Blog Tour/Book Review: Rattled by Trish Berg

BLAST OUT Blog Tour for Trish Berg’s Latest Release<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rattled-Surviving-Babys-Without-Losing/dp/1590529138/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201736518&sr=8-1">Rattled Surviving Your Baby’™s First Year without Losing Your Cool! </a>

Can you change a diaper faster than a rodeo cowboy ropes a calf? Need more sleep,

more laughter, and ten minutes in the bathroom alone?

You must be a mom! Don"t let the clutter, chaos, exhaustion and Cheerio-dust get you Rattled.

With practical advice and scriptural reminders, author <a href="http://www.trishberg.com/">Trish Berg </a>can help you not only survive the chaos and clutter of motherhood, but get back to the simple joy of being a mom. I am excited to welcome <a href="http://www.trishberg.com/">Trish Berg</a>, joining us today to talk about her new mom book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rattled-Surviving-Babys-Without-Losing/dp/1590529138/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201736518&sr=8-1">Rattled, Surviving Your Baby’s First Year without Losing Your Cool!</a>

<a href="http://www.trishberg.com/">Trish</a> is a national speaker for <a href="http://www.hearts-at-home.org/">Hearts at Home</a>, author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Great-American-Supper-Swap-Dinnertime/dp/0781443881/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201736439&sr=8-2">The Great American </a><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_aEzXyJ2PIBg/R6FKIbFCH4I/AAAAAAAAAY0/HpiuwPu9Bwc/s1600-h/trishbergphoto.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5161488156511575938" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_aEzXyJ2PIBg/R6FKIbFCH4I/AAAAAAAAAY0/HpiuwPu9Bwc/s400/trishbergphoto.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Great-American-Supper-Swap-Dinnertime/dp/0781443881/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201736439&sr=8-2">Supper Swap</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rattled-Surviving-Babys-Without-Losing/dp/1590529138/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201736518&sr=8-1">Rattled.</a> She has been published in Today’s Christian Woman, MOMSense, CBN.com, P31 WOMAN, and numerous regional and national publications. <a href="http://www.trishberg.com/">Trish</a> earned her MBA before leaving the workforce for motherhood, then earned her Doctorate in Diaper Changing in Ohio where she and her husband, Mike, keep busy raising their four children on their family cattle farm. <a href="http://www.trishberg.com/">Trish</a>, welcome. Thanks for taking time to be with us today.

Thanks for having me. So why is it so easy for moms to get rattled during their baby’s first year?

Motherhood is simply draining and exhausting. Hands down the toughest job I have ever had.

But moms are not alone, and I want moms to know that God walks with them through these exhausting years.

What stresses moms out the most?

I think moms put a lot of pressure on themselves to do it all by themselves, and to do it all the right way. They need to simplify, let go of many details, and ask for help, from their husbands, and from neighbors and friends.

<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rattled-Surviving-Babys-Without-Losing/dp/1590529138/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201736518&sr=8-1">Rattled</a> actually begins by looking at the months of pregnancy. How can moms use this time to prepare to survive baby’s first year?

Nine months is not nearly enough time to fully prepare for motherhood. I am not sure there is enough time to fully prepare.

I remember when our first child, Hannah, was born, I felt that my world had been turned upside down. Hannah did not like to sleep, and so we spent many nights walking the floor, bouncing her up and down, trying desperately to settle her down. My husband, Mike, and I took turns walking laps around the house, like the Indy 500 with a lot more bouncing.

I am not sure I could have prepared for that. But during your pregnancy, you can prepare in other ways. Like arranging for help. Ask your mom or mother-in-law if they can spend one day with you each week during the first few months. Just knowing someone is coming in the morning to help with the baby can make the being up all night not seem so terrible.You talk about surviving motherhood. How do you help moms do that?In <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rattled-Surviving-Babys-Without-Losing/dp/1590529138/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201736518&sr=8-1">Rattled</a>, I talk about a mom’s survival kit. If you were thrown out into the wilderness, you would need FOOD, SHELTER, FIRE and WATER to survive.Well, moms have been thrown out into the wilderness of motherhood, and to survive, they will need: Water from the word (2 Samuel 22:3a) To be in God’s Word. A fire like desire for prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:17) Moms can pray their way through their day.Nourishment body, mind and spirit (1 Corinthians 13:13) Love on all levels nourishes us.Shelter from life’s storms (Proverbs 17:17)-Friends to lean on, trust, and support us.In <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rattled-Surviving-Babys-Without-Losing/dp/1590529138/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201736518&sr=8-1">Rattled</a>, I spend some time talking about how moms can use that survival kit to get back to the joy of mothering. You spent a lot of time listening to what other mothers had to say. Share with us your best advice for new moms.I would tell moms to relax. No one does it right all the time. Let the laundry pile up. Leave the dishes in the sink, and just enjoy holding your baby today. Don’t worry about doing it right, just enjoy the moments you have.That is sound advice…But what about dads? Give us a few tips into what dad is going through during the first year.Dads are just as insecure as moms are about parenthood. Even more so in many cases. Moms do much of the baby feeding, diaper changing, and baby care. So dads can sometimes feel left out, and incapable of caring for their own baby.One thing moms can do is encourage dad to be involved. But in doing so, moms must let go of their way of doing things, and let dad discover his own way.For example. When Hannah was a baby, every time Mike would change her diaper, I would criticize the way he changed it. I tried to teach him how to put his fingers under the leg elastic and make sure it wasn’t bunched up, preventing a future leak.But every time I criticized him, he stepped back and became less involved. And you know what? Even when I did the diapers the right way they still sometimes leaked.So I had to learn to let Mike change her diaper his own way. I let him put her to bed his way, bathe her his way, and be the dad God wanted him to be.That can be difficult for moms who can tend to be slight control freaks when it comes to baby care.But let me just encourage you that the help you will get from dad if you can let go of those details will bless you in more ways than you can imagine!In <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rattled-Surviving-Babys-Without-Losing/dp/1590529138/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201736518&sr=8-1">Rattled</a> you’re very open about the loss of your own pregnancy in 2002. How has that loss changed your outlook on motherhood? I in the 2nd trimester of my fourth pregnancy when I went in for a regular check up. I was not having any problems at all, and went in alone.My OB/GYN performed an ultrasound just to check for twins, and suddenly my world turned upside down when he could not find a heart beat.I was completely devastated. Mike and I had two weeks of further testing before we had assurance that our baby had died. And through it all, I prayed for a miracle, my miracle, that my baby would be alive again.But in the end, God’s miracle was not that my baby survived. God’s miracle was the reassurance that He used me as a vessel to bring a tiny soul to Heaven.A year later, I lost another child to miscarriage.Today, I have a greater sense of love and appreciation for my four children here on earth whom I hug with my arms, and a closer tie to Heaven where my two babies are waiting for me, whom I can only hug with my heart for now.Today you’re the mom of 4 happy and healthy children. What do you see as the greatest blessing about being a mom?I would say learning patience, but my husband would laugh out loud at that since I am probably one of the most impatient people there is.

So I guess I would have to say enjoying the journey. I live Psalm 118:24 every day of my life.

"This is the day that the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it."

Life is messy. Things break. Kids get sick. But moms need to remember to enjoy the journey no matter where the journey leads.

Today at the Berg house, our washing machine is broken. Our mini van needs new tires. We are hanging onto Mike’s 1986 Jeep on a wing and a prayer, hoping it makes it another year or so.

There is mud on my kitchen floor, crumbs on my carpet, and I can honestly say that I love my life. Just as it is.

Now, I certainly have moments where I get stressed and discouraged, and can even lose my temper (just ask my kids), but I am also learning to enjoy each moment of every day as a gift from God.

And thorough it all, my simple hope and prayer is that I can be the mom that God wants me to be.

Where can readers learn more about you, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rattled-Surviving-Babys-Without-Losing/dp/1590529138/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201736518&sr=8-1">Rattled,</a> your other books, and your ministry to moms?

My website at <a href="http://www.trishberg.com/">www.TrishBerg.com</a> offers tons of FREE resources, links and downloads for moms, as well as more information on my books and ministry.

Moms can also purchase their own copy of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rattled-Surviving-Babys-Without-Losing/dp/1590529138/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201736518&sr=8-1">Rattled</a> by clicking <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rattled-Surviving-Babys-Without-Losing/dp/1590529138/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201736518&sr=8-1">here.</a>

And I will be speaking at all 3 Hearts at Home Conferences in 2008, I would LOVE for you to join me there. The National conference is in March in Illinois, and in the fall there is a conference in Michigan and Minnesota. You can get more information and register at <a href="http://www.hearts-at-home.org/">http://www.hearts-at-home.org/</a>

Thanks, Trish, for joining us today. What a joy to meet you and learn more about your new mom book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rattled-Surviving-Babys-Without-Losing/dp/1590529138/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201736518&sr=8-1">Rattled</a>.

Thanks for having me. Blessings to you.

You can catch up with Trish all week long on her BLAST OUT BLOG TOUR by going to the following sites. There will be FREE book prizes, and great moms to connect with at each blog.

BLAST OUT BLOG TOUR for RATTLED

1/31/08

<a href="http://karenrobbins.blogspot.com/">http://karenrobbins.blogspot.com/</a>

2/11/08

<a href="http://stainedglasspickup.blogspot.com/">http://stainedglasspickup.blogspot.com/</a>

<a href="http://mommymonk.blogspot.com/">http://mommymonk.blogspot.com/</a>

<a href="http://www.5minutesformom.com/">http://www.5minutesformom.com</a>

<a href="http://pursuingsimplicity.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://pursuingsimplicity.blogspot.com</a>

<a href="http://www.jaxcreations.blogspot.com/">www.jaxcreations.blogspot.com</a>

2/12/08

<a href="http://www.survivingthechaos.blogspot.com/">www.survivingthechaos.blogspot.com</a>

<a href="http://www.tinaannforkner.blogspot.com/">www.tinaannforkner.blogspot.com</a>

<a href="http://www.myspace.com/mommyszablewski">http://www.myspace.com/mommyszablewski </a>

<a href="http://www.xanga.com/mommyeaton">www.xanga.com/mommyeaton</a>

<a href="http://www.coldnoodlesforbreakfast.blogspot.com/">www.Coldnoodlesforbreakfast.blogspot.com</a>

2/13/08

<a href="http://godusesbrokenvessels.blogspot.com/">http://godusesbrokenvessels.blogspot.com</a>

<a href="http://triciagoyer.blogspot.com/">http://triciagoyer.blogspot.com</a>

<a href="http://genxparents.blogspot.com/">http://genxparents.blogspot.com</a>

<a href="http://sprightly-amyanne.blogspot.com/">http://sprightly-amyanne.blogspot.com</a>

2/14/08

<a href="http://spaghettipie.wordpress.com/">http://spaghettipie.wordpress.com</a>

2/15/08

<a href="http://www.keriwyattkent.blogspot.com/">www.keriwyattkent.blogspot.com</a>

<a href="http://ramblinroadstoeverywhere.blogspot.com/">http://ramblinroadstoeverywhere.blogspot.com </a>

<a href="http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/cappuccinosmom">http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/cappuccinosmom</a>

<a href="http://www.mommycomelately.blogspot.com/">www.mommycomelately.blogspot.com</a>

<a href="http://www.cornhuskeracademy.blogspot.com/">http://www.cornhuskeracademy.blogspot.com</a>

<a href="http://www.karenehman.com/">www.karenehman.com</a>

2/16/08

<a href="http://zyphe.blogspot.com/">http://zyphe.blogspot.com/</a>

<a href="http://carasmusings.blogspot.com/">http://carasmusings.blogspot.com </a>

<a href="http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/martha">http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/martha</a>

2/17/08

<a href="http://www.marybethwhalen.com/" target="_blank">www.marybethwhalen.com </a>

<a href="http://www.bookjunkieconfessions.blogspot.com/">www.bookjunkieconfessions.blogspot.com</a>

2/18/08

<a href="http://www.terragarden.blogspot.com/">http://www.terragarden.blogspot.com</a>

My Review:
I enjoyed reading this sometimes humorous approach to parenting the first year! I thought it was great how she brought out the fact that all babies are different. They have different personalities and will like different things. Just because your first baby hated the swing does not mean your second baby will not live in it! It is a great small handbook that would be great to give at baby showers!
Everyone has different views on childrearing, infant sleep, breastfeeding, and other things and even though I parented very different than her, I found her approach very informative and helpful. The encouragement to step out when you do not feel like it and find a mom’s group is very helpful advice. It feels so good when you finally admit to another mom that you had a bad day and ate cereal for dinner and the mom next to you says "I did that yesterday!!".
She has great tips on exercise and the attitude towards exercise. Exercise should not be to get "your body back" as you are a mom now and may never have the same body, but to be healthy, to feel good and be around to raise your children!!
To sum it up, this is one of the sweetest, non-condemning mothering the first year books I have read! You will enjoy it and laugh along with Trish as she recounts her early mothering of each of her four children. There is small study questions at the end of the chapter which are really nice as well!

What was hardest about your first year of mothering? Was it the lack of sleep? Breastfeeding? Losing your body? Nothing? Any funny stories to tell? Please leave me a comment answering this question and I will enter you to win your very own copy! Even if you are on your third or seventh baby or whatever, you will enjoy this book, so enter away!!!

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Cindi 16 Feb 2008 Reply
Hello, What a fabulous author interview and great insight into her book! My first son gave me a lot of grief with breast feeding. I did it for him as long as possible, but it really unnerved me. Thanks,Cindi
Lilyofthevalley4 16 Feb 2008 Reply
One thing I learned is to listen to you and your baby and not to what everyone else tells you to do! :)
Anonymous 17 Feb 2008 Reply
I would love to win a copy of this book, thanks!
stampedwithgrace at cox dot net
Moriah 17 Feb 2008 Reply
The hardest thing for me the first year being a mom that everything, my body, my time etc didn't belong to me anymore. My body was taken over by this little baby. Nursing, lack of sleep, getting peed on, spit up on etc., not having a moment to myself. I remember saying "I can't even go to the bathroom alone". But now, I think about it and I know someday, my children will be self-sufficient and not need me so much. And I will cherish that time when they were babies.
pbrfans1 17 Feb 2008 Reply
The hardest part for me was lack of sleep. Dayton didn't sleep longer than 3 hours without nursing until he was 9 months old. And then he didn't nap very well either! It was definitely all worth it though! Edited by pbrfans1 on Feb. 17, 2008 at 3:06 PM
loefflermom 17 Feb 2008 Reply
My sister keeps wanting me to come out for a hearts at home conference. Not sure when I'll make it back to Illinois. It's definitely not in the budget right now.
Shari
loefflermom 17 Feb 2008 Reply
Trish talked about speaking at the Hearts at Home Conference in Illinois. That is where my comment is coming from.
Shari
counterculturalmom 17 Feb 2008 Reply
The hardest thing for me the first year was that I took everything so seriously and felt like I didn't have a clue what I was doing! I've learned to lighten up and enjoy those baby days with my subsequent children!
Molly
http://www.counterculturalmom.blogspot.com

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