Bless This Mess

A Modern Guide to Faith and Parenting in a Chaotic World

By: Molly Baskette, Ellen O'Donnell PhD

Narrated by: Molly Baskette, Ellen O'Donnell PhD

A witty, compelling guide to raising open-minded and morally grounded kids in these crazy times, with an approach that’s rooted in science, psychology, and faith

“Groundbreaking, profound, frank and friendly.”—Wendy Mogel, PhD, author of The Blessing of a Skinned Knee

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY LIBRARY JOURNAL

When Rev. Molly Baskette and Dr. Ellen O’Donnell first met, they were both new mothers seeking parenting wisdom. They read a lot of books on the topic, but none of them contained practical suggestions that would help their families psychologically and spiritually while maintaining their progressive values: How do we teach the art of forgiving and serving others? How do we raise kids who are tolerant, curious, and honorable? And what about the sex talk?

Taking matters into their own hands, Baskette and O’Donnell began creating actionable steps addressing these questions and more. This book is the fruit of their many conversations begun long ago during the daycare carpool, from angsty moments to hallelujahs.

In Bless This Mess, readers will gain constructive tools as they learn how to talk to their children about social justice, money, God, ethics, bullying, disabilities, sexuality, and their bodies. Parents will also glean insights on how to serve others with joy, give generously and gratefully, and—perhaps most important—learn how to stop being so afraid all the damn time, even while raising kids in an increasingly chaotic and often scary world. With real-life examples, relatable personal stories, and strategies tailored to the toddler, preteen, or teenager, Bless This Mess guides parents of children at all stages of their development.

Critic reviews

“I’ve lost count of the number of parents who ask for resources about raising kids in a more progressive faith, but this one truly stands out among a handful of my faves. . . . This is a very practical book, and it’s helpful not just for parents of young kids but those of us with kids in middle school, high school, and beyond. It talks about social justice, money, God, ethics, bullying, disabilities, sexuality, boundaries, and bodies while also featuring real-life examples and first-person stories. It’s a keeper for me, and I’ll be recommending it often.”—Sarah Bessey, author of Jesus Feminist
and Miracles and Other Reasonable Things

“Groundbreaking, profound, frank, and friendly, Bless This Mess is itself a blessing. While reading it, I laughed out loud and teared up. If you are struggling with how to talk to your child about God, goodness, money, sex, gender, drugs, and death, then Reverend Baskette and Dr. O’Donnell are here to help! They will introduce you to the latest research on child development and best practices in parenting, blended with a spirituality that is both inclusive and particular.”—Wendy Mogel, PhD, author of The Blessing of a Skinned Knee

A blessed offering...

This book was a good read. I have struggled with the practice of Christianity and particularly the ways it has been used to oppress people- myself included- throughout history. However I also appreciated my church and church camp community. They have been my oldest friends and have wanted to provide my children the same spiritual benefit of that kind of relationship, because it’s really different than friends made other places. This book helps bridge the gap between what is “out there” for Christian identified parents and the struggles all parents face in real day to day life. It is not dogmatic and I didn’t feel preached to or lectured. It felt more like an offering of an approach I could try. I appreciated the wisdom and humility.