TOS Review ~ How to Have a H.E.A.R.T. For Your Kids

As I have told you before Apologia has more than just science books. I am thankful I had the opportunity to review How to Have a H.E.A.R.T. for Your Kids by Rachael Carman thanks to the TOS Crew.  How to Have a H.E.A.R.T. for Your Kids is a great read. I have done a lot of highlighting in this book which is one of the things that indicate a great homeschooling book for me. The more I want to mark it up, highlight, make notes in the margin, the better it is. It's 197 pages cover a lot of topics. God, marriage, kids, and truth are all addressed. Why talk about God and marriage in a book about having a heart for our children??? Because those things affect our kids. Our own relationship with God and how our kids see that is very important. Our marriages definitely affect our kids both in the good things and the bad.  Each of the letters of the word heart stands for something and gets a chapter all their own. Here is the Table of Contents so you can check out all the chapter titles for yourself.

You may be thinking, "I already homeschool my kids so I already have a heart for them." I am sure that is true with many who will be reading my blog. This book is written by a homeschool mom who has spoken at homeschool conventions. This book is great for struggling mom's and for mom's whose heart is already turned toward her kids. No matter how you are doing today this book has ideas and practical actions you can use in your life that will enrich your family. At the end of each chapter she has you do a Heart Checkup. She asks the hard questions and gets you to really take a look at yourself and the things you think, feel and do.

Don't you like to try before you buy, if you can??? I know I do. That is one of the reasons I like going to homeschool conventions. It is hard to judge a book by it's cover... and there is a saying that tells us not to do that. You could take the word of a friend, someone you trust, maybe you trust me enough to take my word for how good this book is. But, though things work for our friends they don't always work the same for us. Thanks to Apologia and the author you can read the whole first chapter of How to Have a H.E.A.R.T. For Your Kids right here... Sample Chapter.


I would really like it if you would go and read that first chapter. Yeah, now. The sample chapter link should open in a new tab. Then come back and read my favorite quotes from the book and the rest of my review.

Now you have an idea of the basis of the book... where the writer is coming from you will know better if it is a book that would be useful to you. I love that last part of the introductory chapter... with all the questions.

Favorite quote number one, Chapter 4 - Release Them to God. First Rachael says that we need to show our children that God is real and that God wants to be real to them. Then on pg. 39 she says:

"... the great I AM will  profoundly affect our every decision, every thought, every dream, every hope, and every pursuit. ... God wants us to experience creation as a profoundly personal expression of His love, of His desire to have a personal relationship with each of us."

The double rainbow we saw a couple weeks ago was one of those moments for me. I could feel God so real in my life at that moment. I need to remember that he is just as close even in the hard times.

From the Epilogue:

"Run the course God marked out for you. The Master of the universe personally laid out your course, providentially taking into account your strengths and weaknesses. He has chosen your path and has promised to provide His light to guide you."

"Perseverance means that we don't give up, we don't sit down, and we don't turn back. Perseverance means that we stay on course despite the doubts, the conflicts, the criticism, the attacks, and the trials, all the way to the finish. Running with perseverance means that we don't give up on Him, remembering that He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world 1 John 4:4). We need to take our Lord at his word. He who began a good work in you will see it through to completion (Philippians 1:6)."

I knew all of this, I just needed to hear it again. Sometimes when life is hard, really hard, it is difficult to apply the things we already know. Not just applying the scripture to others but accepting it for ourselves. The other day I was having a hard time. One of my blogger friends posted in my comments that I should show myself some grace. I find it easier to show grace to others than to allow it for myself. I did not think I needed this book for myself. I was excited to read it to share with my blog readers, but God knew I needed it for me most of all!

This book is written by a homeschool mom for homeschool mom's but dad's need to read it too. I am going to encourage my hubby to read it... or maybe I will read it to him... he likes me to do that. This book is also good for non-homeshcooling mom's (and dad's) as most of the things she talks about are not exclusive to homeschoolers.

To buy this book click on the link - How To Have a H.E.A.R.T. for Your Kids The cost is $13.00 it will be a great addition to your homeschool. This little books packs a lot of punch. I plan to read it at least once a year. It is great as a pick me up during the school year or for personal summer reading to get you pumped for a new year.



Out of five stars I give the How To Have a H.E.A.R.T. for Your Kids:


If reading the chapter for yourself and my review are not enough and you want to read some other opinions check out what my friends at the TOS Homeschool Crew had to say.

***Apologia provided me with How To Have a H.E.A.R.T. for Your Kids and though I received this product for free I have given an honest review of it here in this post.


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