Uniquely You: Exploring Your Child's Extraordinarily Distinctive Design

by Sally Clarkson, Nathan Clarkson

You are the unique child of God called to raise unique children of God.

We are wonderfully different. That’s God’s beautiful, creative, astonishing design and plan. But how do we faithfully see and parent children who are His unique creations?

You observe it every day in the way your kids think, talk, play, create, relate, read, write, dream, decide, and do life. We celebrate their unique attributes, but we also recognize that every beautiful child comes with particular challenges. We need creative parenting that’s able to provide specialized love and guidance.

Uniquely You, by best-selling authors Sally Clarkson and her son, Nathan Clarkson, is filled with biblical and life-learned wisdom for helping kids become and enjoy being the person God has designed them to be. Parents discover the unique personalities, learning, and love languages of their children. The Clarksons help you imagine discipline and dreams that fit your unique kids.

Our kids have a designed place in God’s story. Uniquely You is the guidebook for partnering with Him in the journey of discovering their unique roles. Your kids will say with confidence and joy, “I am the only me!”

Genres: Parenting, Christian, Nonfiction

176 pages, Paperback

Published January 7, 2025

About the author

From working on college campuses, to sharing the Gospel behind the Iron Curtain as a missionary, traveling around the United States, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia to speak on discipleship, Sally Clarkson has tenaciously sought after God's kingdom, and has used her ministry to encourage others to do the same. From her best-selling books such as Own Your Life, Desperate (with Sarah Mae), and her latest, The Lifegiving Home, Sally has shared from her heart and home about the value of motherhood and the potential for home to cultivate life, love, and faith. In 1995, She and her husband Clay founded Whole Heart Ministries, which has encouraged thousands of families around the world in discipling their children

Reviews

[Ginny Yurich · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this book soooo much. I took 13 pages of notes from it. The Clarksons always write such heartwarming and practical books for parents and this one is right in line with all of the wonderful others. It is about raising our unique children in ways that honor their individuality. It’s so good!!

[Esta Doutrich]

I highly recommend “Different” by the same authors. This was shorter in length and more broad in scope— less specific about the difficult realities of life/mental health/parenting. But still a nice, quick reminder to study our children’s unique personalities and differences.

[Alison (readinginazaleawoods) · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3.5 stars rounded up)

In Uniquely You, Sally and her son Nathan invite readers to continue the journey they began in Different, encouraging parents to faithfully see and embrace children who are wonderfully different and uniquely created by God. Focusing on three principles to guide parents—accept, affirm, and delight—they respond to nine letters from parents navigating real-life questions.

💭 MY THOUGHTS: This was a highly anticipated read for me, and while there were certainly golden nuggets of truth and encouragement throughout, much of the content felt more like a broad parenting resource—echoing themes and stories from The Lifegiving Parent and The Lifegiving Home—rather than a direct continuation of Different with specific insights into the joys and challenges of parenting “outside-the-box” children.

I appreciated the family discussion questions at the end of each chapter. While best suited for older kids, they still offer valuable prompts that could help guide meaningful conversations with younger children.

With nine distinct themes, this is a resource parents can return to in different seasons, easily jumping in where needed.

One note that gave me pause: In Chapter Two, Nathan references several personality tests, including the Enneagram. I know believers hold a variety of views on this, but I personally found its inclusion concerning due to its roots in the occult, mysticism, and other religious philosophies. I simply share that as something for readers to approach with discernment.

While this particular book wasn’t quite what I was expecting, I am grateful for the Clarkson family’s faithful encouragement to parents. Their heart for the home and for nurturing Christ-centered families is clear, and I believe that Uniquely You will be meaningful to many.

🤍 Thank you to @moodypublishers for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Ruth Clemence · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always appreciate Sally's wisdom, especially in her books around home education. I have a few of her books. This book follows on from 'Different' which her son Nathan co-wrote with her. Having both perspectives from mother and son once again is refreshing.

As a mother with children who have additional needs, and as a sibling to a sister with profound disabilities, I appreciate books that speak into neurodiversity and disabilities. I found the honesty of Nathan's experience with mental health and other learning needs so helpful and eye-opening.

I think what I struggled with most with this book is how perfect family life seems. Even though both authors tell of the challenges and struggles, I can't help feel like I am glimpsing into a polished portrait. I don't doubt any of what is written isn't true, and I am encouraged to see the outcome of the family cohesion built over decades. I even seek to borrow some of the ideals into my own home at some point!

That being said, I think it leaves a sense of feeling a loss that family life doesn't look like this for many. Whether from broken families, complex needs, bereavement, lack of family support, lack of finances, and many other issues. It just rings hollow in places and it might leave you longing to be a Clarkson (as nice as that would be!), rather than give glory to the Lord for the grace He works in your own family and unique circumstances.

[Abbey Phipps · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was encouraging and uplifting in parts, and it had some good advice. But it also felt repetitive of itself and repetitive of the several other Clarkson books I've read. I don't feel like I gained much from it.
Additionally, I struggle (in all Clarkson books) with the repeated accomplishments of their children. I get it. Their children are successful. But it regularly comes across as, "Do this and your kids will be award-winning filmmakers, best-selling authors, etc." And that's just not reality for most people, which leaves me feeling subpar, even though my kids are ages 8 and under.
I do appreciate how biblically-focused this book was, and how it gave the opportunity for families to study it together. It was just a mixed bag for me and unfortunately, I didn't love it.

[Brianna Roth · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Uniquely You, Sally Clarkson and her son Nathan Clarkson encourage parents to create space for and celebrate the unique personality and gifts of each child. Using many personal examples, Sally and Nathan emphasize the importance of resisting the societal norm of putting all children into the same box of expectations and dreams. Each chapter is written in response to a hypothetical question from a parent and Sally and Nathan each respond to every question; this provides a helpful balance of insight from both parental and childhood experience. The book is relatively short and Biblically grounded.

I have a couple of minor critiques or quibbles with Uniquely You. Primarily, some of the content felt a bit repetitive from chapter to chapter and the authors didn't delve quite as deeply as I had hoped. Regardless, Uniquely You is well worth the time spent reading it and parents will close the book having gained a few more ideas of how to love, support and encourage each of their children.

Overall rating: 4.5/5 stars. I will keep a copy of Uniquely You on my book shelf.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in order to write an honest, unbiased review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great summary of all the Clarkson books, and I thoroughly enjoyed the parent and adult child reflections and POV for each topic, the scripture and family discussion questions. If you don't know where to start with Whole Heart Ministry books, this is a great place to begin knowing that for each chapter, there is one or more books that you can pick up to do a deep dive into each topic. Beautiful to see Sally and Nathan write in a style that honors the privacy of the other siblings, and yet doesn't hold back in addressing raising four children with different personalities and strengths.

[Nycole Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an incredible look at what it means to parent a child in a way that honors their God-given individuality. This book is the antidote to the idea that children need to be “molded” or “formed” in a certain way to live lives that please God. Instead, the Clarksons celebrate what makes each child unique and inspire parents to speak life into their children while encouraging them to be exactly who God created them to be.

[Ashley McNeese]

I’m striving to be the kind of mom that’s described in this book. Definitely not succeeding at all times, but I’m thankful for Sally’s kind way of teaching us how to create a beautiful and godly family culture.

[Chloe Cochran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Certain things in this book, I don’t quite agree with but all in all- gave me some good ideas, gave sound biblical advice on certain topics and was great to get wise perspective on different children and good biblical parenting.

[Jessica Perteet · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was good but didn’t have a lot of new information for me.

[Viola Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Just what I needed. I love the Clarksons' big picture and creative approach to doing life. Thank you for the inspiration.

[Mallory · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Sally Clarkson and especially her story about her neurodivergent son, but I feel a lot of her material repeats itself. This book is very similar to her others; the layout is just different.

[Naomi · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is just not intellectually stimulating at all. Every chapter starts with a letter from someone struggling with parenting, Sally and Nathan respond and the letters and responses are just bland. There's really not much content to this book. Also, the authors and I don't have the same Christian worldview. Many things in the book I do not get good feelings about.