Cleaning House by Kay Wills Wyma Book Review

      *Sigh*

      Let me just say here that we all have our stumbling blocks.  Some of us are terrible cooks, some can't draw a recognizable stick figure and some couldn't write a proper sentence if their life depended on it.  We ALL have a Cryptonite, something that just sucks the life force right out of you and you can not get past it.  A month or so ago, mine was cleaning house.  I could do it and I could do it darn well, but keep it clean?  That's another story.  My kids would go right behind me and mess it right back up and no amount of yelling, threatening, throwing of toys into the dumpster or time outs would stop it from happening.  I really thought I was bound to forever live in a messy house.

      Every few months I would get inspired (usually through Pinterest or the latest organization blog I came across) and I would go out and buy bins and labels and things.  I'd go to town and thing would look great!  The next day or so, bins were taken out, broken and all emptied and contents were strewn about.  "Give them time, they are just kids" I would hear from family members who I suppose were trying to make me feel better.  But it didn't.  What I heard is "Have fun cleaning after them until they're in middle school!"  It depressed me, I wanted even less to put effort into it.  But I did, and slowly I started getting resources.

     I borrowed a book from the church library and it was lost despite my best efforts.  I read blog after blog, spending days at the computer screen soaking in ideas only to find reasons for every one of them to fail in my home.  It was exhausting and even more depressing.  Then I found another book (which I fully admit is lost at the moment)... it is called Cleaning House: A Mom's 12 Month Experiment to Rid Her Home of Youth Entitlement by Kay Wills Wyma.

     It is a really smart guide on ways to organize your home and get the kids to actually chip in without pulling your hair out.  And although her kids are older and more mature than mine, I got lots of ideas on how to do things and how to handle the laziness and entitlement.

     Now hopefully it isn't because Christmas is around the corner and I have threatened kids with loss of ALL presents in trade for disrespect towards the home... but *crosses fingers* I have had a bin of gifts sitting on the kitchen counter for a month UNWRAPPED and only one gift was purposely gotten into by the 4 year old.  All other gifts are in the bin and in their bags or boxes.  They know the packages are gifts and they know who they are for, yet they respect that it is not to be messed with.

     Also, they are actually chipping in.  I may have to argue for an hour (which admittedly stinks) but then they DO it!  They actually do it and sometimes they go way above and beyond.  Would I be embarrassed if someone came over unexpectedly?  Sure I would.  But would I be worried that they would be half tempted to haul my kids away to live in a cleaner home.  NOPE!  I can walk on empty floors and if I collected all the laundry in the main house, it would be less that one hamper full.  Now THAT is progress.

     Is this a miracle book?  Of course not, but it is inspiring and fun, it lifts you up and makes you want to be more proactive and helps you deal with kids who aren't.  I definitely recommend the book if you have problems getting your kids to help or are fed up with your kids acting entitled or spoiled.  Thanks Kay Wills Wyma :)
Except for the product(s) given to me for the purpose of reviewing, I received no compensation for this post. All opinions are 100% my own.