It’s not easy, but someone has to do it. Okay. Y’all. Here’s the thing about motherhood. Before I had a child of my own, it was super easy. I had a lot of opinions about the right way to discipline, the way my child would dress, and how she would never throw a fit in public or embarrass me at the grocery store. I also believed the entire experience would be sweet and clean and beautiful, like one of those baby lotion commercials. (Bless my heart.)
Then I had Caroline.
And you know what? Real motherhood is different. It’s messier. It’s complicated. And it is . . . So. Much. Better.
It breaks your heart and makes you laugh harder than you ever could have imagined. It’s a little frightening. A lot gut wrenching. And quite possibly the most important thing you will ever do.
That’s what this book is about—my story about those fleeting moments that get swallowed up in the daily routine of car pools and soccer practice but come together in an indescribable way to make you a mama.
If you’re looking for an expert on the subject of motherhood, then I suggest you put this book down immediately. But if you just need to know you’re not the only person who has debated running away to a five-star hotel after spending hours “helping” your child with a school project, this is for you. (You are my people.)
If nothing else, I hope it will keep you warm at night knowing someone else shares your brand of crazy.
laugh out loud, mama blog, green earrings, christian memoir, christian self help, parenting advice, christian families, mommy blogger, christian women, pregnancy loss
Profoundly insightful, witty and relatable. . . . Relish this ride— you won’t be sorry you took it!
by Beth Moore, New York Times bestselling author and speaker
“There is really no better indicator you’re a mother than acquiring the ability to catch throw-up in a plastic bag, disinfect your hands, and immediately ask your friend to pass the beef jerky as you put on another Taylor Swift song and act as if nothing has happened.”
This is the type of insight Melanie Shankle offers in this quirky memoir of motherhood.
Written in the familiar, stream-of-consciousness style of her blog, Big Mama, Sparkly Green Earrings is a heartwarming and hilarious look at motherhood from someone who is still trying to figure it all out. Filled with personal stories—from the decision to become a mother to the heartbreak of miscarriage and ultimately, to the joy of raising a baby and living to tell about it—Sparkly Green Earrings will make you feel like you’re sitting across the table from your best friend. A must-read for anyone who’s ever had a child or even thought about it.
Dan
My wife bought this book shortly after having our firstborn. She cried, laughed, and wouldn't stop talking about it. I would highly recommend purchasing this book for your wife or mother for Mother's Day!
i blog 4 books
I'm not a mother, and I don't know if or when I ever will be. However, Sparkly Green Earrings still resonated with me. Yes, it's a book about "motherhood," but it's so much more than that. It's really about relationships and friendships and trusting God when we don't know why things happen like they do. It's about growing up and growing out of our selfish tendencies so that we become more like Christ each and every day.
Melanie has a special gift for writing about her personal life experiences in a way that still strikes a chord with readers. I found my eyes misting over as she talked about her miscarriage, and then mere paragraphs later (not even the next chapter!) I was guffawing loudly enough for Hubs to roll over and ask what was wrong. (I have GOT to stop reading in bed after my husband has already fallen asleep!!!)
This is an incredibly charming book, one I am happy to recommend! [5 stars]
Kristy Byers
I picked this book up based on its title. What girl doesn’t like jewelry? I was a bit surprised and disappointed when I found out that it was a “momâ€. Don’t we have enough of those? Let’s get our bling on. However, let me just say that anyone, mom or not, will love this book. Reading it will be time well spent. It is about a real person, admitting to some real things, trying her best every day. And it’s FUNNY. I never laugh out loud while reading a book, but with this book, almost every other page was a LOL kind of moment. You will want to read it.