Kayote B. (kayote) reviewed Cleaning House: A Mom's Twelve-Month Experiment to Rid Her Home of Youth Entitlement on + 254 more book reviews
First off: The author bases her life in a very explicitly Christian point of view, using scriptures to illustrate her points throughout the book. Why this is apparently hidden from all descriptions I don't understand.
Most of the book is interesting and easy reading. The ups and downs are covered as well as the making it reasonable. The focus is partially on the kids and a healthy dose on the parents--because parents have to give up some control and perfectionism for kids to be able to learn.
Kids are way more capable than we give them credit for--and thus than they give themselves credit for.
However, the handyman chapter knocks stars off this review. It was basically her trying to spin Dad disrespecting her into her needing to respect him more and then off into some relationship with God.
She had nothing to write about because he completely undercut her goals with the kids, and she apparnetly does no handyman work around the house herself. It would have been WAY better to just admit the parents failed miserably that month, cut the chapter way short and then add in an epilogue (including how they did handyman work later). Would have been a much better book. Dad is Boss of All And Wife Musst Respect The Man is not a chapter I found any value in in a book on teaching kids how to be adults. Sorry.
Her interactions with the kids--great. Her process--great. The scriptural bits--fine, no problem, mostly well chosen. The overdone Christian theology or whatever it was in the Handyman Chapter (that bled over into the next couple being also wandering, just not as bad because there was a core)--awful.
Most of the book is interesting and easy reading. The ups and downs are covered as well as the making it reasonable. The focus is partially on the kids and a healthy dose on the parents--because parents have to give up some control and perfectionism for kids to be able to learn.
Kids are way more capable than we give them credit for--and thus than they give themselves credit for.
However, the handyman chapter knocks stars off this review. It was basically her trying to spin Dad disrespecting her into her needing to respect him more and then off into some relationship with God.
She had nothing to write about because he completely undercut her goals with the kids, and she apparnetly does no handyman work around the house herself. It would have been WAY better to just admit the parents failed miserably that month, cut the chapter way short and then add in an epilogue (including how they did handyman work later). Would have been a much better book. Dad is Boss of All And Wife Musst Respect The Man is not a chapter I found any value in in a book on teaching kids how to be adults. Sorry.
Her interactions with the kids--great. Her process--great. The scriptural bits--fine, no problem, mostly well chosen. The overdone Christian theology or whatever it was in the Handyman Chapter (that bled over into the next couple being also wandering, just not as bad because there was a core)--awful.
