Erika, I sure hope you are proud of yourself, because you should be. My daughter is 17 now and Tea Parties are the thing of past. I sure miss them! Days seem so long sometimes, but the years fly. Everyone is right. The dust and clutter will always be there, but your daughter will never be this young again. And I can promises you, your children could care less if the house is spotless! My younger Cousin is a Martha Steward wanabe. She drives her husband and three kids nuts with the house having to be perfect at all times. She even home schools all three. All three of her children have anxiety issues at the ripe old age of 7, 9, and 12. Being a mother is the most important job you will ever have. You certainly didn't have a good role model, but you are a very strong, intelligent, and caring person who knows the difference between right and wrong. Teach them what you know and enjoy this time. Your going to blink one day, and they are going to be getting ready to leave the nest. Just hang in there, some days are going to be diamonds and some days are going to be coal. On the bad days remember "For this too shall pass".