Cleaning House: A Mom's Twelve-Month Experiment to Rid Her Home of Youth Entitlement
Condition: New
$10.25
Save $7.75
was $18.00
Buy Now, Pay Later
As low as
$2
/ mo
Learn more
- – 4-month term
- – No impact on credit to apply
- – Instant approval decision
- – Secure and straightforward checkout
Ready to go? Add this product to your cart and select a plan during checkout.
Payment plans are offered through our trusted finance partners Klarna, Affirm, Afterpay, Zip, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. No-credit-needed leasing options through Acima may also be available at checkout.
Learn more about financing & leasing here.
Free shipping on this product
30-day returns
Learn more
FREE 30-day refund/replacement
To qualify for a full refund, items must be returned in their original, unused condition. If an item is returned in a used, damaged, or materially different state, you may be granted a partial refund.
To initiate a return, please visit our Returns Center.
View our full returns policy here.
Availability:
In Stock.
Arrives
Friday, Nov 6
Recently Viewed
At a glance
- Condition
- New
- Dimensions
- 5.24 x 0.75 x 7.95 in
- Weight
- 8.5 oz
- Publisher
- PRH Christian Publishing
- Publication date
- May 8, 2012
- Language
- English
- Print length
- 288 pages
Description
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 Read more
Specs 8
| Publisher | PRH Christian Publishing |
|---|---|
| Publication date | May 8, 2012 |
| Language | English |
| Print length | 288 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 0307730670 |
| ISBN-13 | 71 |
| Item Weight | 8.5 ounces |
| Dimensions | 5.24 x 0.75 x 7.95 inches |
No specs match.
Frequently asked questions
If you place your order now, the estimated arrival date for this product is:
Friday, Nov 6
Yes, absolutely! You may return this product for a full refund within 30 days of receiving it.
To initiate a return, please visit our Returns Center.
View our full returns policy here.
To initiate a return, please visit our Returns Center.
View our full returns policy here.
- Klarna Financing
- Affirm Pay in 4
- Affirm Financing
- Afterpay Financing
- Zip Pay in 4
- Financing through Apple Pay
- Financing through Google Pay
Learn more about financing & leasing here.
Top Amazon Reviews
Wonderful Book!
Format: Paperback
This is an awesome book! I actually found a link to the book when I began researching the net about child entitlement. I had noticed to my dismay that my own children were acting as if the world owed them something. A quote from my daughter..."Mom, I am your precious child..you are SUPPOSED to do things for me. That is just the way it works.". I did not know what I had done to lead her to believe this way. Wyma helped me to see that I had inadvertently been responsible (at least in part) for my children's misguided beliefs. In our society we tend to do things for our children to either make it go faster, make sure it is done right the first time, to give them time for all the stuff we involve them in (such as sports, scouts, etc), or because we want them to be happy. They are capable of much more than we give them credit for. We just have to let them have the opportunity to show us what they can do. Some of her ideas will not work with really small children (like my 3 and 5 year olds) but she acknowledges that as she has a 4 year old herself. However there are ways to tweak each lesson to fit the abilities of your child(ren) and she encourages the reader to do whatever works best in that family. I would recommend this book to any parent who wants to raise independent children who cannot only take care of themselves as adults but are able to care for others in a selfless manner as well. I have seen some reviews that were not as favorable putting the book down because of the author's station in life. I will admit I am very similar to her. I live in a middle to upper middle class suburb (although my city is a mid-size city not a large one like Dallas). One of my 3 kids attends a local private school (the other 2 have special needs that make public schooling a better place for them). I do not see any of this as a bad thing. A person who does not have the financial means for some of her suggestions can tweak the suggestions to fit their budget...like maybe a quarter a day instead of a dollar. There are always more frugal ways to do things. Just because she can provide her children with these things does not make the advice any less worthy of time and attention. She even encourages you to do these things in budget..after all that is the lesson she is trying to teach her children. To those who say there is too much of a christian emphasis in the book... Well, it is a christian book. It never claims to be anything else. The advice is still good advice whether the scripture she basis it on is used or not. I happen to like that she backs up what she is doing with her kids with God's word. Again, it is made clear in description that this is a christian book!
...
show more
Reviewed in the United States on August 30, 2012 by JDTReviews
Coming from a successful kid, that has been there!
Format: Kindle
I use to be one of those entitled bratty kids they are try to change in this book. My mom trying to be a good mom sheltered, hovered, and pretty much did everything for me. This was fine until I got into my early teens, when I began to hate her for all the things she did for me. I became suicidal even though I kept it hidden pretty well, and even once tried to go through with it. Like I said, my mom wasn't a bad person nor was she trying to be, but what she did (still tries to do) didn't help me become a better person. The first step in any journey is always the hardest. I guess it helped some that I'm naturally curious and independent, but not all that much. It all started after what I like to call my suicidal period. I was bored one night searching the web and found a social site. I am very very very lucky, because I meet some people online. Thankfully they were good encouraging people who helped me see I wasn't nothing, and encouraged me to do something with my life. I first tried to get into nursing, but I didn't have the maturity or social skills to handle it. I ended up in a therapist office, because I couldn't work as a team player. Then it hit me - I am seeing this as I want it to be, not what is. This is when my journey began. The journey to become a better person is almost like walking through the mud. It took two years, before I had the WILL do try to reach for something better again. All the while, I was at home sitting on my crosse (look up this word in french) all the time. I was still as miserable as ever, my pride was hurt, and I felt powerless. It is a awful feeling for a young adult to have, and my uselessness constantly hung around me like heavy clouds. I finally got enough of those feelings, and despite my mother's wishes enrolled in college. When I took the placement test I made almost perfect on the compass in reading and writing. Even though I had to take special classes for math, I did something no one in the history at the college has done; I completed beginning math, beginning algebra, and intermediate algebra in 1 semester! Now, I have a 3.5 going into pharmacy school, I have taken up the violin, I drive a car, and I don't think about suicide anymore. I think of the future, and how I can make a difference. This wouldn't have been possible without self reflection. I would like to conclude - I started to read this book as a reference guide to who I was, and who I have become. I wrote this review to encourage parents to encourage their kids to be independent. I wrote this review, because I believe people reading this need to hear from a kid who had everything material they could want, but was hateful toward it all. This book has one of the most accurate psychological stand points of the inner dynamic of the tween/teenage mind. I still have my set backs in trying to view what I can do in a encouraging way; however, I had the will to be independent. If I wasn't born with a natural drive, I wouldn't be here to talk about my story. Just for reference - my mother still hasn't changed, she still says everyday she wishes for me to come home, she hints everyday it would be easier to give up on my dreams, and she tells me she does x, y and z for me because she isn't sure I can do it. I'm now 23 years old, and I know she means well, but deep down I still resent her for her way of thinking. Please don't be my mom, I promise even if you seem mean now when they get older they will understand.
...
show more
Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2015 by Winter's Pyre
A good place to start
Format: Paperback
I bought this for an easy beach read (which it was--finished in one day), and for encouragement, inspiration and direction in motivating my children to do for themselves without expecting others to make things happen for them. I found little tidbits here and there, but especially loved the chapter where her November focused on service to others. What I took from this book: "Meaningful Work" boosts self-esteem (don't you feel good after completing a job well done?) We often underestimate our children's abilities. We often do the work that they are capable of doing because we are more experienced and we can do it quicker, more effeciently, and completely. When we do it for them, we not only take away their opportunity to learn and practice (so they can become effecient like us), we are also telling them with our actions that they can't do it, so we'll do it for them. That I can slowly incorporate new tasks for my children, to help them make work a habit, not a chore. Often, after children practice taking the initiative to do the work needed around them, they will be focused on others and not themselves...perhaps we aren't entitled as much as we are selfish/self-centered Personal quibbles: For myself, some of the beginning chapters (which the author admits to) are a bit unnecessary for some. Teach them to make their bed...we are thankfully past that. But, I understand that this may be helpful to some. And, it does point out that perhaps many of us began teaching our children the basic skills, but somewhere in our busy lives we started doing it for them because we did it better, faster or more consistently. Sometimes we parents do things out of love or because it is easier than telling them to do it 10 times. About the Christian viewpoint: Yes, it is there, but I personally didn't find it overwhelming. I believe it is always important to understand the worldview of an author, but it isn't always necessary to avoid a book because of an author's viewpoint. It is more closed-mind to do so. Open-minded readers should be able to read, filtering what they find unnecessary to their understanding of topic, instead of taking offense. About the anti-entitlement stance: It is pretty much expected, as it is stated in the titled. Yes, there are some liberal jabs in the beginning, but if you are looking for a book to help you plan a strategy for raising children that take the initiative and make things happen in the world around them, I hope you read on.
...
show more
Reviewed in the United States on July 30, 2012 by Homeschool Mom of 4
Cleaning House
Format: Kindle
I consider this a must read for parents, youth leaders who would advise parents, grandparents and everyone invested in our future because our kids are that future. Hopefully, that is all of us.
Reviewed in the United States on August 27, 2026 by Steve Lacey
Some good ideas
Format: Kindle
This book has some good ideas and is a good premise, but lacks some credibility in the end. I was reading the book and wondering how I would ever keep up with all the various jobs for my kids and checking to make sure they were done I read that not only is she a stay at home mom, but she also has help come in weekly to assist her with her youngest children. As a full time working mom I think some of the ideas presented in this book require more time than I have in a week. I do like some ideas and will try to implement them in my family.
...
show more
Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2014 by Shelly L Hawthorne
Absolutely loved it!
Format: Kindle
After getting to the point of complete frustration with my children, especially my eight year old who is the oldest, I ran across this book and bought it immediately. Since I was able to download it on my Kindle, I began reading it right away and was hooked. Wyma is an excellent writer and I found myself highlighting all over the book. I agreed with everything she said and was instantly inspired to require more of my children for their futures' sake. I have a hard time reading books that will help me, not because they aren't good, but because they just aren't interesting enough. Not so with this book! I couldn't put it down. I laugh and cry along with this honest, loving, hard-working mom of five. And I'm not sure if it's a result of my efforts in response to this book, but my eight year old has been much more helpful around the house and she's actually not complaining about it! It's a MUST read!
...
show more
Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2013 by Alpal
Very pleased
Format: Paperback
Reading this book was a reminder of my childhood. I don't know why we forget where we came from or try to shelter our children from the wonderful life lessons we inherited. I can honestly say that I am an enabler. It's a sickening, heart wrenching, and dooming thought. I want my child to have the work ethic, drive for success, and gumption to try new things. This book has brought to light the things that should've been obvious to me as a parent and has ripped off my rose colored glasses that's for sure! This unearned sense of entitlement is about to turn into a deep sense of appreciation for what they have. Thanks for the gentle reminder about what are roles are as parents. So that being said, here's to a few less children coming into the world without work ethic and personal accountability! Salute'!
...
show more
Reviewed in the United States on September 30, 2012 by Kimmie
Organic Parenting; teaching kids to serve others, naturally.
Format: Paperback
What a relief! As a mother of 5, I finally read a book that provides a home-grown remedy to the "that's mine/where's mine/not mine/I me my mine" conversations that our family deals with every day. This book is not a program, method, or prescription, as much as a conversation starter and idea generator. My 6 year old son, who I will lovingly call ONKYO, because he adores the TV which was designed, built and marketed outside the USA, and I put the book to a test. Okay, I put the book to a test. An elderly man at the convience store asked me for money for cigarettes. I told him I didn't have any cash. This was true. We walked on, completed our errand (my errand) and drove off. I told ONKYO we had to go back and find a way to help the man at the store. We bought him a sandwhich and asked him his name, Bobby. Bobby smiled like he won the lottery. ONKYO and I got to talk about poverty, smoking and giving what you have to others. Thanks to Cleaning House and Kay Wyma. - Diane
...
show more
Reviewed in the United States on July 1, 2012 by D