Jessa Duggar Seewald Says She Isn’t Reading Parenting Books, Looking To Real World Examples Instead
Jessa Duggar Seewald admits that she isn’t reading parenting books to prepare for the arrival of Baby Seewald in the coming weeks. Instead, Jessa says she is looking to real world mothers for advice and encouragement. So who is the Duggar daughter looking up to as a parenting figure? Jessa says one of her biggest mother role models is her close friend Sierra, the woman who helped plan both Jill and Jessa’s weddings.
The Duggar Family Blog recently asked Jessa Duggar Seewald if she has been reading any helpful parenting books. The mom-to-be noted that though she hasn’t been reading many books, she is blessed to be surrounded by so many wonderful women and mothers that she can look to for advice.
“I haven’t been reading a whole lot of parenting books, but I definitely have been studying the matter a whole lot. I feel so blessed to be surrounded by so many wonderful women and mothers, and I often find myself asking questions and taking note of things I respect about the way they parent.”
Jessa says that as she watches other women parent, she takes notes of what she respects about their method of parenting. However, one person stood out in particular to Jessa when discussing her motherhood role models. Jessa says that her close friend Sierra, the woman who also helped plan her wedding, is one person she looks to as a parenting guide. Jessa says that what she respects most about Sierra’s parenting style is that she looks for “teachable moments” when dealing with her children.
“I have noticed in one close friend, Sierra, how she is always looking for teachable moments. She is purposeful in her parenting and is never too busy to stop what she’s doing and take a moment to calmly address a situation. When one of her kids acts up, she doesn’t merely correct the outward action, but she goes directly to the wrong heart attitude.”
The Duggar daughter says that Sierra is purposeful in her parenting and is never “too busy” to take advantage of a teachable moment with her children. Jessa says that Sierra is calm with her children and addresses the “heart” issue at play instead of just the behavior. Therefore, it seems that Jessa Seewald plans to take a similar approach to parenting when Baby Seewald makes his or her entrance in the coming weeks.
So what exactly would Sierra’s parenting look like in a misbehaving situation?
“Instead of just saying, ‘Give that toy back to your sister!’ she addresses the inward attitude of an unkind and selfish heart. She calls the misbehaving child aside, and they have a little heart-to-heart talk right then and there.”
In another series of questions, Jessa discussed the type of character she hoped that Baby Seewald would inherit from father Ben Seewald. When asked what “one trait” Jessa hoped that Baby Seewald would inherit from Ben, Jessa noted that Ben’s compassionate heart was her top choice. Jessa says that Ben’s heart aches when other people are in pain or hurting and that she hopes Baby Seewald has the same compassionate nature.
What do you think about Jessa Duggar Seewald’s choice to forgo parenting books and go straight to another mother for advice? Should more women skip the books and look for a real world role model?
[Image Credit: Instagram]
