Do I have MAID stamped on my forehead?

Some days I would like to know if I have the word MAID stamped on my forehead. I like to think I am a really tidy person and mess and chaos drives me insane. That being said...my kids are SLOBS. They refuse to pick up after themselves, they leave their dishes on the counter or sink or table and they don't put anything away....well not without a lot of screaming and yelling.

Yes, I admit it...I yell at my children. Are you ready to click away? NO! Yup, I am one of those mothers who doesn't want to be my kid's best friend. Okay, maybe I do, but later when they are older...now it's my job to make sure they no right from wrong and know how to behave in the outside world. In Yiddish you would say to be a mensch.

Okay, back to the mess. My kids think I am so mean...I make them miss part of their shows to tidy up their messes. I know the horrors! Nothing irritates me more than someone taking things out and not putting them away where they belong. The kids also grumble that they have to do chores...I make a schedule that's posted on the fridge, included on the list is emptying the dishwasher, setting the table, clearing the table, and feeding or watering Frasier. They also have to keep their rooms tidy. My kids tell me I am the meanest mother in the world. My standard answer is "Good, I'm trying to win the award!" It bugs them to know end! :-)

Well, my tirade is over, thank you for listening. I feel better now. Oh, the kitchen is nice and clean as I scrubbed it down (even the fridge) while I was ranting and raving at my children!

How do you get your family keep things tidy in your house. I don't want our house to look like a museum but neither do I want to have to clean for 2 hours before anyone steps foot in my house.