don't Hold Still

Title: Hold On, But Don't Hold Still       (Genre: Self-help/Parenting) 
Author: Kristina Kuzmii

Summary: 
After her divorce, Kristina felt like she was literally drowning....she didn't know what to do with herself, let alone how to take care of her 2 young children. Her inspiring story, written in journal-form at some points, reveals the tips that helped her get through the toughest times; I think my favorite was when she started the tradition of Wednesday night dinners ....even when she was very poor.  And while this is primarily a self-help book, I felt like it was a relatable parenting book as well. 

Book Quotes:  
"What we're told as children follows us into adulthood. And so I grew up & became an adult who was too much. Being told you're too much can often leave you feeling like you're not enough. Weird how that works, right?"

"We are not meant to go through this life alone. Name any situation you want to improve....you'll get there faster & more effectively if you reach out to others. We want to be our best. But the truth is, our best is beyond us." 

"When you're feeling helpless or hopeless, stop thinking about how helpless & hopeless you feel & just do something. Do something positive...something that matters. Do something without focusing on the list of things that could get in your way. Do note let the few things that are completely out of your control, control you completely." 

"Happily ever after is only as happy as the amount of real work we're willing to put into it, even when we don't feel like it." 

"There isn't one correct way to parent, so if someone's way of parenting is different from yours, they aren't doing it wrong...& neither are you. Different doesn't equal wrong. You don't have to agree with other people's choices. The only time we should spend any energy focusing on how someone else is choosing to parent is when we want to learn something from them. Otherwise, mind your own motherhood." 

"Happiness lacks depth without some discomfort to throw it into sharper relief, & if I don't allow my children to struggle, I won't give them the chance to feel the deep satisfaction of hard-won success." 

My Rating: 5 stars! (So relatable & real...while offering practical advice.)