Five-Star Families: Moving Yours from Good to Great

by Carol Kuykendall

Book Overview

Five-Star Families looks at the five important qualities that matter most in a family (loving, fun, loyal, growing, and faith-filled) and gives readers different ways to express and experience each. MOPS author Carol Kuykendall helps moms determine what kind of family they want by looking back at the family they had growing up, looking around at the family they have now, and looking forward to the family they want to have in the future. With real-life...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 080078765X
• ISBN13: 9780800787653
• Release Date: January 2007
• Publisher: Baker Publishing
• Length: 214 Pages
• Weight: 0.33 lbs.

Customer Reviews

A handbook for parents full of personal anecdotes, fanciful stories, and good common sense advice

Carol Kuykendall --- author, speaker, and strategic projects director for MOPS International (Mothers of Preschoolers) --- has compiled what she considers the five-star winning components of a successful family. According to this mom of three grown children, the five key elements of a great family begin with love -- expressions that inspire and comfort; fun -- activities that recharge a family's batteries; loyalty -- lessons on sticking with family through it all; growth -- embracing new challenges and seeing the value of stretching; and faith -- holding close a relationship with Christ that shines vividly and practically into the lives of others. With many personal anecdotes, fanciful stories, and good common sense advice, Kuykendall does a marvelous job presenting a handbook for parents that is easy on both the eyes and the heart. The author's two-part text deals with family matters that focus on the beginnings of new family life when a young couple first discovers they're pregnant. Some of the practical points offered in this section include deciding who to invite to the actual delivery, naming the baby by taking into account potential teasing/taunting as a result of this all-important choice, hashing out basic parenting decisions regarding naps/nursing/discipline, dealing with those unmet expectations that crop up almost immediately after giving birth, and learning to fit into the extended family with the newest member without stepping on other siblings' toes or feelings. Kuykendall then delves into dreaming for a bit. Just what kind of family does the new couple want to be? The author discusses the value of looking back in order to glean the best of past childhoods while wisely leaving not-so healthy patterns behind where they belong. She also details the importance of taking a realistic look at where a family is today, accepting where people are, because this is the point from which everyone can move ahead. Finally, a brief segment on looking ahead with hopeful, faith-inspired enthusiasm closes out this foundational topic. To complete part one, Kuykendall does a lovely job presenting the "gifts" children bring to a family. Clearly, children are gifts from God, but with them come powerful life lessons on perspective. Consider the gift of "do-overs," in which parents can relive the innocence and wonder of childhood discovery through their children's eyes. This important truth reminds parents that God is the giver of second chances. Kuykendall also cites the gifts of humility as children "reveal us to ourselves" as imperfect parents. Children also model sincerity of a simple, uncomplicated faith. Once this solid foundation is set, Kuykendall spends a generous amount of space re-defining her five-star qualities, each with its own separate chapter (Love, Fun, Loyalty, Growth, Faith). Every chapter opens with a lengthy discussion that includes biblical principles and selected bible verses, personal insights from the author's own family life,

FIVE-STAR READING FOR MOMS IN SMALL GROUPS

When it comes to raising a great family, it helps to find a mentor who's walked in your shoes. In her newest book, Five-Star Families, Carol Kuykendall offers you a blueprint for bringing up kids in a culture bent on tearing families apart. She shares how parents' positive influence can create a generation that will twinkle like stars in the universe. What is a five-star family? Kuykendall lives out her theory that what matters most are five qualities: love, fun, loyalty, growth, and faith. She invites readers to explore each topic with her, using personal examples from her own family and a host of others. As the mom of three adult children and a new grandmom, Kuykendall has seen the process of family-making come full circle. Her easy-to-read style fits right into the hectic pace of busy parents. She writes, "The process of becoming a five-star family happens in the midst of maneuvering our way through the bumps in our lives." She shows how investing in relationships and taking deliberate steps to create memories will build a resilient family that will bond through thick and thin. The book is perfect for small groups. Each chapter ends with questions that serve as creative springboards for discussion. As a director and mentor mom for MOPS (Moms of Preschoolers), Kuykendall is in a unique position to impact thousands of homes. Her book is pure delight to read, always pointing to God as the true creator and builder of families that shine. - Heather Lynn Ivester, Christian Book Previews.com

I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!!

Wow!!! This is a ton of great information from a 'been there, done that' Mom and Grandma. The author shares wisdom, humor and stories all wrapped in grace... (I loved that I could read it and be inspired to be better, encouraged for the great things I AM doing, but not feel guilty about all the stuff I'm NOT doing.) This is a celebration of the family. I think I might make it my new standard baby shower gift!!!