Check It Out: Interview with author Mary E. DeMuth

I extend a special invite to you this week as this blog is one of the many stops for author Mary E. De Muth's blog tour. Her book, Authentic Parenting in a Postmodern Culture is available and it blew me away. LEAVE A COMMENT THIS WEEK ON TODAY's POST and YOU ARE ELIGIBLE TO WIN A COPY OF HER BOOK! I'll draw one name Friday and announce it here. Check back this week to read more about this book!

I have been reading Mary's blog this year and I'm challenged, encouraged, refreshed and inspired by her writing and experiences in all areas of her life. Authentic is one word that I absolutely think who Mary is and what she does in her writing. I'm a better parent, person and writer from reading her work, even though I know those came at a hard cost for her in the experience department. Check out her blog (where authographed copies are available for purchase) at http://relevantblog.blogspot.com/.

I'll post more this week but for now, enjoy getting to know her and Authentic Parenting in a Postmodern World better by reading on! Remember, leave a comment on today's post and I'll draw one name Friday to win a copy of the book!


Why did you write this book? Aren’t there already a bazillion parenting books out there?



Yes, I do believe there are a bazillion. I struggle when I write a parenting book because I feel darned small and weak. I'm not a perfect parent. But, we did live through two and half years in France, the hotbed of hyper-postmodernity. It occurred to me that the things we learned would be helpful to American parents too.



What does postmodern mean? And why should it matter to parents?



Postmodernism is the waiting room between what used to be a modern worldview and what will be. According to several postmodern scholars, we’re in a shift right now, leaving modern ideas behind, but what we are shifting to is not yet fully defined. Postmoderns believe that rationalism and/or more education doesn’t necessarily create a better society. They typically don’t embrace the notion of absolute truth. They are skeptical, and often question whether science is something to be embraced or feared. The question for parents is how will we mine the current worldview, even as it shifts? What in it can we embrace as biblical? What is not biblical? We tend to cling to modern ideas, even though they may not be biblical and shun postmodern ideas even when they might be biblical. Our children will meet this shifting worldview no matter what our opinion of it is.



How can a parent help their children prepare for the world outside their door?



Become a conversational parent. Talk to your kids. Listen. Share your story.Dare to believe that God has much to teach you through your kids. Be humble enough to learn from them.Create a haven for your kids, an oasis in your home that protects, supports, and gives kids space to be themselves. Take seriously the mandate that you are responsible for the soul-nurturing of your children.Teach your children to joyfully engage their world, while holding tightly to Jesus’ hand. Teaching this comes primarily from modeling it in your own life. Do you engage your neighbors? Are you more interested in God’s kingdom than your own? Admit your failures openly with your children, showing how much you need Jesus to live your daily life.

Thanks Mary for letting this blog be one of your stops this week, it was a pleasure to get to know you and the premise behind Authentic Parenting in a Postmodern Culture better.

Readers, check out the other bloggers hosting Mary De Muth this week on her blog tour! Their blogs are listed on the right hand side of this blog for a quick link.