Sally Clarkson?

Hi There! Well, I have to admit that I haven’t read a great deal of Sally’s Clarkson’s material- I just don’t love her writing style. I have actually met her and attended a Wholehearted Mom’s conference, and I can tell you that she appears to me to be a very experienced, loving, grace-filled person. She doesn’t give off the attitude of wanting everyone to conform to her standards at all.

Now, admittedly, if you are able to attend her conference, you are probably in a certain income bracket and perhaps the assumption is that her readers/attendees can afford some of the nicer things in life. But I have heard her talk about her early years as a mom and how they struggled financially. I think her desire is to see mom’s create an atmosphere of love and learning in their homes and for their families. I can’t speak for everyone, but I think for most moms, that is something we aspire to do – to create some beauty and comfort in our little ‘nests’.  But that might look completely different for you and your family.

This kind of reminds me of when I was first looking into the CM method, and there was this huge emphasis on ‘afternoon tea’. Now don’t get me wrong, tea-time is great and all, but with 5 kids under 10 years old, it just wasn’t going to happen around our house every day! And after a while, I had to admit that it was mostly because it wasn’t important to me. It wasn’t a part of my culture, my identity. So I just let it go and stopped feeling guilty about it – my family didn’t need ‘tea-time’ to be a happy, complete family. It’s about your family and what brings you nurture, comfort, and joy.

I can’t speak to the Scriptural differences you are referring to since I haven’t read her books. But I would say, perhaps there is someone starting the club with you who you could hash out those problems with? It may be that they see what she is saying a little differently or could offer a different perspective.

No matter what the author, advice-giver, etc. I would say continue to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in your home and habits. He is the only one who knows what your family really needs and can speak to you about what he wants for you.

I listen to her Podcast, read her blog, and attend a MomHeart group and am encouraged by her words. I did not grow up with parents that taught me about how to be a mom, homemaker, or especially a homeschool teacher so I enjoy her ministry because she teaches me about those things. My MomHeart leader is in many ways my mentor but she is totally not into the candle, tea, and chocolate thing. She and Sally are good friends and they just laugh at how different they are on those types of things. We all do something different with the “puzzle” God has given us with our families and kids and I’ve never heard Sally say that her way is the only way. She is just sharing her ideas that worked for her family.

I have seen other moms walk away from her books and conferences saying many of the things you are saying so you are not alone. I’m not sure what to say in response except that I feel as though I’ve listened and read enough about her to know that she truly just wants to encourage moms – her heart is in a good place. I have never found anything to be counter-scriptural in her talks/books.

That’s just my experience with her. I agree with the previous reply that you should just follow the Holy Spirit’s leading. Do what’s right for you and your family.

I have read several of her books, as well as listened to her podcasts. I’ve found her focus on the Scriptures to be sound, and I don’t recall that phrase on grace. I’ll have to be on the look out for it.
I read Ministry of Motherhood, and it inspired me to be much more intentional in dealing with my children.
I’ve listened to her address these very concerns over her “ideals” and basically, her heart is to inspire women to make their homes a refuge for their families, however that works out and however that looks to you and to YOUR family. She simple shares what she and her highly artistic family enjoy doing as inspiration to think big things and beautiful things.
I am definitely NOT an afternoon tea person. It sounds lovely, but seriously, with four boys and a 2 year old girl, I just can’t imagine that being practical for our home.
She inspires me to draw closer to the Lord, to look to the Word for what Jesus’ example would be for my season of parenting. Her focus on studying the life of Christ in order to better understand training her children led me to read through the gospels last year, looking for the heart of Christ for myself. It was a precious time in the Word for me.
I definitely encourage you to go back, to ask questions of the leader of the group, and try listening to some of the podcasts. I think they’ll give you a look into her heart that might be missing from reading excerpts from several books.

Educating the Whole-Hearted Child by Clay and Sally Clarkson is on my list of favorite books.  It is completely falling apart from being paged through so often, but I agree with Michelle about some of her other writings.  I couldn’t finish reading them and at times I found them to lack humility.  Certainly I can rejoice with her at the closeness of her family, the faith of her children, the beauty of her home and how wonderful her husband is, but to read on and on about it is not encouraging to me.

But then, I would rather minister to other women by weeding their garden, tending their children or helping them butcher chickens than to gather around china tea cups and have a heart-to-heart.  Some women are encouraged by her ministry and I can be thankful for that without joining that.

As to your question  ” Does she teach us that Jesus is sufficient in any circumstance? Does she present Jesus as our Hiding Place no matter what our homes look like?”  I believe that is where her heart is and I felt that came through with the Whole-Hearted Child.  However, I certainly feel that it is worth examining some of your concerns with the rest of your group.

I don’t really care for her either, I thought I was alone, LOL. I have many friends that are greatly encouraged and really like her writing style though.

I also struggle with Ann Voskamp though **blush** her style of writing. I keep thinking, hoping someday I will enjoy her style of writing though, my friends share her quotes and blog posts with me often, so I do hold onto her book that I purchased about a year ago.

For me I am a “to the point” person. Laying Down the Rails for Yourself is an example. Encouraged me so much, to the point with thoughts and suggestions. Not overly “flowery” with language style or stories.

I agree with others, if you are not comfortable it would be difficult to be successful in the group. Could you mix in other authors? There might be others that feel how you do and variety of authors might also add to the conversations because different styles, viewpoints.

That is what I struggled with too (what you said, don’t know how to quote)

” I understand encouraging others but, to me, saying something like, “You can do it, God believes in you” is just really bad theology.  And I start feeling like there’s just no way I can measure up to all that she has done.”

It is also why I don’t Pinterest, read too many Blogs or even many books of this style. They often leave me feeling like I can’t ever “measure up” because often it is the “highlights” not “reality”. I do have a very good friend that these same things inspire her, so I think it really depends on personality and season of life as well

I am so glad you posted this.  I first read Seasons of a Mother’s Heart – one of her first books.  I was greatly encouraged by it and it seems very real with ups and downs of life.  I have read it twice.  But when I tried to read Ministry of Motherhood, I felt like a complete failure!  I couldn’t measure up no matter how hard I tried.  I have also read some of her blog posts and been very encouraged, especially to give a little more even though I am tired.  So some of her writing is good, but not all.  And I might still read Teaching the Whole-hearted Child.  I found Loving the Little Years by Rachel Jankovic to be more real life and still encouraging.  I read it three times now.