Posted in Book Reviews

Jenn Doucette is the author of The Velveteen Mommy that I reviewed some time ago and now she has a new book out called Mama Said There'd Be Days Like This.  She has a ministry called DAISY Ministries.  She has a very delightful and honest writing style that I love.  With the release of her new book she is having a Blog Book Tour.  For your enjoyment she was willing to answer a few questions for us.  I know you will love her as much as I do.  She is a real mom and a real treat!!!  This book's release was so perfectly timed wiht my recent hiatus.  If you are overwhelmed this book is a real breath of fresh air. 

Here is an interview that I did with her...  I asked the questions and she shared with us gladly.  

Can you tell us a bit about yourself?  ...as a Child of God ...as a wife, ...as a mother, ... as a woman etc... 

I grew up in a home with two younger sisters, and I guess being an oldest child defines a lot about me; I’m bossy, opinionated, take charge, type A, and very much a control freak; I also like being the rescuer, the one who saves everyone, the hero. But God showed me when I was a little girl that I can’t be the one to save everyone, that only He can. Unfortunately I’ve had to learn this lesson more than once. Although I’ve known Jesus since I was five years old, I’m still learning how very little I know about Him – not because I’m not walking with Him, but because He’s so Big. As I look back on my life, I can see His influence and presence in everything of significance. He’s been with me through trials and celebrations. He brought my husband and me together and blessed us with three wonderful children. He’s reached out to me when I’ve called out to Him and when I haven’t. Most importantly, he loves me even though I’m bossy, opinionated and type A. That alone brings me to His throne, to sit at His feet, and to learn from the One who is able to save everyone.    
 

Who is one person, besides Christ, that has made a huge difference in your life and shaped who you have become? 

Definitely my mom. She always encouraged my obsession with reading; she took my sisters and me to the library and bookmobile religiously when we were little girls. And when I was in first grade, she saved up all her babysitting money to buy me a set of Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew books, hoping they’d keep me occupied for awhile. I remember how annoyed she was with me when I read them all in about a month! It wasn’t until years later that I realized what a sacrifice it was for her to buy those for me. But that’s what she does best: sacrifice for her family. My mom has always been my biggest cheerleader, my strongest supporter. She’s always been there for me when I need her and I love her for it. I still have those Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books. Someday I’ll pass them along to my kiddos. I just hope they take longer than a month to read them all. 
 

Who are some of your favorite authors in both fiction and nonfiction and why? 

Fiction (my favorite – I’m really a fiction junkie) 

Agatha Christie – excellent murder/mystery stuff . . .I’ve been collecting her books for about twenty five years. I currently have 149 Agatha Christie titles. 

C.S. Lewis – wonderful imagery, symbolism. I read the entire Chronicles of Narnia once a year. 

Jan Karon – I wish I would have written the Mitford series. I fell so in love with her characters, I found myself praying for them occasionally, they seemed so real! 
 

Charles Dickens – He’s still the master storyteller. I love everything he wrote. 

Jane Austen – She’s the original Chick Lit sensation.  

Lisa Samson – She makes me laugh. She makes me cry. She makes me think. 

Elizabeth Peters – Yet another excellent mystery author. 

Francine Rivers – Very poignant writer; she uses beautiful imagery, and symbolism to share Christ’s good news. 

Charlotte Bronte – I’ve read Jane Eyre so many times, I’ve lost count! 

Kristen Billerbeck – She writes wonderful modern Christian chick lit – oye, she makes me laugh! 
 
 
 

Non-fiction  

Erma Bombeck – Erma is just plain fun! 

Barbara Johnson – Barbara writes with integrity and tender, encouraging humor 

Patsy Clairmont – What can I say, I love to laugh! 

Oswald Chambers – This man’s words bring me closer to Jesus every time I read them 

Michael Card – I mostly love his song lyrics, but I also enjoy his books. Michael is a kind of modern-day Oswald for me. 
 

What or who inspired you to start writing? 

Tough question. I’ll answer it in chunks: 

Mrs. Heister, my 2^nd grade teacher who encouraged me to write stories.

Erma Bombeck, who wrote to make mothers laugh.

Chuck MacKnee, my Psychology professor who told me I was a good writer.

My husband, Ben, who encouraged me to follow my dreams.

Chip MacGregor, my agent, who told me I was a saleable writer.

My kids, who said so many cute and hilarious things, I just couldn’t keep them to myself. 
 
 
 

What was the catalyst for this newest book you wrote? 

Something I call The Busy Stage of motherhood, the one that follows the tumultuous toddler stage. The toddler stage is challenging to be sure, but the crazy, hectic, carpooling, after-school activities stage is loaded with its own challenges and pressures.  

Once I entered into the Busy Stage, I took a look at other modern-day mothers and realized that we’ve come a long way, baby; but we’ve also become our own worst enemy. In a lot of aspects, our lives have become much easier than the previous generation – we have technology to thank for most of that. But we’ve also entered into a time when the possibilities for burnout are innumerable. The pressures to coordinate, administrate, decorate, and donate are simply mind-boggling. 

I asked my mom once how she survived The Busy Stage. “We didn’t do as much.” was her simple answer. “We weren’t expected to do everything.” 

Mothers in previous years didn’t lug their offspring to every sporting event, school club, church meeting, and PTO event; they felt the freedom to pick and choose, and to say “no” occasionally.