Through a gospel-centered approach to parenting, Tying Their Shoes by Rob and Stephanie Green lays the foundation for expecting parents to welcome a new addition into their home in light of the gospel. First-time, soon-to-be parents and moms and dads expecting an additional child will find Christ-centered hope, practical advice, and encouragement toward parental unity in this invaluable resource.
Authors Rob and Stephanie Green know a baby brings many wonderful changes for both biological and adoptive parents. While other parenting resources help expectant parents prepare for the physical and emotional work of child-rearing, the Greens address the all-important spiritual foundation needed for parenting. They help parents understand and apply the gospel the best resource to ground couples in their relationships with the Lord, with each other, and with their children.
The challenges of parenting do bring stress, but this book guides expectant moms and dads to turn toward the Lord with all of the strains of this new season of life. Sharing from both a mother's and father's perspective, Rob and Stephanie Green dive into the goal of parenting, the blessings of parenting, pregnancy and labor, marital intimacy, biblical discipline, and other practical realities of first-time parents.
Above all else, Rob and Stephanie Green equip soon-to-be parents to create a gospel-centered home and mind-set, lovingly pointing couples to our Father who cares for his children and is with them every step of the way.
"Rob and Stephanie have written a book on the preparation and process of early parenthood that balances out the biblical and practical eminently well. With practical advice flowing out of their biblical convictions, they neither prescribe nor mandate, but offer sage advice for a time in life when most couples desperately need it. This will now replace diapers as my go-to gift for newly expectant parents!"
Jonathan Holmes, Pastor of Counseling, Parkside Church; executive director, Fieldstone Counseling
"As a friend, I've had the privilege of watching the Greens' children thrive under their care. I've also seen the impact of their first book, Tying the Knot, as we use it to prepare couples in our church for marriage. This new volume is filled with the same kind of wisdom, grace, and focus on Christ that characterized their first book, so I expect to see God use this just as greatly for his glory."
Brad Bigney, Pastor of Grace Fellowship; ACBC certified counselor; conference speaker; author of Gospel Treason: Betraying the Gospel with Hidden Idols
"Tying Their Shoes, by Rob and Stephanie Green, offers exactly what the subtitle suggests. It is a Christ-centered approach to preparing for parenting. Don't take that subtitle promise lightly. Some books on parenting provide a broad, Christ-centered approach, but they never address the nitty-gritty details of real-life parenting. Other parenting books talk about a ton of details, but you wonder where the gospel makes a foundational impact. In Tying Their Shoes, Rob and Stephanie provide that rare balance: a parenting book that relates gospel reality to daily reality. Tying Their Shoes will be my go-to book to recommend to young parents, just as Tying the Knot has been the number one book I recommend to engaged couples."
Bob Kellemen, Vice President and Academic Dean, Faith Bible Seminary; author of Raising Kids in the Way of Grace
"I find this book to be very helpful for couples who really want to get it right as it relates to parenting from a biblical perspective with the right heart attitude. Rob has a unique way of doing exegesis and exposition so that it connects to the heart of individuals and the issues that need to be addressed. The stories and illustrations are heartfelt and very insightful. This book will help a lot of families."
Nicolas Ellen, Senior Professor of Biblical Counseling, the College of Biblical Studies; senior pastor, Community of Faith Bible Church
"What a book! Rob and Stephanie engagingly apply God's Word to the minute details of pregnancy, labor and delivery, raising babies, marital adjustments, and more. My wife, Lauren, and I commend it as a gospel-driven, hope-giving, refreshingly transparent (we loved their humble admissions of failure), and surprisingly practical biblical guide for every expectant or new parent and all of us who love them (and are looking for gift ideas)."
Robert D. Jones, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; author of Pursuing Peace and Uprooting Anger
"I would have loved to read this book with my wife prior to the birth of our first child. It's full of practical and wise advice from a godly couple."
Andy Naselli, Associate Professor of New Testament and Theology, Bethlehem College & Seminary; elder, Bethlehem Baptist Church
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One of the most exciting pieces of news I love to hear about or read is when friends or family announce they are expecting. To see these couples become parents brings joy to my heart. That is why I delight in equipping these expectant parents with resources to guide them as they enter parenthood. However, the challenge has been to find a resource that is robustly biblical, immensely practical, and written with both the father and mother in mind. Thanks to Rob and Stephanie Green that challenge has been met in Tying Their Shoes: A Christ-Centered Approach to Preparing for Parenting. Preparing for and Parenting a Child Written, in some ways, as a follow-up to Rob Green’s premarital guide, Tying the Knot, Rob and Stephanie Green counsel expectant parents on raising children in the way of the Lord, particularly from preparing for the baby’s arrival through toddler age. As parents of children who have seen the likes of middle school, high school, and young adulthood, the Greens want parents to know their identity must be rooted in Christ, not in their parenting (chapter 1). This starts even before the baby’s birth as husbands and wives follow the biblical command to prioritize their marriage before all other human relationships (chapter 2) and are called to remember biblical truths during the labor and delivery phase (chapter 3). As the baby is born, parents must adjust to this new lifestyle as they prepare to go home and steward their sleep, money, and heart as they are entrusted with the gift of a child (chapters 4-8). With the child at home, the final section of the book takes a look at dad’s involvement in parenting (chapter 9), the desire for rest and “me time” (chapter 10), sexual intimacy as a new parent (chapter 11), and matters of teaching and discipline (chapter 12). The book concludes with a final chapter on parents casting their cares on God (chapter 13). A Tool Every New Parent Needs Tying Their Shoes by Rob and Stephanie Green is a tool every parent needs in their toolbox. The book is both robustly biblical and immensely practical, laying Scripture as the foundation for the goal and life of parenting and providing practical steps such as equipment to purchase for a nursery room and counsel on nursing. The exercises at the end of each chapter drive this point of a practical guide home too. The personal stories the Green family shares will resonate with new and seasoned parents. Many of the chapter’s opening paragraphs summarize previous ones, making the book clear in its presentation and helpful in the reader retaining its content. The book also does a considerable job to include sections on caring for children with special needs (chapter 2), dealing with children who have disabilities (chapter 8), and sharing an important word on abuse (chapter 12). Yet, what may be one of the most helpful features of Tying Their Shoes is the thought it gives toward community. In a similar vein to Tying the Knot, Tying Their Shoes reminds parents they do not have to go at this alone. They have the Lord to cast their cares on and He has provided them with church community to come alongside them. Chapter 4 briefly mentions this on having appropriate help but the first appendix at the end of the book “For Mentors” is a great example of having more seasoned parents come alongside to disciple and encourage new parents in this exciting season of life. For those who may come across this resource but have yet to surrender their lives to the lordship of Christ, the Greens has provided a second appendix entitled “Need for Jesus”. While one could wonder why chapter 2 “Help Your New Baby by Prioritizing Your Marriage” and chapter 6 “Work Together—Not Against—Each Other” are not side-by-side since they seem to contain the same theme, Tying Their Shoes is sure to be a book new parents will want to keep by their side as they prepare and parent. I know the next time I hear of someone who is expecting their first child, I will be giving them a copy of this book. If you are a seasoned parent who is looking to invest in new parents or a soon-to-be grandparent who is wanting to equip your own kid in their new roles, then you will want to make sure you check out this resource too! I received this book from New Growth Press in exchange for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own and are my honest review of the book.
A scripturally saturated guide for impending parents, covering a mix of theological concepts, principles and practical application in a format that gives insight, wisdom, things to ponder and decisions to make as they approach parenthood. With larger topics that cover your true identity in Christ, prioritising your marriage, as well as the goals and blessings of parenting, there is much for couples to ponder. There are also more practical considerations, such as how to approach birth, the equipment you might actually need, and how dads can ensure they are involved. Recommended reading for Christian couples who want solid, biblical input and wisdom as they prepare for parenthood.
I loved the personal and conversational tone that Rob and Stephanie took, it felt like I was chatting with some old friends about preparing for a child. I felt like the book had a lot of prayer and love written into it. I definitely feel like it's the perfect gift to give an expectant family, either welcoming a child via adoption or pregnancy.