Vicki Caruana

As a mom of four: 2 grown and in their 20s, and 2 in their teens, I know all about the "joy" of letting go. Yes, I know that we, as parents, are supposed to be working ourselves out of a job, but it still is the hardest thing in the world, at least for me, to do. Yet, it truly is a joy to see the wonderful young people they have become, are becoming.

The Joy of Letting Go is truly a must-read for any parent with teens who are on the verge of embarking on the independent journey into the wide world beyond the shelter of home. You'll find encouragement, and advice, shared in an easy, lighthearted way.… (more)

I have not looked forward to the empty nest at all. Two of my boys are already on their own. I still have one boy at home who will be eighteen in October. It is exciting to here about him looking forward to college, but my heart breaks because then the empty nest starts. One of the hardest things I have had to learn is to let go and trust God. I loved the examples the author gives in the book of how the transition can be made easier . I love the way the devotional is set up with different topics and "thought poke" at the end of each chapter. She includes scriptures and such encouraging words.

I loved when the author talked about milestones. Her story about her son driving long distance would have me on the edge of an anxiety attack. After reading how she handled it, I see that I am hindering my kids' growth by trying to step in and treat them like babies. One of my son's always says, "I'm an adult now." I just laugh knowing that he says that when I start nagging a bit too much. He may be an adult but he will always need his mom and dads support. Another story the author shared was about her kids solving an issue with an airline. I was very impressed by their determination to figure it out on their own. How many times have you stepped in to rescue your child, instead of allowing them to solve the problem themselves?

The author is so right about relationships. "Tread carefully when your sons or daughters enter into relationships. Your opinion has the power to make them run toward or away from their future." It can be a very touchy subject, so I try to be careful what I say. I don't want them to get hurt, but sometimes it will happen. I found the book to be full of wonderful insights and I loved the different stories she shared about her family.

I received a copy of this book from LitFuse. The review is my own opinion.… (more)