Seasons of a Mother's HeartMentoring. It’s a word that is being used more often of late. There are business mentors, educational mentors, work mentors, etc. And to be honest, it’s a word that always carries risk. There is a risk that comes with trusting another individual to teach and train you in all they know. There is also a risk in opening yourself up to someone, being completely honest with your shortcomings and struggles and trusting to follow someone else’s lead. Of course, when the relationship is a success, it’s a wonderful opportunity for the one being mentored to grow and for the mentor to pass on their wisdom.

That’s the kind of positive energy (for lack of a better word) that comes through in Sally Clarkson’s book, Seasons of a Mother’s Heart, 2nd edition. Her struggles are transparent, her wisdom obvious, and her ability to put the reader at ease engaging. Seasons of a Mother’s Heart is a collection of essays on the journey of homeschooling. It is not a how-to book or a list of dos and don’t. It is simply one mother sharing the spiritual lessons she has learned with other moms.

But like all good Christian mentors, Clarkson never makes you feel judged or condemned, and she always points to Jesus. Each time you pick up and set down Season of a Mother’s Heart, you feel a desire to keep going, to do better, to continue fighting the good fight, not with the expectation of perfection, but instead with the expectation that as you go as far as you can with your children in the natural, God will take them the rest of the way.

Clarkson is open and honest about her struggles. She has faced outrage from critics and well-meaning, but misplaced, advice from friends. But more than anything, she honestly shares the struggles she has faced with her children. She doesn’t infer that her children are perfect, a comfort to the rest of us who have normal—and yes imperfect—munchkins in our midst. But like any good mother, Clarkson’s unconditional love for her children is obvious. This just shows, once again, that Clarkson is real, in the best sense of the word.

Seasons of a Mother’s Heart is a fun, encouraging read. Because of its format, readers can pick it up and set it down without losing momentum or interest. For the new homeschooling parent, it’s a great introduction into the everyday life of homeschooling and a great introduction to Clarkson’s other books, like Educating the Wholehearted Child Revised & Expanded.