Happy New Year, January's here, fly with the fledglings to get clutter clear

[ToffeeChristmascake]

Welcome to the January Fledgling Flying thread. A very big thank you to Ellie, our intrepid leader, for guiding us through the frantic Christmas month.

We are not strict followers of the Fat Fairy and take some of the babysteps - such as getting dressed to lace-up shoes - with a pinch of salt. We also strongly advise against signing up for the FlyLady emails.

From the first of the month, we will be following Flylady's tips on restoring order to our homes, using one of the following methods:

1. Babysteps
2. Babysteps + 15 mins daily decluttering
3. Babysteps + daily missions

Following the babysteps helps to establish daily routines and build a weekly plan.

This month's motto is: You can't clean clutter! See here for Flylady's advice on decluttering.

If you are overwhelmed by the mess in your home, start with just one thing: shine your sink.

And if you need to sort out the house after the New Year revelry is over, a crisis clean is what you need.

Back shortly with tomorrow's babystep .

(With apologies to Ellie for plagiarising some of last month's intro')

Thanks to all for the reassurance re nursery, Toffee/Nettie/Swan. The first session went well, phew!

Lair - how's the snow with you? Hope its not too deep.

Toffee - There's been some lovely feedback from the other posters about your DS, particularly swan's and I hope its made your feel more optimistic Hope you have a nice day at the zoo.

PA you sound so busy but its great that you actually have jobs you love. Don't forget to rest too!

Hello to everyone else[waves]. I've enjoyed reading your posts. Although the lists some of you plough through in a day are amazing/daunting!

TodayIHave

attended meeting for catechists
attended dd's violin lesson to find out what she's meant to be practising she does sound quite tuneful though just need to get her to do more than 10 mins practice a week....
went to extended family & cousins lunch
bought some tile samples on way back

and avoided the immediate family for most of the afternoon by wandering off by msyelf and getting back in time for supper that dh had prepared and cooked Dh said they had a lovely peaceful afternoon without me

otherwise, kitchen a mess, house a mess, but determined to do a little and not too much and get to bed EARLY..

oh yes, cleaned bathroom and basins yesterday last thing

Despite the fact that we got back from my ILs a few hours ago, I haven't managed to do much more than supervise two lots of piano practice and put the DC to bed (after giving them a bath and washing their hair). So I'm now faced with yet more unpacking - how can there be so much to unpack when we've only been away for one night?

ellie Well done on keeping up with the flying, which always falls by the wayside here as soon as I have some work to do. (Not having worked since early December, there is unfortunately no excuse for the state of the house at the moment.)

Toffee Hope you all enjoyed your visit to the zoo.

arabella Glad to hear the first session at nursery went well.

Back to the unpacking...

Arabella - really glad to hear the first nursery session went well. You are right about the feedback about my son - it has really helped. I wish I'd been on here during previous crises with DS1.

Swan - sounds like a nice balance between socialising and having some time to yourself today.

Linzer - you must be fed up with all the packing and unpacking you've had to do over the past couple of weeks. Hope you manage to relax with a glass of wine later.

The boys have just finished a bath together and are prancing around naked, singing and shaking water all over me, so I think I'll come back here later....

`Good Evening

pmpy oo only 8 weeks how exciting. well done you
toffee hope you had a fun day
linzer stuff the packing have on of ogre g&t instead.
ihate well done. hope dress hunting goes well
mad have good trip, hope you get to chill soon.
arabella glad all went well at nursery
swan insanely of you avoiding immediate family for an afternoon
lair brill well done on getting all finished
ellie hope your caravan shopping went well

humungous waves to all missed.

today has been a mixed bag of a day.
dh did breakfast me lie in, he forgot that tv was banned (dc not staying in bed) so i had to look like big bad baddy when i got up and switched off. i had to get everyone dressed, dw, wm, td, etcetc
followed by family trip to the bank [woop woop exciting] dc were both brill and we were there for ages. but all sorted so mc donalds for lunch and a waste of 16 ww points on a chicken sandwich meal.
home for bouncing on trampoline followed by lots of happy playing, some play on wii.
dinnertime brought a dd shouting about how disgusting it was, a dh agreeing and a mummy retreating to her bedroom. Then bath play and bed.

have swept floors
s/s
more washing on
travel insurance bought
more theme park ticket research.
weight watchers update

now after boring you all with my ridiculously mundane day im off to bed. goodnight all

I have indeed just been relaxing with a glass of wine, Toffee - I haven't quite finished unpacking/putting things away, but just CBA any more.

Nettie ogre g&t sounds interesting - have been trying to work out what it could be, but my brain has switched off for the day!

Spoke to my mum earlier, who has been trying to declutter some our belongings (with my consent, I hasten to add), i.e. DS's old cot mattress, car seat and pushchair. However, the woman at the charity shop (Ed Grundy's mum, for any Archers fans) wouldn't take any of them as they were too old/didn't have a label, although she was very apologetic (and spent a long time telling my mum all about her son). I must get on with some decluttering here tomorrow, as we've brought yet more Christmas and birthday presents back from my ILs and I've decided to have a go at the one-in-one-out approach.

Gin and tonic Linzer.

Nettie - sorry to hear you had a tricky day. Am at your family being so ungrateful for the dinner you cooked - maybe they should cook their own dinner tomorrow night! I have had the same happen myself and it makes me .

We had a lovely day at the zoo today. The boys loved it and played really well together. I remembered OM's wise words and tried to keep things 'light and fluffy' for DS1. The day out seemed to do him good.

Tomorrow's babystep is to declutter a few minutes at a time.

Sunday is 'renew your spirit' day. This is a day to take some time for yourself. (Well done, Swan, for having a practise go at this today ). By coincidence, rather than design, I have my lie-in on Sunday morning and DH copes with the children. I might even get a cup of tea in bed if I'm lucky.

Flylady has some suggestions on doing things for yourself here.

Sadly, the house doesn't run itself, so you still have to stick to your basic routines. Sunday's reminders are here.

The boys are sleeping soundly after their busy day out. MIL has gone to bed (I think DH cooking with garlic had something to do with her early night ). All is quiet in the Toffee household. Off to forage for food now, then hoping for an early night.

Sleep well, fledglings.

Yes, I got the g&t bit Ogre - just wasn't too sure about the ogre part (kept thinking of a monster g&t!) but am now wondering whether you had some g&t... I should read the thread more carefully!

good morning everyone.

toffee thanks. so glad you had lovely day at zoo. enjoy your lie in and hope you get that cuppa too.
linzer good luck at one in one out.

Ive popped in to list post and i have had a lovely non shouty morning. dc stayed in bed [bad mummy emotion] with the promise of a sweet and a chocolate which dd did not let me forget. That combined with a properly boiled egg eaten by ds and lots of reinforcing good behaviour stickers and im feeling much better. As for dinner tonight well we will have to wait and see.

dw on (last nights things i forgot )
td on
leaving wm as full of dh pile of washing that never makes it to laundry basket so hes gotta do it.
have already swept floor.
visit grandparents
sort out holiday tickets.
make dinner chicken with parmesan and posh bacon (can't remember what its called) [grin}

right i better go and shout at dh to get up been trying for half hour already and i keep waffling away here!!

have lovely days

Nettie - I got the cuppa and a bowl of cereal in bed too ! Glad you have had a better morning. The dinner you are planning sounds like a Jamie Oliver recipe. Btw, my youngest has refused to eat so many of my meals now that I have started to give him his favourite most days (pasta with homemade vegetable sauce and grated cheese). At least he eats something then and I don't feel angry about him not eating my food. I'm hoping it's a phase he will grow out of.

Am still lazying around in bed at the moment . Visiting a friend for tea and a natter this afternoon, then home to cook a roast dinner for everyone and get school stuff ready for tomorrow.

Thought of this thread when I read this yesterday (Will your children behave better if you clean your house?).

Hope you all have a nice Sunday.

Morning all...
Nettie - you asked me about threading. I really like the end result and it's very quick - about 10 minutes. It does sting while it's being done and it's a weird feeling. Basically lots of hairs are pulled out at once with thread!! I have very pale, sensitive skin so if I can manage it I'm sure most people would find it a piece of cake!!

Toffee - glad you got your breccy in bed and glad zoo was fun.

It made me smile looking at the food issues as I was looking at my Delia Christmas book over the hols as you do and found my pencil markings for when DS2's Shepherd's pie was to be put in along with the trad Christmas dinner. He ate spag bol and pizza and grapes for more years than I care to remember and I took heart in reading that some people have more sensitised taste buds than others - he would sniff his food first when a toddler. Aged 14 he is still healthy and strong and eats a well balanced but admittedly more limited diet than my other two. I don't know what the answer is but I do know it's not worth stressing over. (Just don't give alternative food if they reject your efforts!!)

Lovely sunny day here though very cold. Have a mound of ironing to do and revising DD to jog into action...

See you all tomorrow.

i have decluttered a bookcase, a drawer and a toy box. the magical healing powers of 12 hours sleep :)

Today's plan is a long drive home, hopefully not getting stuck in snow.
evening routine.

We had a busy day yesterday, party and shopping, so we all had a quiet day today.
Yesterday was child's party, I had to stay with DS(3) so helped mum with 20+ children (most aged 5 and 6) in the village hall. Came home and we all went shopping in the afternoon - we needed a new car seat for DS, next level up (he's outgrown his current one, and only fits in if he doesn't wear a coat ). So we found a new one in the sale. Also, managed to find a dress for me (needs adjusting but only a little bit), so now I have something to wear to the "do" in February.

Today we have all be pottering around, DS playing and watching DVD, DH working on his models (has found out that we have to go to a show at the beginning of Feb, so he has work to do!), and I've been gently domestic - making shortbread and chocolate oat crunchie for lunch club, 2 cherry and almond loaf cakes, and the bread. Now time to put DS to bed, and then get on with my WI prep for Tuesday - I'm organising some craft for the meeting, so need to get on with cutting and sorting fabric for the patchwork.

Monday's To Do list is written and in my CJ. Christmas CJ has been updated (I found some Christmas cards in the sales) and is ready to be filed for next December.

Back tomorrow.

It sounds like a different world in your house Cobweb very lovely...

what have I done today

cleaned kitchen a mite
taken dcs to church and for a run
some piano practice
dcs some practice
ds1 some Spain research
supper v. basic pasta (and old stew)

dh has put away last of Xmas Nativity figures, and listened to a lot of Leonard Cohen , and built some of The Burrow (Harry P lego) with dsses

there's been a bit of football watching in there somewhere,
and I've felt slightly badtempered, really...

Helloooo lovely Fledglings! Hope you are all ok! 265 on day 9 not at all bad!!

Well done Toffee for keeping everyone on straight and narrow. That link is fasinating. Makes complete sense. I often find myself starting to tell dd off about tidying the playroom and then I stop and guiltily think of the pile of mess that purports to be our master bedroom . Also, I always think an ordered house indicates a good, calm lifestyle "rhythm" iykwim ... it's what I aspire to anyway .. instead of my current peak and trough carry on [sigh]

Haven't got time to read through whole thread tonight but hope the start of term for your ds has not been too traumatic for him (and you)

Literally just diving in to say "Happy New Year" to everyone.

Got back yesterday after what was frankly a bit of a depressing trip away (fil with vascular dementia - old age really not pleasant at times) and had a full on day today (riding & friends). Suitcases full of presents and clutter now added to general mess and mountain of used bed-linen (from previous guests). Think we have missed Christmas tree collection too (my decorations are still up)

Washing pile up to ceiling (have only done 2 loads in 10 days)

Back to school/work tomorrow so just focusing on ironing clothes and laying them out tonight.

Strictly back to baby-steps tomorrow!!

Er, that should have read, 265 posts ...

I read that article you lonked Toffee, I'd say the conclusions make sense. It can't be very stabilising living in a chaotic environment.

Evening all,

Yes, interesting article, I do find myself fobbing off the children so I can do house stuff, but a lot of the time we all just potter round together, them playing, me cleaning and joining in. I don't feel I can expect them to put their stuff away if we don't do ours (I do get a bit cross with DH about this, not only does it make more work for me but he sets a bad example for the DCs, leaving stuff out all over the place). Being more organised makes me a lot less stressed in the mornings particularly knowing the clothes, bags, hats and gloves etc are all ready, and I think the DCs are learning that the benefit of having a place for everything means you can find it again.

Linzer - apologies for the confusion, it's me MrsD, my family haven't turned into ogres, its a reference to the babies in Shrek 3, DS thinks they are so cute and keeps saying so. I was offering round the G&Ts a couple of nights ago.

SC - oh dear, sounds like you have a lot to do, but as you say, babysteps will get you there.

Ihate - sounds like a day of domestic bliss. We had a potter round in our PJs day yesterday, DH was working and swimming lessons don't restart till next week.

We had a nice family outing today, to London, haven't been for ages. Took a river trip from Westminster to Greenwich, had lunch, pottered round the park and up to the observatory, Docklands Light Railway (which DS particularly loved) and home again on the train. Was cold but a beautiful day for it.

Busy week ahead, need to go and do some ironing, make a list and do evening routine. See you tomorrow.

evening all,

my lovely non shouty morning turned into a shouty late morning, then afternoon and even up till bedtime!! was so proud of dc and myself this morning and it all went to pot!

have done
wm
td
s/s
nature walk
booked theme park tickets
lunch at garden centre
trip to pil
booked car hire
went to kfc where i wasted an obscene amount of ww pro points!
watched dancing on ice

no evening routine done, minimal tidying by dh.

ogre london trip sounds fab. i promised my dc next reward on chart would be london trip.
ihate glad you got dress
sc sorry your trip was hard. hope you get settled back home and unpacked soon.
om might try threading. thx for food info. i dont offer anything else but dh worries as dd has been flagged as shorter than normal having dropped a few centiles in height. But if you put a big plate of spag bol in front of her you are lucky to find a crumb.
lair well done youon decluttering, glad you got good sleep.
swan you mean your house isnt an oasis of calm (takes the grumpy stick and stamps on it) all better!

Going to watch the second instalement of dancing on ice and hit the hay.

good night all

I thought it a most irritating article to be honest. He didn't really distinguish between chaos and untidiness. Nor did he talk about how different people respond to different levels of mess. Some people might find it unbearable to be surrounded by clutter and mess and feel stressed by it and be in a perpetually bad mood as a result, whilst unable to deal with it . Other people (and I do know friends like this) create a calm happy household whilst on the surface neglecting to mop their floors... or tidy their drawers, and are extremely motivated in lots of ways the rest of us aren't. Nor do they seem to find clutter stressful, or get bogged down by details...
I know people who have had nervous breakdowns from needing everything to be "just so" when it was incompatibable with small babies/toddlers, and others who muddled along happily...cooking delicious meals from ranshackle kitchens and being kind and hospitable to those around them.

I suppose it's not rocket science to know that we all need to know where our children's school uniform is, find our door keys, and give them decent meals at regular intervals, off clean plates that don't give them food poisoning.

Anyway, the most interesting thing was that men don't like untidy women, and tended to avoid the family home if it was chaotic.

just read article, now thanks to fly lady my house is better cared for and more chaotic than before. Maybe i need to concentrate on positive parenting more. Very stressed parenting is properly more decriptive.

Which is of course what my mother always warned me

Nettie I think there was a bit of shouting to be heard here...hark, or was that the sound of violins playing... after the shouting of course..

I have just read dd the beginning of the most thrilling book called "Knock Three Times" about a giant pumpkin (from 1900), I am looking forward to finding out what happens in the next chapter!

nettie I think it is just that age when the planets start colliding, just when you think you've mastered the basics

I mean your dcs' age.