• Cleaning House

  • A Mom's Twelve-Month Experiment to Rid Her Home of Youth Entitlement
  • By: Kay Willis Wyma
  • Narrated by: Tavia Gilbert
  • Length: 8 hrs and 24 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (189 ratings)

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Cleaning House  By  cover art

Cleaning House

By: Kay Willis Wyma
Narrated by: Tavia Gilbert
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Publisher's summary

Do your kids think that clean, folded clothes magically appear in their drawers? Do they roll their eyes when you suggest they clean the bathroom? Do you think it's your job to pave their road to success? As parents, so often we hover, race in to save, and do everything we can for our kids - unintentionally reinforcing their belief that the world revolves around them.

When Kay Wyma realized that an attitude of entitlement had crept into her home, this mother of five got some attitude of her own. Cleaning House is her account of a year-long campaign to introduce her kids to basic life skills. From making beds to grocery shopping to refinishing a deck chair, the Wyma family experienced for themselves the ways meaningful work can transform self-absorption into earned self-confidence and concern for others.

With irresistible humor and refreshing insights, Kay candidly details the ups and downs of removing her own kids from the center of the universe. The changes that take place in her household will inspire you to launch your own campaign against youth entitlement. As Kay says, "Here's to seeing what can happen when we tell our kids, 'I believe in you, and I'm going to prove it by putting you to work."

©2012 eChristian Inc. (P)2012 eChristian Inc.

What listeners say about Cleaning House

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Yes, yes, YES!!

What did you love best about Cleaning House?

I chose it to read because I'm on a 12-months of "xyz"-kick right now ... but as a mother of young children, I bump up against this entitlement stuph on a regular basis. I found myself shouting YES!! to her philosophy and statements (after admitting to the error of her ways prior to the project) and cheering her and her family on throughout the book. I feel so strongly about the points and quality of this book that I am purchasing it for every member (40!) of my Mothers of PreSchoolers group this year!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Cleaning House?

when she recounts a friend's son putting in a sprinkler system himself (including research and purchasing), and when she had one (clueless) kid pump gas ...

Which scene was your favorite?

there are 12 categories - I think my favorite 'scenes' are when she explains the different ways her different-personaly-ed crew handled the challenges.

What’s an idea from the book that you will remember?

give kids the tools, and step back. self-esteem is created when you give them the opportunities to succeed (and sometimes fail), not when you pave the way, fix the results, or prevent failure/experience altogether!

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Irritating

Would you try another book from Kay Willis Wyma and/or Tavia Gilbert?

No.

Has Cleaning House turned you off from other books in this genre?

No.

Would you be willing to try another one of Tavia Gilbert’s performances?

No. Her whiny kid voices set my teeth on edge.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Irritation. I couldn't wait for it to end.

Any additional comments?

If the author had said one more time, "Have I mentioned I'm _______?" or "Future Hoarders of America..." my head might have exploded.

Yes. Yes you have mentioned it. Several times. Too many times.

The names (pseudonyms) of her kids are ridiculous. Snopes? Really?

I have kids. Not everything out of their mouths is an irritating whine. In this rendition, every time a child spoke it was like nails on a chalkboard.

The Wyma's have money.

Lots of Bible quotes and Jesus references. I guess I should have done my homework. If I had known this was a "Christian" book, I would have never gotten it.

I think it's a sin to let your kids drink Dr. Pepper (or any soft drink for that matter).

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Hysterically funny, especially for kids

What would have made Cleaning House better?

This book could have had the children's voices spoken by actual children. Her children did not want to be mentioned by name in this book and were given hilarious aliases. It's nice to be able to listen to someone's life who does not work, does not teach her own children, has financial security on one income, and who can roll with childhood behavior with amazing disrespect. The parental disrespect actions are always mild, but in the context of the near complete lack of empathetic actions towards the parents the household is a model of what entitled parents and children look like.

Has Cleaning House turned you off from other books in this genre?

Oh, not at all, just if you think that this is going to help you get your household in loving order, it will only be a great model of what not to do. In listening to this book my children kept stopping the play to tell me what a great mom I am because I don't "act as the enforcer" among many other actions.

Would you be willing to try another one of Tavia Gilbert’s performances?

Tavia Gilbert was wonderful to listen to, I would love to listen to her more.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

This book was like satire. We ended up listening to it as a family, especially sections where the parents handled entitlement issues by paying out of family people to do the work -- cooking days handled by the child ordering fast food, gardening chores delegated to a yard crew, and many other throw money at the problem fixes.

Any additional comments?

What a contrast from Hold on to Your Kids, which is the sort of book I wanted more of.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

A good book for large families.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend this book to families with children at home. It is thought provoking and is a good guide on how to restructure chores. I would caution my friends though that this author has a much less protective approach to child safety than I do. I did not agree that letting children take off alone on bicycles or other community outings is part of building self-sufficient children. Letting toddlers access dangerous playground equipment and letting them learn the hard way if they get hurt seems irresponsible. Children are vulnerable and there are a lot of bad people and dangers out there. At times, I felt that the author was weary of parenting 5 children and was largely motivated by her own need to have the children self-sufficient at an early age. I did not implement this type of program yet, raised three very well adjusted self-sufficient children. The author doesn't factor in maturity as a real physiological process and part of brain functions with aging. She does seem to be rushing her children and it seems they were pretty stressed. I know moms with 5 plus children and it does seem that these moms are much more ready to have their children self-sufficient earlier out of necessity.

Would you recommend Cleaning House to your friends? Why or why not?

Yes, as above. The book has lots of good ideas. She also quotes scripture and seems to be striving to be a Godly mother.

Which scene was your favorite?

No one scene stands out. The book is full of scenes about how the authors children responded to her new mandates.

What did you learn from Cleaning House that you would use in your daily life?

My children are raised, but I can implements some of the ideas with future grand-children. It is a nice concept.

Any additional comments?

The narrator is superb!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

No exactly what I expected

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I liked the idea of this book and the comparison stories but the story is basically the same every month. Maybe it is the wordage used over and over.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Maybe not using the same words, basic story line each month.

Have you listened to any of Tavia Gilbert’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

N/A

Did Cleaning House inspire you to do anything?

YES, It made me realize my 20 YOA son is still reaping the benefits.....Not now!

Any additional comments?

This was a good book just a bit redundant. What this book preaches about entitlement is all factual and makes you realize you need to CUT OUT ENABLING!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
  • C
  • 08-21-20

Unnecessary Filler

This book would be vastest more informative and helpful without the distracting filler of unnecessary, personal information the author divulges. I find myself wanting to fast-forward through much of the audiobook; I don’t care to hear the reader fake-crying while using a toddler whining voice.

A clear “this is what I did to train my kids” model could have been so helpful *without* the highly distracting, semi-disrespectful antidotes of her own children: “toddler wanting a blue cup instead of the green cup” tantrum story.

I can not recommend this book.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

I wish they had said it was a Christian(Bible)book

Had to fast forward through a lot of Bible thumping. You can have good manners and values without being a believer. I have always instilled good values in my kids. There were quite a few helpful tips. But it kinda turned me off when she asked other people about how they are going to serve others... Isn't it supposed to be selfless not in a way bragging. This was the impression I got.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great advice, great ideas!

I loved it! I love how far beyond chores it goes and includes acts of service

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great Resource

For families like mine that are a work in progress - this is a must read! :)

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

All parents should read this book!

Maybe it will encourage you in the ways you are already parenting. Maybe it will give you new ideas or a place to start. Maybe it will just show you a different perspective. But I think this is a needed book for parenting and as it’s stated in the text, “recovering enablers.” Many people don’t even see it, and this book could be a gentle eye opener.

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