Cleaning House: A Mom's 12-Month Experiment To Rid Her Home of Youth Entitlement by Kay Wills Wyma is a MUST read for all parents. WOW!
I have been concerned about the attitudes of our offspring the last few days. I have come to realize that it is not just a problem in my home, but it has become a North-American epidemic. Nothing gets me as riled as when my children portray their entitlement issues.
Kay Wills Wyma bravely began an experiment in her home. Each month, she would have the children tackle a new "chore" that became a way of life. It started with simply making beds. It then moved on through targeting areas of being able to cook, do laundry and service to others. Kay found that her children were capable of so much more than they were doing.
I have always been known to say..."People treat you the way you teach them to." I believe this holds true with our own children also. I tweaked a few of Kay's ideas to fit our home. There has been significant results. I have a jar set aside for each of my children with their name on it. Every Sunday, I insert 7 $1.00 bills into it. If they accomplish each chore on their chore chart on that day of the week, they keep their dollar for that day. If they don't, the dollar goes into Mom's jar. Sunday is Pay Day! We open the jars and I give each child their earned money. Then, they must calculate 10% of their pay. They give 10% to church and 10% goes into their savings jar. It has helped so much with the many requests made of my husband and I by our children. They know that they can save their money to make purchases. It's amazing how less urgent they "need" something when it comes out of their own pocket.
I urge every parent to read this book with an open mind and heart. You can do as I did and use some of Kay's ideas in a way that will fit your home and family.
I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.
Read the first chapter here:
http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/blog/2012/03/01/sneak-peek-cleaning-house-by-kay-wills-wyma/
I couldn't agree with you more! I am going to start this with our kids. Sean has been asking what he can do around the house to earn money. The jar is great because my kids would see that the earned dollars are tangible if the chores are completed. I love also that they have to give some and save some. It is an invaluable lesson they will take with them to adulthood. Thanks Lindsay!
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