How do I get more help cleaning my house?

With summer here and the kids always here, my house has turned into a war zone. Remnants of the snack eaten after lunch litter the family room carpet. Barbie houses designed by the girls fill the downstairs den and could never be thought of being picked up because "It took so long to put it together". Puzzles that have been put together are not allowed back in their boxes because they want to enjoy looking at their hard work in physical form. Clothing that has been dirtied from outside play waits in line by the washing machine that never seems empty. Wet towels from the beach or the pool need to be constantly washed and dried. Pens, pencils and colors that were missed when the girls "cleaned up" seem to find their way into your bare feet while making the beds or when carrying a load of laundry.

I've had it!

My mother always had a day of the week when we cleaned: a time to dust, a time to fold, a time to empty the dishwasher. Although it was only her and I for many of the years of my childhood and not much mess ensued, we did our duty to keep the house as clean as we could find time for.

Last night, as it tried to relax on my back porch, my youngest daughter wanted to play cards. As I look around at the shambles my house had become since summer vacation began, my blood pressure started to rise. From somewhere deep down, a fire was beginning to burn and at some point my voice was destined to get loud-- real loud. I tried to calm myself down by getting up out of the chair I just settled into, after cleaning up some mess destined to be in my sight, and began busying myself again. Attacking the mound of books sitting on the kitchen table, she came at me again.

"Mommy, will you play cards with me." This is all it took for me to snap!

I had enough. While every other person in the house watched TV, made a paper craft with glitter, or found a way to stain the carpet in the den by some new, different way, it came. My voice had found its volume and the attention in the house was all on mom. By the time the cleaning extravaganza was over and my notebook was in front of me, I asked myself a question.

Why didn't we have one day of the week we cleaned the house? This would be the best option in getting everyone involved in the clean-up of process in the home we all shared. This could lessen my load, I thought. As I sat with my notebook, I became interested in what chores other parents have for their children.

I have tried allowing my oldest to unload the dishwasher and something always seems to get broken. Folding clothes is another chore that never seems to find a bidder. How about putting the clothes away? I feel as if it's more difficult to get this job done than pulling teeth.

What's your cleaning routine at your house? Is this a weekly things, need by need basis or maybe it never gets done?

How about your children's ages? How does this affect what they can and cannot do?

Help!!

Do Men Think Women Love To Clean?

The kids are gone for two weeks and tomorrow hubby and I are off to the beach for ten days! Ten days of silent bliss. I am very excited.

I wrote previously on my children's sad departure as they pulled from the driveway this past weekend. I have cried my last cry and am enjoying the alone time with myself and my hubby. I have gotten chores done around the house that would never have been attempted if the children were around. I mean you can't trash toys that are literally junk around kids. Even if it's a Barbie car with one wheel, if you make a slight suggestion that maybe it's on it's last leg and should be tossed in the garbage, an excuse will be found on why it must remain in the toy box. "But Aunt BeBe gave it to us before she died," or "But it's Dottie's favorite." Speaking of Dottie, she's a stuffed deer. It's impossible to rid your home of old toys when children are around to see.

We head out tomorrow for my husband's father's beach house. We have previously stayed her multiple times before. As always, the only request about the house is when you leave, leave it the way it was.

Earlier my husband met his father for the keys and helped him run an errand. Well, it seems as if someone hadn't left the house in tip top shape and now we have been given handwritten instructions on how to leave it this time. I'm fine with this but the funny thing was, when hubby returned home, he handed me the list. ( I know he did it not even thinking about what I may read into it.)

Why, oh why do men think women love to clean up? Is there a sign above women's head that say, Let Me Clean For You. I wonder why the list was mine for the holding?

Do men really think we pray for instructions on what to clean next? Is this sexist to think this way or just natural?