Aussienic - NO! Not at all. I think your requests are quite reasonable. I have the same thing in my house, when I ask my children a question, or ask them to do something, I actually expect them to answer me or do what I have asked of them. I am having the same dilemmas about not tidying up after themselves. I am really tough nuts on them now, but it is slowllllllllllly working. One thing I have found that works, is that after I have asked them to tidy the toy room, if they still haven't attempted to clean it up, I get a big rubbish bag out & I mutter to myself 'gee it's a shame to throw all these nice Barbies in the bin' & pretend to start packing them in. Well, they move a mile a minute!

I hear you loud & clear though!!! I sympathise completely!