How many times have you said that or wanted to? With seven kids, 2 with Aspergers Syndrome still at home, after 32 years of being a mother I feel like:

A) a nag

B) a broken record

C) sometimes a slave

Easy ways to keep your house from looking like the Hurricane Kids hit it are learned over time and by habit, by most people these days, because most of us grew up in homes where both parents worked.

You have to start when they're toddlers and learning how to play with toys. Teach them if they got something out they can put it back.

When they're about 4 or 5 they are old enough to make thier own bed if you buy them the kind of sleeping bags that unzip all the way. When they wake up they just have to smooth it out over thier bed, and if they go to a sleep over they can just zip it, roll it and take it with them.

Buy the kind of toy box that can double as a bench that way when thier toys are picked up you can close the lid and the room looks clean. Just make sure it has the kind of hinge on it that won't let the lid fall shut and close your child in it.

Hang closet rods, and coat hooks, at a height that your child can reach, that way they can not only retrieve thier own clothes, but they can also put them away. When they hang thier winter coats teach them to put thier gloves/mittens in one arm of thier coat and thier hat in the other arm, that way they never loose them. Put a laundry hamper in thier closet, as they change thier clothes to go to bed, or get up in the morning, they can just drop thier soiled things in it.

Buy a broom and dust pan, or small vacumn, for each bedroom, keep them in the closet. Teach your kids how to use them and as they get old enough they can sweep thier own floors.

Have 3 laundry hampers in the laundry room labled whites, lights, and darks, it makes laundry day so much easier, since you've pre-sorted. On laundry day have a box, or basket, for each family member, as thier clothes are folded put them in the apropriate container, that way you only have to make one trip to each room. When you fold sheet sets put all the matching sheets, pillow cases, etc... into one of the pillow cases that belong to that set. When you go to change beds you don't have to hunt through the linen closet to find all the matching pieces.

Do not allow your kids to bring things that don't belong in certain rooms into them. All personal care items should never be brought into the dining room, or kitchen, for example. Instead of a regular old foot stool in the livingroom have a hassock with a lid that can be removed and any toy that the kids bring into the livingroom (and don't take back out) can be tossed into it and closed back up. When they want a toy that's been put in there tell them that it is in time out because it came into an adult space and wouldn't leave. The child can either trade a chore for the toy or allow it to stay in time out for a set period of time.

Don't add to your work load by keeping unneccessary junk. Go through your mail as soon as you get it from the mail box, toss out the junk mail. Done with a magazine? Drop it in a tote bag so you can donate it to your Dr's waiting room or the laundry mat seating area, just mark out your name and address so no one can use it. Keep a box, or basket, by the front door, in the laundry room, or coat closet for clothes and toys your kids have out grown. When you're heading to town they're ready to be brought to a resale shop or donate to a charity.

Put a large basket or two outside by the back door for all of the kids out door toys, cars, trucks, balls, etc... that way if it rains the water can run out of the basket/s but the yard is picked up and the toys won't get damaged.

Put a boot brush by each door leading into your house to scrape off any mud from soiled shoes, and teach your kids how to use it. Put two welcome mats in front of any door leading into the house it takes four feet of mat to get most of the grime off of the bottoms of shoes.

Teach everyone to rinse the bath tub as soon as they're done bathing. If you or your family shower keep a squeegee handy and wipe down the shower doors with it after every shower. Have a small basket that you can put in the cupboard under the sink for all bath tub toys.

While you're cooking rinse each pot, pan, mixing bowl, etc. when you're done using it. Teach every one that's old enough to scrape, and rinse off, their own dishes after eating. It keeps the foods from hardening to your dishes and makes washing them so much easier.

Keep a small trash can in every room. so there's always a place for people to put thier garbage.