| 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 how she knows 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.
Family councils and planning are stressed, as are effective delegation techniques: give the children age-appropriate tasks; let them have a say when determining their responsibilities; and train them by teaching them the what's, how's, and why's of doing a good job. If the children laugh and chat while they work, that is so much for the better. Debbie and her husband Bruce hold the children accountable for their actions, good and bad. They make sure to praise them for a job well done; and when needed, punishment is swift, yet fitting.
She emphasizes the six D's of delegation: Decide, Divide, Deliberate, Demonstrate, Discipline, and Determination , and explains each one in detail. |
| What Readers have Said About this Book, 8
Thoughts on the Nature of Work, 9
1. Preface, 11
Our Family Philosophy, 11
2. Introduction, 17
Some Typical Situations, 17
"Housework Makes You Ugly", 18
Poor Management Syndrome, 19 1
I was Reluctant to Delegate in the Beginning, 20
Children are Assets, Not Liabilities, 22
You are the Conductor of Your Own Home Orchestra, 23
A Personal Experience, 24
Fathers are Invaluable, 24
The Family that Works Together, Stays Together, 26
I Am Not an Expert, 27
3. Delegation: Your Key to Sanity, 27
What is Delegation?, 27
Camouflaged Slave Labor?, 27
Permanent Delegation, 27
Spontaneous Delegation, 28
Mother Bunny Delegates, 29
Rules of Delegation, 31
Rule 1: Be Firm, Be Fair, Be Flexible, 31
Rule 2: Be Patient, 33
Rule 3: Be Tolerant, 34
Rule 4: Be Specific, 35
How Do I Begin?, 37
The Six D's of Delegation, 37
The First "D": Decide What Jobs Can Be Delegated, 37
The Second "D": Divide the Jobs Among Family Members, 38
The Third "D": Deliberate-Hold Regular Family Councils, 41
The Fourth "D": Demonstrate-Provide Adequate Training, 43
The Fifth "D": Discipline-Accountability, Consequences, and Consistency, 47
Accountability, 47
Consequences, 48
Consistency, 53
The Sixth "D": Determination, 54
4. Eliminating Possible Stumbling Blocks to Your Success, 59
"I Can Do it Faster Myself", 60
"If You Want it Done Right, Do it Yourself", 62
"I Enjoy Doing it", 64
"It's a Force of Habit", 64
"I'm Not Organized Enough", 67
"I Feel Sorry for Them", 70
"They Don't Do it My Way", 71
"My Children aren't Capable", 74
"My Children are Too Busy", 78
"My Children Complain", 80
"My Children Refuse to Work", 85
"Some Children Work Better than Others", 88
"I'm Starting Too Late in Their Lives", 90
"My Teenagers are Intolerable", 91
"My Children Expect to Get Paid", 94
5. Why Should I Delegate?, 100
Rewards of Delegation, 100
Saves Your Sanity, 100
Creates More Free Time, 102
Enhances Children's Self-esteem, 103
Keeps Children Busy, 104
Promotes Greater Family Unity, 105
Teaches Children the Value of Work, 108
Prepares Children for the Real World, 109
6. Conclusion, 111
7. Appendix, 113
Summary of Stumbling Blocks and Principles, 113
Children's Chores Based on Age, 114
Index, 116
About the Author, 119 |
