It also sounds like your a bit like my sis. She just never got that gene for organizing and is she the best procrastinator!
Keeping a house clean is so important for the M IMHO. If you read the book For Women Only, you'll find that a job for men is more than just a job. They are always feeling inadequate and that at any moment they will be found out. This is for men in general that is. They have a large stress or burden as they feel they are in charge of taking care of the family financially. Now, us women take care of the family physically and mentally, and boy is that a job in itself, but we can't minimize what our H's do though, and what they look for is to come home and not have to deal with stress, as the home is their getaway. Or they'd like it to be.
When the home is cluttered, messy, or just plain trashed, there is no comfort in that, and instead it builds stress. So every problem in the home is just multiplied. Anger sets in more easily, stress, tension.
This was something I found out that was very important to my H. I believe it is important to many men. And what's sad, is these times are much harder on us women. There are many of us with jobs now, and I really wish it wasn't that way.
So, my point being, your doing a great job with your start to get organized. It will help in so many ways. Flylady is great, but you can get overwhelmed with the multitude of emails, so fyi.
On your kids, I think at their ages, they could do more if you need them to. Perhaps they could help out a little extra on the weekends. My s10 has to do a chore everyday, like the dishes, walk the dog, or laundry. On his clothes, we never put them up, but instead give them to him to put up himself (unless he does the laundry and then he does it all except our clothes). I guess that's not really more than your kids, and it's a good idea they are not doing too much when they see their dad so that time isn't taken away.
baby steps are good though, keep it up, your doing great!
Me 33 H 34 S9 S3 M 6 yrs (2gether 11 yrs) EA/PA 1/2006 DB 5/2006 H wants D 6/2006 H wants ME 8/2006 H "said" PA/EA over 8/2006 H erased OW off phone! 2/2007
"It is far better 2 choose humility & change oneself, than 2 wait in vain trying 2 chang someone else."
She just never got that gene for organizing and is she the best procrastinator! 