Large Family Logistics [Hardcover]

Kim Brenneman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2, 2010

In Large Family Logistics, Kim outlines practical solutions she has learned to effectively manage a busy household. This how-to manual is filled with step-by-step procedures, easy-to- understand organizational advice, and a myriad of tips and hints for managing a bustling home with greater efficiency in a way that honors God and builds up family relationships.

Sensible and straightforward, Kim tackles the nitty- gritty, day-to-day challenges moms face and also offers sound counsel on how to plan and accomplish long-term domestic goals. An invaluable home management resource that will equip busy moms to get beyond survival mode and thrive!

Editorial Reviews

Review

Large Family Logistics has lots of helpful ideas to encourage moms to prioritize their lives and get their surroundings organized using creative methods. These tips will free up time and allow moms to stay focused on their children's hearts --Michelle Duggar of '19 Kids and Counting'

How I would have loved to have had a manual like this when I first started having children! Kim's eminently practical book offers real solutions to a multitude of the logistical issues of running a household, and these solutions apply whether you have a household of two or twenty! --Beall Phillips, mother of 8 and author of Verses of Virtue

Product Details

• Hardcover: 312 pages
• Publisher: Vision Forum, Inc. (September 2, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1934554499
• ISBN-13: 978-1934554494
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (56 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #80,814 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

111 of 112 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Informational and Inspirational December 1, 2010

By Lisa K

Format:Hardcover

I have always been intrigued by big families. Especially those that run like a fine tuned engine. Smooth and without troubles. Since it is my desire to have that sort of ease in my own smallish-large family, I was eager to read Large Family Logistics by Kim Brenneman. Surely if this mother of 9 has it down pat there must be something I can glean from her expertise.

I set my eyes upon this book for the holiday weekend. Thinking that I'd just skim its pages for "the really good stuff"'and take a few notes here and there. I wound up reading for most of my available free time and my few notes quickly turned into 9 pages of type written nuggets of gold. There was no skimming this book for me -- I had struck it rich with wisdom and encouragement!!

Large Family Logistics is 312 pages of unbelievably insightful, well written wealth of inspiration broken down into bite-sized topics. As a busy homeschooling mom myself, I so appreciate Brenneman's straight forward approach without all the fancy, flowery monologue.

The preface starts out with the author telling how her life was with just one child and struggling to get it all done in a day. I felt like she was telling my story!

The How to Use This Book section encourages the reader to skip to a particular topic or read the book from cover to cover. If you are "in dire straits, then you will want to go to the two appendixes and start with a detailed strategy of how to bail out of a big mess." If you chose this method, I do encourage you to go back and read the whole thing. There's too much great information/inspiration to miss!

The first part of the book is an in depth study of Proverbs 31:10-31. Normally, I feel pretty beat down after reading these verses. But the author makes it a point to guide you in a practical, gentle (yet to the point) fashion encouraging you each step of the way to get your priorities lined up with the Word of God. Areas such as: your relationship with God and your husband, attitude, goals, redeeming time alone, internet use, meal planning and clothing are addressed. (This is by no means the whole list of topics!)

The second part of the book helps you make a Home Management Book for your family. This will help to hold your plans/goals/schedule in place which in turn aids you in keeping your home neat and clean. When life disrupts, it will help you get back on track. In this section, the basics such as scheduling, laundry, cleaning, errands are covered in detail as are the how-to get your children to do these things. You are essentially working yourself out of a job! Also covered are practical ways to for paper management, gardening, toys, getting enough sleep, schooling with littles underfoot and setting up routines for yourself in order to maximize your waking hours.

Some of my favorite quotes from this book are:

"Inspect what you expect"

When teaching your children a new chore, make sure you allot the time and energy to inspect their work. If it's not done properly, don't grumble and complain. Teach them the correct way with a good attitude.

"Teach them to teach themselves"

Seems pretty straight forward. One of our goals should be to raise children who are capable (and willing) to teach themselves without having a parental unit constantly hanging over them.

This book spoke to me on so many levels. Spiritually it inspired me to set my priorities with the Lord always in mind. Physically it inspired me to work to keep my body strong and able. Emotionally it inspired me to watch my attitude because my children will mirror the same "tone". Mentally it inspired me to pare down my time online to what is really necessary (and to avoid partaking in draining debates). All with the goal of building healthy relationships with my children in the forefront.

It would be very easy for me to go on with more examples from this book. I've just started our Home Management Book and I can honestly see a better plan for our family coming into fruition. While there are some tips that are "Large family specific", smaller sized families will also benefit from this book.

41 of 43 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Manage your home instead of it managing you December 3, 2010

By Joyful Mama

Format:Hardcover

This book is a lifesaver and a Godsend!
As soon as I received it, I could not put it down. I have read other home management books and came away from them feeling overwhelmed with their less than practical information, but this book is different.

This book is geared toward homeschoolers, because the author is a homeschooling mother of 9, but has wonderful, practical information regardless. As a homeschooler myself, I appreciate the "nuts and bolts" approach to help me as there are only so many hours in a day! I've been getting more done each day than I have in years thanks to Kim Brenneman.
I wish I had had this book years ago. I was overwhelmed when my 6th child was born recently, but now I am empowered.

33 of 38 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A good read, but not one I'm going to keep on my bookshelf March 1, 2011

By mrskatie

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I consider myself the mother of a "large" family as I am pregnant with my 6th. I feel like we are just beginning the large family journey. I came away reading this book with some great ideas, but didn't feel like I received enough ideas for our family for how large of a book it is. Sounds kind of petty as I write it out. But that's my synopsis.

Kim Brenneman does a great job sharing how SHE manages her home, and it is assumed that her method will work for you as well. Many of the things shared will work for me, but they may not work for you. I loved the examples and reminders to put a buddy system in place so that the older children can help you train the younger ones (mostly by example). I also was encouraged how she has a laundry day, a baking day, a finance day, etc. This is also a method that works well for me. I know myself that a Home Management book would NOT work for me.

That being said, it's a good book but it did not live up to the hype of many of the reviews I had read. I think a more successful book would be written by multiple women and could include many ways that they manage their homes.

It's a good book, but it's missing something...