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.

yes, I think change the Ballet place might be answer, some of dd's friends who did continue went to another venue anyway, so it may have been that method of teaching was what put my dd off.
Other thing I discovered is that apparently all is not lost if you pick it up again even at 10 years old, which is when a dd of friend has just started, and is doing brilliantly!

Namechange - dont worry. despite posting the links I havent looked at a mission in weeks. and as i have ds off school today will get very little done. He isnt very demanding or troublesome. Just needs company. Which makes it very difficult to do anything. I have left him with a program about space in the vague hope i can have a few moments to mn/check email etc. Although I have been called back downstairs 3 times already. just take SC's advice and be kind to yourself

Linzer ds was very excited about his post thank you.

Right plan today -
finish sorting out the paperwork problem as ds' school.
keep ds calm - his breathing is improving and he seems a little better with his asthma. But he has been kept warm, so he will have to be kept inside as much as possible tomo if he is back at school.
Ironing
Not kill the nasty horrible 3d 500 piece jigsaw that someone gave ds. All the pieces look bloody the same and the picture changes depending on the age you look at it. I hate it already and we have spent over an hour trying to put the edge pieces together.
christmas cards if possible

its going to be minimal flying today.

Thanks for the advice Ellie and Swan I had a sense that we over-scheduled - we've been trying to compensate for her being an "only" - I'm anxious for her to socialise and be able to blend in to groups. Also, she is a child with huge amounts of physical energy which needs an outlet ... I'll ponder this some more.

Ellie crikey I don't think I would get dd to more than one activity a week if I had your work schedule ...2 is impressive!

Swan fortunately now is a good time for her to miss classes, if she is going to, as all the big gala things happen in the summer (and lol at yr 'lunatic cossack'). Yr Swan lake dd sounds lovely too.

Swan it's reassuring to know that (a) dd isn't the only one to 'go on strike' every so often and (b) that she can pick ballet up again if she decides to drop it for the moment

Re your ds - aw - if you can't fly around pretending to be aeroplane/rocket/firework at his age then when can you!!

I think that's half the problem tbh. I know we all want our dc to be able to master difficult skills and develop the patience to do so - it's great life training - but with school and everything else, there aren't many classes or activities nowadays where they can just have rollicking/boisterous fun.

Mmmmm... perhaps there's a niche in the market there to be explored ... SC's once-weekly go balmy class!!

Right, must get back to it ...

Eek, I think that should have read barmy

Balmy might be good though too

You've all made me smile so much - thanks to SC and Deck

Yes you right, high expectations etc I'm definately guilty of - well everyone else seems to manage/achieve

Activities My DS did go to tennis and swimming but we have dropped swimming and intend to pick back up re change of teacher/times etc. As he is an OC I do feel he needs to be out mixing with other children (err burn of box of frogs style energy)In January he is starting drama classes too as he is always prancing and singing about the place!

On lighter note I must go and do the 15minute thing and check that GOK and 60 minute makeover team aren't outside

Oh joy 1pm already!

namechange It sounds like you've been through an awful lot over the last year and are doing brilliantly. You need to be kind to yourself, allow yourself time to recover from the colds etc. (don't overdo it!), let go of perfection, and just remember - baby steps, baby steps! SC's advice about rewarding yourself after doing something for 15 minutes is excellent (and something I should probably do more often!).

What time does your DD finish school, SC? I had the feeling that we were overscheduled last year (five activities between the two DDs), although I'm sure that if I had an only child I would see things differently. Maybe it's a good idea to let your DD have a few weeks' break - with any luck, she'll go back to ballet with renewed vigour and if she doesn't, well perhaps that particular class is just not for her (at the moment).

Am having a bit of an unproductive and scatterbrained day today: I got back from picking up DD1 and her friend, only to realise that I'd forgotten to collect DS from kindergarten . (I normally pick him up later, but he's gone to play with a fried this afternoon.) I must admit that I'm finding four girls much easier to handle than one small boy; there have been a few arguments, but fortunately I haven't needed to get involved too much. Famous last words, I suspect...

Right, now I MUST do the following:

Tidy away lunch things (spaghetti carbonara did not go down well - I will go back to serving plain pasta with optional bolognese sauce when we have visitors in future)
Put washing away
5 min rooms rescues in living room and kitchen
Check homework

Gosh, this has been a busy thread this morning. Not sure I can catch up with everyone, but noticed that Namechange is having a difficult time - I'm so sorry . At times like that, the house is like a metaphor, isn't it? We feel crap, the house looks crap. I know we go through phases like that when everything feels out of control. I agree with Linzer - you need to take it slowly and be kind to yourself. Maybe you could, for instance, clear your sink, then change your sheets and then have an early night? You need to do one or two things to help yourself feel a bit more in control, rather than despairing at the chaos. No chance of getting a one-off Spring clean from a company is there? I did that once and it put me on a high for weeks. It was well worth it.

My list today:

School run done
Breakfast, tea, pills for MIL done
Put our sheets in the washing machine done
Unload d/w done
Reload d/w with dirty dishes done
Go out for coffee with friend done
Put wet sheets in tumbledrier done
Put MIL's sheets and clothes in w/m done
11am snack and tea for MIL done
Quick check of emails done
Lunch done
Ironing done
Check MN doing
Put wet clothes in tumbledrier done
Put sheets back on bed
Put clothes away
Collect DC from school
Take DC2 to friend's house
Escape into town (have chores to do, but am also going to nip into a couple of clothes shops for myself]
Appt at drs (allergy tests - will finally find out what I'm allergic to. Housework, maybe?)
Cook shepherd's pie (mostly done)
Washing up
Wine
Bedtime routine
Early night

I have to say that having MIL here is a great incentive to get on with things, as I feel guilty if I'm not doing anything. Am feeling guilty now, so had better get on .

Oh, Linzer, you poor thing - forgetting your ds! If it's any consolation, a friend and I had a misunderstanding last week and both thought the other was collecting my son from school (he was going back to hers for a playdate). Luckily, I was in the playground anyway (to collect other son) and noticed she didn't have ds2. Ran round to classroom, then to the office, where the poor boy was waiting patiently for me. He was very brave, but I felt terrible - as did my friend!

Hope the girls continue playing nicely!

gosh, I have done everything on my limited list
including pie

now going to rush to shops to buy ingredients for Mum's cake which I am required to conjure at short notice by Dad.

smiles at Toffee I hope my house is not a metaphor for me. I'm disowning any relationship with my house right now [puts curlers in]

Afternoon all!
Well the shopping centre was totally manic but DH and I did actually have a nice day - he doesn't do shopping in any shape or form but came in very handy for carrying all the bags!!
Managed to spring clean upstairs after my major sort and go out at about the time Mr Chatty arrived! Unfortunately he is going to keep egg shelling the kitchen units until they are finished. That means chips for the third day running!!

Name it sounds like you have had a lot on your plate. Well done for just putting one foot in front of the other. I think the 15 mins advice is good as once you start something you usually feel a bit better.

SC - let me ,as the mum of 3 teenagers, give you the bigger picture re your DD. We run around like loonies when they are younger taking them from this thing to that and forget, in our hurry to make sure we are not missing a hidden talent, that they are not machines but , in fact, human just like us!! They don't always want to carry on and occasionally don't feel like doing an activity.... If your DD isn't generally someone who starts and then drops things I would give her a break. She can always come back to ballet later. I agree with ellie on this - 2 things a week is plenty! Hope that makes you feel better!!BTW good plans!! It always helps to have a plan I find!!

Swan - at hoover making you cry!

Waves at linzer and anyone else I have missed...

Toffee Linzer Still and Deck

Thanks so much for support - its a curious thing the relationship we have with our domesticities - it is so true the house is always an indication of how I am in myself and its a bit of chicken and egg scenario.

I also think why only do 15 minutes surely I am not that ill etc but I should do more but it works - I did nearly half hour in bedroom then fell asleep on sofa, til DS woke me but he's been no trouble actually, he really should have gone in for the afternoon session.

Stripped bed done
Bedding laundered and hung done
Dusted and Polished bedroom done
Folded half of the clothes done

Lunch/nap

Cleared kitchen surfaces done
Wipe over kitchen surfaces done
Done dishes done
Shined Sink done

I have made doctors appointment to get B12 checked for tomorrow as this can affect my energy levels. As the timings match up to previous check & treatment.

I have everything out to make minestrone soup, then I shall have a nice bath and get ready for sofa and TV!

I might even light a candle or two!
P.S. ruddy hoover still in bits on kitchen floor.

name we should send our hoovers on a blind date

feeling stressed. As going out later. Have plodded on with lttle tasks, trying to focus on fact that babysitter is not going to judge me, as all she wants is money and a nice sofa to watch telly on...

Funny swan funny re hoovers - I think mines a girl hoover its white and lilac with seemingly PMT!

Tis an awful feeling when our pride gets in the way of us getting ready for precious nights out for most parents anyway:

Clean PJ's
Fed - or snack plate ready
Hoovered etc and downsatirs loo clean Oh and er upstairs too as they will be doing teethbrushing - I mean what we put ourselves throughh is silly sometimes

Have a good night out Swan

Opti thanks for your encouragement

I have made soup!

SC drops by to wave "hullo" to everyone

reads bit about the state of our houses reflecting our innermost selves

runs away in fright

Yeah Namechange.

i have having a weird day. Had an appology from ds' pead after i made his brand new secutary quiver. I threatened a formal complaint to dataprotection people about a breach of the data protection act.

Ds is refusing to do ANY work at school his handwriting book is 8 weeks behind and this is despite there being virtually nothing in his books when i looked at them during parents evening. His teacher thought he needed time to adjust to the new expectations from yr to y1. But she is now having to keep him in at break to get anything out of him. He can bloody do the work and does without even trying when kept back. He just refuses to do anything. Anyone got any ideas?

Flying done today:
make formal complaint about breach of confidentuality
chase up garage re new car key
sort out hiring carpet cleaning machine for next week.
Sort out paperwork for ds to go back to school tomo and school to give him his inhalers.
Do some handwriting practice with ds.
Been accused of being a cunt. I love mn sometimes.

Must do the links and then sleep as ds hasnt had any tea and fell asleep before 6:30pm. So predict a really rough night.

Sorry got caught up in a bit of a bun fight/contriversal threads. all of which have now been pulled. Must remeber to not click on anything that looks even slightly interesting on active con.

friday reminders

developing the routines

missions

christmas missions

Morning all,

Wish I'd seen those threads DID - I always seem to miss out on any late night excitement thanks to the time difference and DH objecting to me spending time on the computer in the evenings unless I have to work (can't say I blame him).

I am feeling very organised as the Christmas present I ordered for DH arrived yesterday. I'm not sure I've bought him a present since DD1 was born, so am particularly proud of the fact that I managed to order one in November this year. However, I wasn't quite organised enough to put it away and had no excuses at the ready when he spotted the parcel on the stairs and asked me what I'd been ordering from Amazon again.

After an utterly unproductive morning yesterday, must make more of an effort today. List for this morning:

Weekly food shop done
Pay bills x3 done
Unpack shopping
Morning routine
Mission
15 minute decluttering
Send invoices x2

Morning all!

Linzer - at not putting away DHs pressie and his reaction!!

Today:
pay 2 bills done
Do a small food shop - I still can't get into my kitchen units but it is looking fab!
Swish and swipe
Pick DD up at lunchtime thisImustn'tforget
Pick up cinema tickets
Pay in cheques
DO LAUNDRY...

I must try not to spend the entire day checking my email as I have been doing for the last few days - am waiting for an important email regarding DS1s university choices.....
A watched pot never boils as my mum always says!!

See you all later!

Thismorning [smiles brightly and ever so irritatingly]
Iwill
wrap PTA presents
go to shops and find delicious food for dh supper (not pie)
order presents for 5 people, or wrap presents I have for for five people whichever seems more likely
put dates in DIARY
tidy my room for 20 mins max!
try and collar (my lovely) builder on a ladder down the road to do looseats, andnew light in hall some time next week.
veg soup from some fridge lurkers

Oh yes and pay in dh cheque
book Harry Potter cinema tickets or look up times
pay gas bill by cheque so as not to clash with ingoing cheque

Morning

Deck you are a 'fanjo' of the bad sort? Dam I always miss the argy bargy! As for your DS writing - is he gaining a lot of attention about this? - Is it a case of sticking it out til he gets fed up with losing break times? I dont see a problem with if you do abc you can have xyz style reward chart or money jar or summit - some people say this is bribery but I call it effort and reward - work ethic principle our captialist society is based around - this is life.

However I would do this only for the catch up bit, then when he up to date he should be expected to keep up to date or he loses privledges and has to 'win' them back

Or remove them now and he has to earn them back? We are trying very hard to instill this 'things have to paid for/earnt' with my DS who is soon to be 5, the 'I want that..' has really kicked in.

Today List

Washed
Dressed
Breakfast
School Run

Visit three clients
Doctors
School Run
Tennis

and erm some 'flying' when we get in.

I am feeling better today emotionally and I did have a bath and did body butter and candles afterwards downstairs child free whilst watching soaps - simple but I did feel better - thanks for the suggestions

Happy flying all

I wonder whether teacher completely ignoring the fact that he hasn't written anything, and praising the people next to him who have might work better. It seems he is getting a lot of attention by NOT writing anything, and if as you say he can do it, it is really a battle of wills.
Sometimes once a child feels important they won't budge. Depends how long this has gone on, he can't really be kept in every break, it won't really help his mood.

I bet Optimistic has some good advice.

My "dig his heels in" child writes abombinably (yr4 now), but I think the teacher encouraged him to write something rather than nothing, and that has helped. However sloppily it is done I think just getting something, anything, down was a good start.

Hello :) I banned myself from MN until I'd finished DP's christmas presents and didn't manage that until nearly 11, he has a liking for obscure music that is nearly impossible to find but at least it's done now.

Today
-Morning routine done
-S&S done
-Washing done
-Pay bills
-Clear bedside table
-Clear dresser
-Dust bedroom
-Cook roast!

I'll be back to catch up on the chat later, hope everyone is well and not too chilly :)