Toys and Crackers and Crayons, Oh My!

It's amazing how quickly kids can deconstruct your home. Seriously, 5 minutes is all it takes to have crackers mashed on the floor, all the play food & dishes, cars, play tools, and crayons strewn everywhere, and every clean blanket drug out to make a fort. I can't seem to keep ahead of the game. I go to other people's homes and they seem so tidy. I get so aggravated with the mess. When it's just my son, it's not so bad. he can occupy himself pretty easily, but add another kid or two into the mix and there is complete and utter chaos.

I've done everything I can do to organize toys neatly. Each group of toys has it's own bin or drawer. The kids know where everything goes and they are capable of cleaning up themselves. I just don't seem to be a very good enforcer. I feel like pulling my hair out. It's so much easier to just handle it myself. I'm trying my hardest to stand my ground and teach them to get out one thing at a time but the chaos happens so quickly that it seems overwhelming. If the clutter seems insurmountable to me as an adult, I'm sure it does to them, too.

There must be some great secret I'm missing. Are other parents seriously staying right on top of their kids 24 hours a day 7 days a week? I feel like I'm spending the whole day demanding they pick up toys. I want them to be kids and have fun, too.

Well, there's a mess in the play room with my name on it. Off I go.