“Ever wonder how mothers and daughters can be so different and even seemingly speak different languages?” ~ from Mended: Restoring the Hearts of Mothers and Daughters
I was provided a copy of the book ‘Mended’ in exchange for this honest review. All opinions are my own.
My mother passed away when I was 26. She was my lifeline, my mainstay, and my best friend. I talked to her on the phone or saw her several times a day, even though I was a functioning married, working woman living in my own house. It was a strong bond and always had been. The relationship, however, had not always been hearts and flowers.
My Mom and I had struggled tremendously with our relationship in my later teens and early 20s. Though I was a good kid, we butted heads over every person I dated. She was a stronger personality than I, a disciplinarian who spoke her mind, and we butted heads like fighting rams.
But I knew at any moment that I needed her, and whether she loved my choices or not, she would be there. And that’s the foundation of a solid relationship with hope for peace. Fortunately, we had become true best friends and closer than ever in the years before she passed away.
The mother and daughter relationship is an enigma. Complex would call it complex (haha). There are layers and nuances and all sorts of things that make it tough and beautiful all at once, and Mended addresses this.
What’s better yet is that the book is written by mother-daughter writing team daughter Blythe Daniel and mother Dr. Helen McIntosh! So this book is coming straight from the experts since they have a true mother-daughter relationship.
Here’s one of the things Mended offers and it’s so important: “Conversation starters to speak life into your relationship with your mother or daughter.”
Communication can be a big roadblock when trying to mend, restore or just maintain a healthy relationship with our mother or daughter. I have a daughter. She is my firstborn and one of my greatest blessings, the other greatest blessing being my son. She and I more alike than she will admit and that causes us to be frazzled at the same time and sometimes misunderstand each other, but at the same time, we are never out of contact and have a very close relationship. These conversation starters are huge and sort of level the playing field because it’s not my idea or hers, it’s coming from a useful and helpful book.
No matter what age or phase of life you’re in, there is time and the necessity to mend and restore the relationship you have with your mother or daughter. Maybe there’s been a break in your relationship over a divorce, an illness, a marriage, a substance abuse issue, or any type of falling out. But these relationships are so very important and worth the work towards restoration.
You don’t need to be experiencing difficulty in your relationships with your mother or daughter to read Mended. This is a great tool to enhance the good relationships you already have or even prepare you for future relationships.
You can purchase Mended on Amazon. This is a perfect time to read it with Mother’s Day coming up. If your relationship is strained, please don’t let it stay that way. Reach out, read, reconcile, and restore.
More about the authors:
Blythe Daniels is a literary agent and marketer with 20-plus years of experience in publishing. She has written for Christian Retailing and Focus on the Family, and she links bloggers with readers through BlogAbout. The daughter of Dr. Helen McIntosh, she lives in Colorado with her husband and three children.
Dr. Helen McIntosh (EdD, Counseling Psychology) is a counselor, speaker, educator, and author of Messages to Myself and Eric, Jose & The Peace Rug. Her work has appeared in Guideposts, ParentLife, and HomeLife magazines. She resides in Georgia with her husband, Jim. They have two children and five grandchildren.
