BELONGING AND BECOMING
Creating a Thriving Family Culture
By Mark and Lisa Scandrette
Monarch Books. 240 pages. £9.99
ISBN 978 0 857 218 070
A generation of Christian women who began parenting in the 1970s were much influenced and inspired by the unique and brilliant What is a Family? by Edith Shaeffer, which recognised the significance of whole family ethos on a growing child.
This book, written very much with millennials in mind, has a similar intent, although its style is quite different. Subtitled ‘Creating a Thriving Family Culture’ it explores, chapter by chapter, the various components of that culture: purpose, vision, story, rhythm connection, pointing out how, for modern parents, competing demands reveal unhealthy patterns. It encourages families to work towards a more integrated life and invites readers to be conscious of the script they are working to.
Celebrating the story
It helpfully points out that Christians share a common story and this is something to be articulated, celebrated and lived by within the ordinary routines of humdrum existence – which is of course not humdrum in the light of that story.
The authors are perhaps a little imprecise on the nature of that story (i.e. the gospel) and rather weak on the rebellious human heart and the need for new birth, but there is a helpful recognition that for many children raised in Christian homes there is a gradual growth in understanding. Particularly joyous is the chapter entitled ‘A thriving family celebrates abundance’, which encourages us to raise our children to see themselves as rich and promotes thankfulness and generosity.
Practical suggestions
Some readers may find the style of the book off-putting in places. It borrows the language of the workplace and therapy room, talking about key competencies, task checklists and group learning goals, but it has a great deal in it which is sound and helpful and practical.
Each chapter closes with a substantial section on suggestions for whole family discussions or activities. These may or may not be realistic or appropriate for many families as discussions. But of course that is optional and the reader will nonetheless find the ideas stimulating.
All in all this book makes a worthwhile contribution to the parenting genre, perhaps going some way towards answering Edith Shaeffer’s question for 21st century parents.
