Is Your Home Out of Order?
Do your kids expect clean folded clothes to magically appear in their drawers? Do they roll their eyes when you suggest they clean the bathroom? By racing in to make their lives easy, have you unintentionally reinforced your children's belief that the world revolves around them?
Dismayed at the attitude of entitlement that had crept into her home, Kay Wyma got some attitude of her own. Cleaning House is her account of a year-long campaign to introduce her five kids to basic life skills and the ways meaningful work can increase earned self-confidence and concern for others.
With irresistible humor and refreshing insights, Kay candidly details the ups and downs of equipping her kids for such tasks as making beds, refinishing a deck chair, and working together. The changes that take place in her household will inspire you to launch your own campaign to dislodge your kids from the center of their universe.
"If you want your children to be more responsible, more self-assured, and more empathetic, Cleaning House is for you."
-Jim Daly, president of Focus on the Family
My Review:
I loved this book, so much so that I am following along monthly with my kids to get my household in order. Kay took such a creative approach to recognizing a problem and then finding multiple solutions that work well for every family. I adored reading how these changes impacted her life and her family. When I started this book, I thought this is just another “self help” type book that won’t work. It will be unrealistic and too expensive to implement. Boy was I wrong. The tips Kay gives are practical and insightful with a biblical foundation to equip your kids with traits that will last a lifetime that are God honoring. This book is a definite read for anyone with kids, or just if you want to revamp your own life and need some guidance.
I loved her honest, humorous writing style that drew me in to her life and her willingness to be so open about her own failures that inspire you to change your life. Our kids in this generation are being raised to be dependent on others and material possessions and not themselves and God. They are placing their worth and value on the wrong things. Kay brings to light the need for our families to be dependent on each other, yes, but to also be self-sufficient and accountable. Your actions have consequences and how you choose to deal with them is solely up to you. If you want to raise your kids to be responsible, well-rounded productive members of society this is the book for you.
About the Author:
Kay Wills Wyma has five kids, ages four to fourteen, and one SUV with a lot of carpool miles. She holds a bachelor's from Baylor University and an MIM from the American Graduate School of International Management (Thunderbird). Before transitioning to stay-at-home mom, she held positions at the White House, the Staubach Company, and Bank of America. She and her husband, Jon, live with their family in the Dallas area.
Disclamier: I received this book curtesy of WaterBook Press in exchange for my honest opinion.
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