Generation Next Parenting and Interview with Tricia Goyer

As a fairly young mom, (hey, thirties are young) I sometimes feel inundated with information, advice, ideas and general busy body opinions of my parenting skills. Just when you think you have something figured out a specialist or expert doctor comes out and tells us we've been doing it wrong. I get frustrated and overwhelmed and I'm sure I'm not the only one.

A few weeks ago I picked up the book Generation Next Parenting to go through. Again, another parenting book. I'll be honest, I was leery to say the least. I didn't have a lot of time to read another non-fiction book on parenting or did I have a lot of interest. (again with the honesty) But because I'm a sucker for trying to improve my mothering skills, I figured I'd at least read through it.

Pleasantly surprised would describe how I felt as I flipped through the pages. Starting with the cover, the book caters to my generation. Tricia Goyer has the uncanny ability to make me want to turn the page. I wanted to see what music, gadget or fad from my youth she might incorporate into a parenting lesson. She made the book fun and easy to get through. Instead of clear cut advice, I came away with more of an understanding of who I am as a parent and what issues are important to me and the way that I'm raising my son.

I loved the little snippets from other real life parents throughout the book. I could relate to so many things they brought up. This book is nothing like the other parenting books you've read and I hope you'll pick up a copy.

After enjoying the book so much I asked the author, Tricia Goyer to stop by for a brief interview.

Tricia tell me a little bit about yourself and your family.


I live in Montana with my husband and three kids that I homeschool. I'm actively involved in our church, where we volunteer in children's church every week. I love spending time with my family and friends.

What's a typical night in the Goyer household?

Right now, during basketball season, I'd say basketball. Both my 17-year-old son and 14-year-old daughter pvarsityisty ball for a homeschool team. Their team travels all over the western part of the state, and our whole family travels together. It's fun! This is the only sport they play, so we really enjoy it.

Where did the idea for the book come from?

I got the idea for Generation NeXt Parenting after hearing a group of older mothers talk about "these younger moms" who want their kids to have everything and pour their lives into their kids. I thought, "That's me!" So, I started looking into the differences in generations, and how we raise our kids, and I was amazed by how our childhood shaped us as a whole. The whole book grew out of that.

What are some issues you face personally as a mother? Things you struggle with.

The thing I struggle with most is giving my kids enough time. Even though I homeschool them. Even though we take time to play games and hang out. Even though we watch movies together, have dinner together almost every night, and travel together, it never seems like enough. It's a Gen X thing. I realize how short this time with my kids is. I know how important the foundations I lay now will be for there for the rest of their lives.

How long did it take you to write the book? And did you have trouble selling it or did that come easy?

The book went amazingly fast. I got the idea in July, and I wrote the proposal and sample chapters. It just flowed out of me. By October Multnomah was interested in the book. By January the book was written. It was on the bookshelves the next October . . . and I felt God's hand on me the whole time. It was great.

One little quote in the book describes what being a Generation X parent means.
eX-cellent people, eX-celling to our potential, and eX-hausted most of the time! I love that. ;) Is there one specific nugget of truth in the book that really spoke to you?

Yes, that nugget would be: God chose us to parent our kids during this time in history. He CHOSE us. He also knows that, because of all the challenges, we would REQUIRE Him to succeed. We can do this parenting thing . . . with God's help.

How do you hope this book touches people? Or what do you want people to take away from this book?

I hope that people will realize God can help them in any parenting situation. There are tons of parenting books with great advice, yet it is truly God who can help any parent in any situation.

In one part of the book, you talk about being overloaded with advice. We get suggestions from everywhere on how to be better parents. And you mentioned how great the information is, but how our generation has very little time to do all the things we're told to do. Tell us how this book differs from just another self-help parenting book.

I really don't give people a list of things to do, or not to do. Instead, I talk about our issues and struggles as parents. I give Gen Xers a hint of why we, as a generation, have turned out this way. And then I talk about what God's Word says, and then I give Gen-Xers things to think about and consider with their own kids.

I enjoyed the My Take On It sections. A part of each chapter has quotes from real mothers and fathers. How did you compile your quotes or rather how did you come up with the contributors?
I emailed some of my Gen-X friends, I emailed MOPS groups, or other on-line groups-such as writer's forums-looking for volunteers. Then I emailed questions out and they responded. My biggest problem was choosing from all the great answers.

Finally, I know you also write fiction, do you want to take a minute to update us on your new projects?

My newest fiction novel, A Valley of Betrayal, hits store shelves mid-February. It is the first of a three-book-series on The Spanish Civil War. Book two, A Shadow of Treason, will be out this fall. I have four WWII novels published, but this is my first series. It will be three books total. And I love it!

Thanks so much for having me.

Thank you, Tricia, for being here. I look forward to reading more from you! I had planned on giving away my copy of the book, but I marked it up in a few places and I'm not ready to part with it. LOL. I hope you'll go out and get a copy today.