Motherhood Is Not Your Highest Calling

Sometimes it can be hard to remember that you are more than a mom.

Do this. Don’t do that. Try this parenting strategy. Read this book. Many mothers desire to be the best mom possible, but the pressure can feel overwhelming. Even at church, many of us are being taught that “motherhood is a woman’s highest calling.”

While valuing mothers is important, idolizing or idealizing the role places unsustainable pressures and stress on moms and causes us to miss living out of our primary identity in Christ.

In Motherhood Is (Not) Your Highest Calling, Vicki Courtney invites moms to reconsider the widely held belief that motherhood defines your identity. With heartfelt honesty drawn from her experiences as a mother and grandmother, Vicki encourages you to embrace an emotionally healthy, “good enough” mentality and let go of the unrealistic expectations that weigh heavily on mothers.

Motherhood Is (Not) Your Highest Calling will encourage you to:

Challenge the Myth of Perfection: Discover how to release yourself from the unrealistic standards of perfectionism that are held up for Christian mothers; Understand Church Influences: Gain insight into how traditional narratives have shaped women’s expectations in faith communities; Learn from Personal Stories: Benefit from Courtney’s own experiences and reflections on motherhood; Embrace Being “More than a Mom”: Recognize the value of your worth and purpose beyond motherhood; and Explore Biblical Insights: Find guidance for understanding your identity in Christ. In a world dominated by social media portrayals of picture-perfect parenting, embrace your complete who you are in Christ.

1. Opening Credits
2. Dedication
3. Introduction: Too Much and Never Enough
4. Chapter 1: More Than a Mom — The Grace of Remembering Who You Are
5. Chapter 2: Cancel the Guilt Trip — The Grace of Being Imperfect
6. Chapter 3: Good for Her, Not for Me — The Grace of Acceptance
7. Chapter 4: Slow Down and Show Up — The Grace of Being Present
8. Chapter 5: Worry Doesn’t Get to Run the Show — The Grace of Releasing What If . . . ?
9. Chapter 6: Less Stuff, More Magic — The Grace of Simplicity
10. Chapter 7: You Matter Too — The Grace of Being Kind to Yourself
11. Epilogue: More Than Enough
12. Appendix: What the Bible Says about Identity in Christ
13. Acknowledgements
14. Closing Credits