There’s something sacred about the quiet moments of motherhood - the ones that don’t show up on Instagram. The midnight feedings. The toddler meltdowns in grocery store aisles. The constant giving of yourself, over and over again, for a little soul who doesn’t yet know how to say thank you.

It’s in those quiet, often unseen moments that Abbie Halberstadt's book M is for Mama speaks so powerfully. I read this book when I found out I was pregnant, and I can say - without hesitation - that I absolutely loved it. This is not your average parenting book. It’s not a guide to pregnancy or sleep schedules. It’s not a collection of vague encouragements wrapped in cozy language. M is for Mama is a wake-up call, a warm embrace, and a battle cry all in one. It calls us, Christian mamas, to embrace our higher calling - the most important job we’ll ever do.

If you're feeling weary or unseen, if you've ever wondered if what you're doing really matters, or if you're just longing for encouragement that actually aligns with Biblical truth, M is for Mama is for you.

It's Not About Perfect Motherhood—It's About Purposeful Motherhood

Abbie has this way of being lovingly direct without sounding harsh. She isn’t afraid to call out what she sees as “lazy parenting” or “mediocre motherhood,” and I found that incredibly refreshing. She speaks truth, but it’s laced with grace. She challenges the normalized attitudes in modern mom culture—like needing a glass of wine to “survive” the day or parking our kids in front of the TV as a babysitter - without judgment, but with a fierce love for our calling as mothers.

Throughout M is for Mama, Abbie roots everything in Scripture. I found myself highlighting entire sections, underlining verses I wanted to memorize, and just sitting in stillness with some of her words. She reminds us that motherhood is not a burden. It’s a calling - a holy one. It’s about raising little disciples, not just surviving the toddler years. She writes:

“You are raising eternal souls, not just tiny humans.”

That hit me hard. It reframed everything I was doing, from making dinner to correcting my child’s behavior, as sacred work.

We Are the Gatekeepers

One of the most empowering messages in the book is this: You are the gatekeeper of your home. That doesn’t mean you rule with an iron fist, but rather, you are actively and intentionally guarding what enters your home, whether that’s media, messages, or mindsets. Abbie encourages us to research before allowing social media into our homes, and to be bold about saying no to what doesn’t align with God’s Word.

She writes, "Don't steal your children's innocence by opening up social media accounts and letting them watch whatever is on the screen." That truth lingered in my heart. We set the tone. We decide what is allowed to take root in our children's minds and hearts.

This ties into another powerful section on discipline - not just disciplining our children, but disciplining ourselves. Abbie reminds us that if we want our children to love Jesus, we need to model that ourselves. That means reading our Bibles, praying regularly, worshiping together as a family, and showing our children what a life of faith actually looks like.

Sisterhood Over Comparison

I loved how Abbie constantly brings us back to the idea that every mama is different. There’s no “one size fits all” approach to parenting. We’re not called to compare ourselves to each other but to build one another up.

This is where true Biblical sisterhood comes in. Think of Ruth and Naomi - two women from very different generations, yet deeply bonded by love and faith. Or Mary and Elizabeth - both pregnant under very different circumstances, yet they rejoiced together. Or even Miriam and Jochebed - sisters in strength, helping preserve Moses' life.

We’re not meant to be lone wolves in this motherhood journey. We’re meant to link arms with one another, to support instead of side-eye, to pray instead of pass judgment.

So the next time you see a mama struggling with a tantrum in aisle three, don’t roll your eyes - pray for her. Offer a smile. We’re on the same team.

Soul Care vs. Self Care

Abbie also draws a striking contrast between self-care and what she calls “soul care.” In a culture that tells us to chase after "me-time" like it’s the answer to all our problems, M is for Mama reminds us that true rest doesn’t come from spa days or lattes (although those can be nice!). True rest comes from being rooted in God.

She acknowledges that we do need breaks, but not because we’re escaping our kids. We need soul-filling breaks that make us better mamas, not more resentful ones. Breaks that help us reconnect with God and return refreshed to our calling.

This really resonated with me. It shifted my mindset from “I need to get away” to “I need to fill up.” And it made me more intentional about the time I spend with God - because I set the tone in our home.

The Gentleness Challenge

Can I be real for a moment? This part of the book challenged me the most. Abbie introduces a 30-day Gentleness Challenge where you commit to only using kind speech and calm tones. You’re not allowed to gripe or complain, and when you share struggles, it’s only with the purpose of prayer and accountability.

Have I successfully completed this challenge yet? Absolutely not. But I’m trying. And that’s what this book emphasizes again and again - to keep trying. Keep surrendering. Keep showing up.

We’re not called to be perfect. We’re called to be present. Faithful. Intentional.

Teaching Hard Truths with Love

One of the boldest sections of M is for Mama addresses something that’s often overlooked in Christian parenting books: sex education. Abbie doesn’t shy away from it. Instead, she encourages us to be the ones leading those conversations, not the internet, not their peers, not the culture. Abbie and her husband read through the Bible with their children regularly, and break down sex education to the child’s level of understanding, and as they grow, these conversations become more in-depth to better help the child’s understanding grow with the child.

Abbie also talks about how it’s our job as mamas to protect our children’s safety and reality - gate-keeping (like I mentioned above) is so important here. But it’s more than that - it’s not just about what we’re not letting into our homes, it’s about how we create and craft our homes, and what we do allow in our homes. We want to make our homes - our lives, our time with our children - more interesting, engaging, fun, and loving than the appeal of social media and tv. She writes: “It’s our job as mamas to make our children’s realities more enticing than any online world into which they might be tempted to flee.”

That line has echoed in my heart ever since. It’s a reminder that the warmth and richness of home - the love, the truth, the joy - should be so palpable, so secure, that our children feel safe there. They want to be there. They trust us with their questions and their doubts.

The Penny Reward System

I also fell in love with the Penny Reward System Abbie outlines. It’s a simple way to encourage your children to do “small things with great love,” as Mother Teresa once said. And isn't that exactly what we're called to as mamas?

Abbie writes:

“My desire is for my children to see the value of doing small things with great love, regardless of whether or not anyone ever notices.”

It reminded me that the little things - the socks picked up, the sibling helped, the chore done without asking - these are kingdom things. These are heart-shaping, character-building moments. And celebrating them helps our kids see the value in service, love, and intentional living.

Fighting Well, Not Just Avoiding Conflict

One of the final takeaways I appreciated was Abbie’s perspective on how we fight. She encourages us not to sweep things under the rug but to address conflict head-on, Biblically. Fighting isn’t bad - it’s inevitable. But how we do it matters.

Here’s the approach Abbie recommends:

Don’t fight in front of the kids unless you're also modeling resolution and repentance.
Apologize to your children when you mess up. They learn so much by seeing us humble ourselves.
Invite Scripture into your disagreements. Let God’s Word be the authority, not just your feelings.

This spoke to me in a deep way. It reminded me that I’m not just raising children - I’m discipling future spouses, future parents, future leaders. They’re learning how to deal with conflict from how I do it. And I can definitely use some major improvement in this area. This is something I am continually working on.

Final Thoughts: Why You Need to Read M is for Mama

If I could, I’d buy every Christian mama I know a copy of M is for Mama. It’s engaging, incredibly enjoyable to read, and packed with Biblical truth. I learned so much from Abbie and her voice feels like a trusted big sister guiding you toward Jesus.

This book doesn’t offer parenting formulas or rigid how-tos. It offers something better: a renewed vision for motherhood, one rooted in the Word of God, overflowing with grace, and deeply intentional.

So if you’re a mama who’s feeling burnt out, disillusioned by mom culture, or simply yearning for more - you’re not alone. M is for Mama will challenge you, encourage you, and gently redirect your heart back to where it belongs.

We’re not just moms. We’re Kingdom women doing Kingdom work.

Let’s not settle for mediocrity.

Let’s rise to the higher calling.

✨ Looking for more faith-filled reads? Don’t forget to check out my Amazon book lists: Parenting + Homemaking Books, Homeschooling Books, and Books for Kids for more of my top recommendations for Christian mamas!

These are some of the books that have deeply encouraged me as a mama, homemaker, and woman of faith. From practical wisdom to heart-deep inspiration, each one has helped shape the way I nurture our home and family. Browse the list. 📖
This collection is full of inspiring and practical reads that have shaped my heart for home education. These books offer gentle wisdom, encouragement, and a reminder that learning is a beautiful, lifelong journey. Browse the list. 🍎
These are some of our favorite wholesome, beautifully written books for little hearts and growing minds. Each story is carefully chosen to spark wonder, nurture faith, and create sweet memories through reading together. Browse the list. 📚

A Higher Calling: Why M is for Mama by Abbie Halberstadt is the Parenting Book Every Christian Mama Needs