Cheaper by the Dozen (Cheaper by the Dozen, #1)

by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr.

One reason he had so many children—there were twelve of us—was that he was convinced anything he and Mother teamed up on was sure to be a success.

Irregular jobs, such as painting the back porch or removing a stump from the front lawn, were awarded on a low-bid basis. Each child who wanted extra pocket money submitted a sealed bid saying what he would do the job for. The lowest bidder got the contract.

Brilliant!

He believed that most adults stopped thinking the day they left school—and some even before that. “A child, on the other hand, stays impressionable and eager to learn. Catch one young enough,” Dad insisted, “and there’s no limit to what you can teach.”