Book Club for Moms: Introductory Chapter

I really enjoyed the Introduction chapter of Cleaning House:  A Mom’s 12-Month Experiment to Rid Her Home of Youth Entitlement. I felt like it gave me a window into the author’s home, letting me get acquainted with her and her family prior to delving further into the book. It also set the stage for the reason we all need this book:  the up-and-coming generation is being “lovingly” referred to as Gen-ME for their narcissistic tendencies. Yikes. I barely avoided being lumped in with that group (based on the year of my birth, anyway…according to this quiz from USA Today).

There were also a few key points that resounded with me about what we (as parents) are doing to our children:

“With the greatest of intentions and in the name of love, we have developed a tendency to hover, race in to save, protect from failure, arrange for success, manipulate, overprotect, and enable our kids.” -p. 4

“Our ‘helping’ strategy sounds good until we find ourselves immersed in a society of overindulged, underprepared adults who sorely lack a solid work ethic.” -p. 7

The author, Kay Wyma, created a list of 12 tasks she wanted her children to have mastered before they left the house. I thought this was a great idea, so I decided to create my own list for our boys. I resisted the urge to write any generalized character-related tasks (like how to serve, how to have good manners) because I think those things that will never be fully mastered (even into adulthood) but rather will have to constantly be refined.

  1. How to do laundry. That includes FOLDING and PUTTING AWAY/HANGING UP, not just moving clothes from the washer to the dryer (which my husband thinks is “doing” laundry). :)
  2. How to make their beds each day and maintain a clean room.
  3. How to clean a bathroom (and how often to do it–weekly, especially if you are a boy).
  4. How to prepare simple meals (and clean up afterwards).
  5. How to mow the yard, weed-eat, and trim (this will be Prince Charming’s job to teach as I myself have yet to master any of these tasks–call me a hypocrite).
  6. How to create a budget.
  7. How to apply for a job (outside the home) and how to conduct oneself during an interview.
  8. How to paint a wall.
  9. How to fix a garbage disposal, hammer a nail, and use a few basic power tools (another job for Prince Charming).
  10. How to organize and de-clutter a home.
  11. How to safely move heavy furniture (and why they should always help their friends when they move).
  12. How to set up a checking account (and ensure said checking account is never overdrawn).

 

Your Assignment for Next Week:  Read Chapters 1, 2 AND 3.

(I know, I know…it’s a lot! But we’re trying to get through this in a month right?!?!)

 

What did you think about the introductory chapter? Leave a comment or link up below!

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7 Comments

  1. I just finished the Introduction as I forgot that was part of our assignment for the week. Mommy brain here! I am reading it on my Kindle and have been highlighting as I go. Wow! Her words are so powerful!

    I actually am on that verge of being part of Generation Me…and can look at those just a few years younger than me and can definitely see it. It’s sad that people can’t take responsibility for themselves anymore but I see some of those tendencies in my own life.

    I plan to implement some changes in my home but am waiting until the end of the book (or beginning of August, maybe) to start. I have littles (ages 4, and 1) so by implementing some of these practices earlier in their lives I am hoping that this doesn’t even creep into our lives.

    Sadly I also belong to the same Procrastination Club! I also have not mastered the stay-on-top-of-things-like-I-should in the home either. After reading just the introduction I am inspired to be a better example to my kids by getting up and doing things rather than putting them off.

  2. I thoroughly enjoyed the intro to this book. If the rest of it is anything like it I know it’s going to be awesome. I loved the author giving us insite into her family and the names she gave her kids. The intro made me think a lot of how I may be raising my daughter and some changes I may need to make. My daughter is only 5 1/2 so it’s not to late.

  3. I really enjoyed the introduction to the book. I appreciated her honesty and transperancy. It was very convicting for me as a parent of an 8 and 9 yr old who are definitely leaning heavily in that direction of entitlement. I had a discussion with them and told them that I had done them a disservice in doing so many things for them that they are fully capable of doing for themselves.

    Today we started with doing laundry and will be preparing a meal together. Luckily my husband had already implemented some of these things before starting the book. My son has started mowing the lawn under his supervision. Both my son and daughter have started washing the cars (only his) :) and my daughter gives the dog a bath. They are not exactly thrilled but in general have had a good attitude about it.

    Hopefully this book will enable me to start much earlier with my 14 mo old.

    Thank you for recommending this book…I’m looking forward to the journey.

  4. I enjoyed the introduction and am really looking forward to some good discussion here while reading the book. Thanks for putting this one on my radar, Jenae!

  5. I really enjoyed the introduction. I am going to be blogging about it, so I will link up soon with more of a response. :)

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