Remember Remember, Fledglings Fly through November

[DidEinsteinsMum]

Welcome to the November Fledgling Flying thread.

From the 1st of the month we shall be decluttering and taming the chaos using baby steps, missions and zones. A great big thank you to MrsDinky who looked after us last month.

We are not strict followers of the fat fairy and take some of the babysteps wearing shoes indoors with a pinch of salt. Also advise against signing up for the fairy's emails.

All are welcome, jump on board for one of our three methods of chaos attack:

1. Baby steps
2. Baby steps and 15mins decluttering in current zone
3. Re-inforce the baby steps and daily mission

This month the fat fairy is gearing up for the feastive period. So I shall also post the christmas mission for those who wish are brave enough to look.

In here the motto is:

*"No perfection! Do what you can, but be realistic about what you can do."

Happy flying.

Hi everyone - went a bit awol last week but I'm determined to get on top of stuff this week.

Today I have:

been to WW lost a pound - oh well better than nothing!
sent important letter and nipped into Tesco
Cleared kitchen/famiy room for redecorating this week - it hasn't been done for 5 years
paperwork - am working through it!

To do :

supper??
bottle recycling
new shoes for DD
post bills
steam xmas pud! -doing it takes 8 hours

Hope you are all having good days....

Hello all, no flying for me just appreciating being home with my beautiful Bella in slight chaos

Thank you for thinking of us over the last week, it's been a roller coaster and I'm exhausted but so so glad to be home, hope everyone is well. I'm going to have a look at the last few days chat now.

Lovely to see you back Bob - you've been in our thoughts, as I'm sure you know.

It's wonderful to hear that Bella is back home now; how is she doing? I'm sure that flying is the last thing on your mind at the moment.

Welcome back, Bob. Definitely no flying for you at the moment - just make the most of your lovely girl. Must be wonderful to be back home with her.

Productive morning here -

School run done
Washing up done
Kitchen hotspot done
Fridge cleared done
Tesco shopping put away done
Dining room tidied done
Newspapers put into recycling done
Swish and swipe in b/room done
Bins emptied done
B/F and lunch for MIL, DS1 (off sick) and me done
School run done

To do:

Make double quantity of shepherd's pie
More washing up
Clear cupboard for new tumbledrier tomorrow
Evening routine
Bed at decent hour (hopeless at this. Any hints at making myself go to bed on time? Trouble is, I love being alone when everyone has gone to bed. Means I can finally sit down on MN without interruption).

Have just realised that DS1 missed his evacuation today, thanks to being off sick. All that bloody work for nothing !

Yay Bob great to have you back!!!

So happy you are both back home. Don't Fly. Try and rest.

Oh sorry Swan I missed your earlier post as have only come back on here now! Thanks for the suggestion though!! We barely use the playroom in winter either as it's so drafty. In fact nearly half our house is out of service between November and March!!

Toffee well done with your list; you are on a roll! I have exactly the same prob with going to bed early as I love my silent space in the evenings. So I try to:

• always have a book on the go that I enjoy to tempt me there at least half an hour before lights out

• set a time (a la Flylady) and try and stick to it, even if you are consistently a bit late, it's better than having no time at all as you are aware you are late (if that makes sense!)

• once a week - try and go to bed same time as dd

• I think it also helps if you stick to more or less the same bedtime (and getting up times) at weekends too, boring though this sounds

• I only watch TV on certain nights and only then watch certain programmes. If I allow myself to sit and surf I can be stuck on the sofa for hrs!!

• finally, something I am failing at miserably at the moment - try and make your bedroom inviting so you want to go there - (you would cry with laughter if you saw the state of our master bedroom atm - it's a pit!) but clean sheets and order and low lighting really help (wish I could take my own advice)

-try and organise some time for yourself during day when your dc are at school (not easy when dcs v. small). I know I'm v. lucky to be able to do this but I try and ring fence four to six hours on a Tuesday - never make appts on that day - when I can do what I like (usually something creative like painting or sewing) which lessens craving for space in evening.

• like all of these Flylady baby-steps though, I find going to bed early and sticking to a time is so much easier if I am on top of the other steps ie I have had a productive day and am on top of things ... it's when I am behind and stressed about things that are undone, that I tend to stay up late and not look forward to the next day etc and then it all becomes a bit of a viscious circle ...

The book tip works best for me! My Amazon bills are extortionate!!

OOhhh Optimistic I'd forgotten it was stir-up Sunday yesterday. (Haven't made mine yet.) Well done you and happy steaming!

Ihate sorry everyone ill in your household atm. Hope they recover soon. You've got loads done considering. My dh is ill atm too and insisted on going in to work and sneezing over everyone.

Loosinas hope your day got better. I reckon it was just one of those maudlin Mondays that come along every so often!

DID good luck with your triple camel spins!!

Linzer Thanks for kind words - yes dd is like Jeckle and Hyde - it can be exhausting (pathetic to say that I know with only one child!). Fortunately she has been an angel for the past 4 days ... Hope you are feeling more positive this week.

Bestows shiny gold medal on Ellie for patient wife of year award

Systems thanks for reminder to clean oven!! Mine is horrendous.

Well done Highlighter* you sound on top of things

Waves to PushmePullyou

Nettie hope your tooth if feeling better

MrsDinky you sound very organised - top marks!

Must go so waves to everyone I have missed.

PA hope you are feeling more like your old self and taking it very steady

You too Mini

Must go ... supper is ready ...

Thank heavens maudlin Monday is nearly over!!!

Optimistic
five years five years wht's five years, dh would say 20years is a bit hasty to redecorate!
Bob you have been through a lot this past week - hope someone else is looking after you now. Best wishes to your ds too, I know it's very hard for those left behind as well, from my experiences with the twins when ds broke his leg and was hospitalized. I hope he can let off steam somehow.

Children have been dancing to ballet music, but now are fighting - I think I officially hate winter evenings...

SC I think i really really need to take your advice about bedtimes and bedrooms too. I am absolutely shattered. GOing to bed when ds goes tonight 30mins and counting. Also going to have to go caffine free. It is really not helping the issue.

Fantastic to have you back Bob so glad you're home

Another day nearly over, usual mixed results of things done/not done

Done
Morning routine
Vacuum living room
Whizz round tidy and clean living room
Clean washing away
Wet washing on airer (so I don't have to stand out in the cold today)
Washup breakfast stuff
s/s
Change beds
Washing in machine
WHBH
Pgp phonecalls
Zone decluttering
Zone mission - well actually Tuesday's one, as that gave me the best "looks like I've done something" benefit, will do Monday's tomorrow
Lunch
Paper item from To Do file
Hotspot
Mincemeat - jars of it. My wave to Stir Up Sunday as we don't have a traditional Christmas pudding. Have yet to make the apricot jam I need for ours.
Sort out new food bin
Clean cat bowls and tray
Play with DS
Jigsaw puzzle with DS
Cook tea - chicken, potato/veg cakes and peas, cooked apple and apricot

To Do
Wash up
Pgppaperwork
WI paperwork
Our paperwork/finance stuff
Evening routine
Bedtime routine
Make Christmas cards
Write some Christmas cards
Christmas sewing

And I've just realised that we are out of bread and biscuits, so need to add bread baking and biscuit making to this evenings list. I can't really send DS to playgroup without something in his lunch box . If I'd been more with it I'd have noticed earlier, but am still feeling a bit grotty (that's my excuse, and I'm sticking to it!)

Toffee - I'm with you in the "not getting to bed early" line. It'w "my" time of day. DS is at playgroup in the mornings now, but I use that time for house and work jobs, so feel that the only time I have for my stuff is in the evening (usually after I've tried to finish that day's To Do list).

Toffee I am just awful at going to bed at a decent time when DH is away (as he is at the moment); if I was actually being productive, it wouldn't be so bad. However, I usually end up pottering around and spending far too much time on MN. I can only second SC's advice about having a book to look forward to - if I'm in bed by 9 pm, I allow myself to read for half an hour or so. I'm actually hoping to make it by 8.30 pm tonight, but still have rather a lot of tidying up to do... (Did you get my PM btw or did I send it to the wrong person?!?)

SC Not pathetic at all; I find DD2 utterly exhausting at times and don't suspect I would find her any easier if the other two weren't around (she would just be getting worked up about different things!). I know from friends who have just the one child that it's often exhausting in a different way; you may not have to put up with constant squabbling between siblings, but an only child often relies on you much more for entertainment, company, etc. It's swings and roundabouts... Glad to hear your DD has been behaving so well for the last few days, anyway; DD2 has been much better today too (but DD1 and DS made up for it with their constant quarrelling this afternoon!).

Ihate Yet another impressive list - how on earth do you manage to get so much done when you're feeling under the weather? I'm rarely manage to be that productive even when I'm feeling full of energy!

Was interrupted by a phone call from a friend when I was in the middle of writing my post so an 8.30 pm bedtime is looking increasingly unlikely, but I will be in bed by 9 pm!

right just about to move ds into bed. I think he has fallen asleep on the sofa watching tv.

Tuesday reminders - planning day!

I know where my control journal is do you? Now all I've got to do is use it

Missions

Christmas missions

Swan - if it makes you feel a bit better it is probably nearer to 6/7 years and is a cream colour so... I took down some pictures and there is a nice grey outline round where they used to be!
Bob - so glad you and Bella are back home - enjoy a lovely rest the two of you now...
SC - I shall be trying some of your early bedtime tips - trouble with me is I get a second wind at about 11...

Big wave to all on the thread. Enjoy your evening!

Yes I do too Optimistic - sign of true owls!! I forgot to mention that I do sometimes get out of bed again and have to read and/or do ironing or something really boring to calm down properly ...You can work with it on light summer nights, it's harder in winter ...BTW if it makes you feel any better, we haven't decorated for 8.5 years ....!!! (I try not to wear my glasses inside the house!!)

Thanks Linzer she can be quite demanding bless her and actually, looking down the thread, I see she was being stroppy on Saturday so she has only been an angel for two days not four .. but here's hoping she can keep it up!! It's not all her fault by any means; I haven't been parent of the year recently owing to other circs. Her main prob. at the moment though is, as an only child, her primary reference points are adult ones so she is deeply frustrated that she is not "big", "can't drive a car", "can't stay up late and has to go to bed alone", "can't draw money out of an atm machine" and "can't go to the office to work" ... sigh ... we give her as much autonomy as possible but there isn't a huge amount of leeway available when you are 7!!

Enjoy your early nights everyone (not looking at DID in particular, honest )!!

OOOOh SC there is potential!!! boring chores for pokcet money. then she is working, eg like a house keeper etc. And that some she is expect to do and not get paid for, and some is work because it is extra. she does it gets th money she doesnt she doesnt. Combined with a you buy your own sweets and mags rules So now not only does ds stop whining about being grown up, he doesnt get magazine or too many sweets. its marvelous. House is no tidier though

Does she do the back/passanger seat driving thing? I have threatened to ban ds from the car for doing that in the past.

Still trying to chuck ds into bed. he is not feeling well so being awkward.

Lost my post . Was a long one too. To summarise:

SC - thank you for your good advice re bedtimes. Thanks to you and Linzer, I have just ordered myself two new books for bedtime .

Sounds like I'm not the only one who struggles with a decent bedtime. Like Ihate it is my quiet time of day. Plus, like Optimistic and SC, I get a second wind at 11ish.

Linzer - sorry, didn't get yr PM. Please re-send!

Bob - hope you are enjoying being back at home with yr family and DD .

Have finished my list this evening. Will try and get an early night tonight, as I am going out for dinner with a friend tomorrow night and don't want to fall asleep on the table.

Goodnight all.

Thanks for the ideas DID!! As it happens dd IS a terrible back seat driver but it is something I encourage as her sense of direction is much better than mine

Meant to add "hope your ds feels better soon"!

I rarely get to sleep before midnight either, tend to do jobs, watch a bit of Telly, one last check of MN before bed turns into an hour and a half, then DH and I often start having discussions about the DCs etc. Usually manage 20 mins of. book before lights out too. Yawn.

Lots to do tonight, better go, catch up tomorrow.

I draw the line at ds going. You need to indicate mummy, i think the lights are going to change, be ready to stop. have you got enough petrol. can you please turn the windscreen wipers on at the back as i cant see out the back window (broken so cant) etc etc. Oh and i am not overly keen when he starts swearing at other drivers either.

It could be several things; there is a tummy bug going around school, the milk reintroduction is failing again, he isnt eating enough fruit and a tad bunged up or he has so much snot it is unsettling his stomach. Nothing that an early night wont cure. And nothing like the early night i was planning for both of us.

WRT late bedtimes, i get a second wind about 9pm but it can keep going until at least 1am and often closer to 3am. Need to get out of this habbit. Must sleep more. i can do it i did it last year. Will check on ds in 15 mins and as soon has he is asleep i am heading for bed.

That's exactly it, a second wind at about 10.

My DCs are always on at me about the petrol too. Grrr.

nuff said really. night

Going to bed NOW!

Did I say I would be in bed by 9 pm last night? Well, I finally made it at 10.45. Felt dead to the world when I got up this morning, but am slowly waking up now (2.5 hours later).

SC I don't think I'll be up for any parent of the year awards any time soon either. Seriously though, I'm sure you're doing your best; you sound like a wonderful mother and no one has ever said that parenting is easy! Btw I also encourage back seat driving as the DDs have a far better sense of direction than I do (not difficult, admittedly!).

DID Excellent idea about chores for pocket money; I keep meaning to start reward charts for the DC again, and must add some chores next time round. However, sweets are the only thing they're not allowed to buy with their pocket money as they get far too many as it is.

Toffee Hope you enjoy your books; let me know if they're any good, as I'm always on the lookout for reading matter! Have a lovely evening out tonight.

My list today is short but (theoretically) manageable:
Morning routine
15 min decluttering
Bed by 9 pm
It's so short it's almost embarrassing, but I need to keep things realistic!

good morning. i havent caught up with all you lovely ladies but thought i better list post while i can.

get up
make ds packed lunch-tasked to dh last night who forgot
ds to montessori
dd to jo jingles
home hopefully with energy left to
bed change x 3
wm
dw
tidy and declutter dd room.
order blind for dd new room
crisis clean whole house
finish christmas cards
make dinner oops forgot to take anything outta freezer
gym energy permitting
bed

right quick read of thread thren i better get moving!

have a good day

bob welcome back nice to see you.