Before Your Baby Comes

Parents' Thoughts on Motherhood

By William and Patricia Coleman
Bethany House Publishers, $11.99

ISBN 1-55661-564-7

Growing Up in the Lord

Review by Kay Cornelius

Many well-meaning books of advice for parents-to-be are written by specialists whose advice is often a bit intimidating and can even be overwhelming. However, the best source of information on any subject always comes from those who have direct knowledge of it. Having had first-hand experience as both parents and grandparents, William and Patricia Coleman have written Before Your Baby Comes: Parents' Thoughts on Motherhood as if they were passing their knowledge on to their own daughter as she awaits the birth of her first child.

The 52 readings are not presented as a manual of instructions to be followed to the letter, but they do provide practical information on a variety of topics, from morning sickness to baby sitters to "the oxygen mask principle"--the necessity for parents to care for their own needs so they will be better able to care for their baby's.

Throughout the book, the inclusion of the spiritual element in the parents' and baby's lives is emphasized. "Don't be surprised when anxious moments come along," the Colemans say. It's all part of growing up with the Lord. "Some days you might feel inadequate for the job. That's why we turn it over to Him. We do what we can. God adds His part, and we are grateful every day for the way things turn out."

Before Your Baby Comes: Parents' Thoughts on Motherhood is a thoughtful gift for any expectant mother, and would be especially suitable for prospective grandparents to give a mother-to-be, especially if they can't be there in person. Although the color of the ink and its small print make this book a little hard to read, this is a volume to be enjoyed now and even saved to hand down to the next generation.

Kay Cornelius is an author and freelance writer from Huntsville, AL.

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