W.O.R.K.

By Debbie Bowen

Book Overview

Author: ?+ Debbie Bowen

Description: With ten children, Debbie Bowen quickly learned the advantages of actively involving all the kids in the family's daily routines. Delegation has been a key part of the Bowen family's efforts to maintain an organized, happy home and a key to their success. In this delightful book, she explains the formulas and techniques she's discovered, and she shows that W.O.R.K. truly provides Wonderful Opportunities for Raising Responsible Kids. Bringing her personal experiences and reminiscences to the book, Debbie has created an enjoyable as well as educational read. She emphasizes the close relationships fostered as the entire family works together cleaning the kitchen, caring for the garden, and completing other duties to beautify the home, though she forthrightly acknowledges that there is no such thing as untroubled waters. In today's world of television, video games, computers, and automatic dishwashers, families too often drift apart. Debbie Bowen has found that delegating work in and around the house gives a sense of accomplishment and draws her family closer because of times spent together. Her children are responsible, and they all have memories that will last a lifetime. The formulas for success in this excellent book can be applied to families everywhere, including yours Format: Paperback Print: Black & White Size: 6x9 Page Count: 114 ISBN: 9780882907550 Imprint: ?+CFI Books Office Use: 2L62N

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0882907557
• ISBN13: 9780882907550
• Release Date: August 2004
• Publisher: Horizon Publishers & Distributors
• Length: 114 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.1" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

Watch Out Kids, Mom's Been Reading...

My interest was definitely peaked when I learned this was written by a homeschooling mom of 10 kids. Obviously she needed to get the kids working so she would have time to do anything, let alone write a book! (It must work, she's written two others since.) I love that the first chapter is on "Changing Your Mindset." Yes, I get behind in housecleaning and I KNOW I need to get the kids helping more, but this chapter is a great one to help motivate getting things going and seeing that yes, there is a need, yes, I can't do everything myself, and yes, it will turn out okay. The second chapter is on delegation. Bowen gives her rules of delegating (Firm Fair Flexible, Patient, Tolerant, Specific), then takes you through the how to's (deciding what to delegate, dividing them up, deliberating with the family about them, demonstrating, discipline, and determination). I especially appreciated the section on discipline. I started reading this several months ago, got all excited, stopped reading, and just jumped into it. I didn't get to the discipline section, and after things started running smoothly I figured they would stay that way. As soon as I turned my back, they didn't. In the third chapter she talks about stumbling blocks that slow or stop our success in this. Things like, doing it faster ourselves, doing it better ourselves, feeling sorry for our children, worrying they are too busy, etc. She covered every excuse I've ever come up with, plus many more. Bowen has obviously talked to a lot of moms about this and has great responses for their concerns. Chapter four talks about the rewards of getting our children working with us to help take care of the home. The book also includes a really helpful list of chores based on age. Some of them I was concerned about, thinking my kids weren't old enough to do what she said they could, but with training, they do just fine. I've seen so many complicated systems and TRIED many for myself and for my children, but hers is really pretty simple. Split things up, pass them out, let your family members know they have input, make sure they know how to do it, and make sure things are getting done. Highly recommended!