More Excitement by the Dozen

In Cheaper by the Dozen, Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey depict the significance of family in the lives of every human being. The book provides comic relief to family struggles and difficult times, yet imbues a sense of heartwarming peace in the heart of the reader who picks the book up for enjoyment. It's almost impossible to guess what could happen in a family with 12 kids. Many people assume that chaos would be immeinent. Such an assumption would be correct. But not many people would assume that the mother and father of the 12 children would be able to stand such a way of life. In fast, Cheaper by the Dozen recounts the love and importance of the family bond among the Gilbreths, even in their chaotic household. Mr. Gilbreth, even though he cannot stand the chaos, would never give up any of his sons or daughters for the world, no matter how much they irritate him.



When Mr. and Mrs. Gilbreth got married, they knew they were in for a difficult time. Both spuses came into their relationship with a significant amount of baggage. Mrs. Gilbreth was ready, being a psychologist and an expert at taking care of young children, but Mr. Gilbreth was not as prepared for what was to come. Mr. and Mrs. Gilbreth now had 12 children to deal with, combined, thus the title Cheaper by the Dozen. Mr. Gilbreth is far more impatient, and is constantly found hooting and hollering at his children for misbehaving, while Mrs. Gilbreth has her moments, but is, for the most part, calm and collected, considering she is dealing with 12 children. Of which only a few are mature enough to take care of themselves, and more than half are obnoxious troublemakers. On top of their 12 kids, Mr. and Mrs. Gilbreth are forced to care for a trouble-making dog named Gunner and their children's equally boistrous friends. Needless to say, every day in the Gilbreth house is an adventure. Sometimes things get so crazy that the parents flip their respective switches, but these explosions of frustration simply add to the pragmatic nature of the story, and supply a strong taste of reality to readers.



Cheaper by the Dozen by Frank Gilbreth and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey (pgs. 1-152)