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')

Oh dear I feel guilty now Swan, but do I feel guilty enough not to buy one.....ummm.....NO!!!

Just got back from meeting, it went fine, nothing was said. . It will have to come out at some time, but not my place to highlight his cock-up mistake. I am now too tired to sleep, mind is buzzing and I just know I wont sleep well tonight, Oh well!!

sends soothing suitably boring vibes across Time Continuum to PA

done
rinsed water bottles

lair wish you sleep and better day tomorrow
pa glad you had a lovely day and good luck with meeting. oo ive not decided about kindle, main problem is you cant fall asleep with a kindle in your hand as it doesnt soak up driblle very well
linzer thank you for the postcard. ds was chuffed it was of an aeroplane as we are off on one soon. He wanted to know what your ds looked like so we have trailing your facebook pictures. Hope all dc start to feel better soon
ihate blimey girl, where do you live? Please can you come visit and sort me out
swan flying with the builders in is really difficult you are doing fab
ogre thinking of you, hope funeral is ok for you.
systems love it, no shopping best way to leave dh's to fend for themselves i say. Hope work went ok and you get some chill out time.
toffee hope dc better soon. lol at out of africa age disclosure.

huge waves to everyone ive missed.

sorry for being awol, sickness early mornings (4.15) this morning courtsey of dd are all my excuses.

have finally almost caught up with laundry. have list size of king kong which ill pop in tommorw and see if posting will increase positivity and achievement. Not least involves making sure we paint spare room before we go on holiday ready for wardrobes being fitted when we return.

I have come to the realisation that i do need a proper bedtime routine not just making sure kitchen clean, shiny sink, s/s, dw, w/m but i need clothes out for me generally do the dc daily) and lunch on workdays. It has only taken me just under a year to come to this conclusion. i will do this tomorrow as ive now spent all my time trying to catch up with you lovely ladies and need to hit the shower before bed.

hope to see you bring and breezy but without pa excellent organisation of having chilli in the slow cooker by 6.30

Evening all,

Am tucked up in a hotel in Yorkshire, feels strange being here with my parents instead of DH (he has stayed at home with the DCs). I think tomorrow is going to be quite a tough day, with the funeral, my aunt (the widowed one) is in very poor health herself so my cousins are really having a pretty bad time, with worrying about her as well as losing their father.

PA yes, DH was pretty chuffed with the football last night, he's not so pleased with the fact that inexplicably DS has decidedto support Aston Villa, he is trying to be polite about it, but is not impressed. I think it's funny, but have to say I'd be a tad annoyed if he started supporting Southampton, so I ought to be more sympathetic. Woo, kindle! It's my birthdsy soon, It is quite high on my list of things I would like.

Nettie I like to have my clothes out the night before, certainly on work days, not so important for school run days in this weather as coat hides sartorial sins. Also do all packed lunches whilst making or clearing up tea.

Lair thinking of you.

Sympathies to everyone who is feeling unwell or has poorly DCs, hope for speedy rcoveries all round.

Fell asleep with DS2, who couldn't sleep. Was then woken up by DS1, who couldn't sleep. Fell asleep with DS1 . Am now getting ready to find my own bed.

Kitchen looks like such a tip. Thankfully, knowing DS2's childminder will be here to babysit this evening will give me the incentive to tidy up.

Swan and Systems - my DH sells books for a living too. We were both booksellers many years ago. He now sells second-hand and antiquarian books online.

Linzer - sorry you are having a tough time. Sounds as if your daughter is tired too. Good idea to abandon Flying tonight (I have) and prioritise sleep.

PA - at shopping, Kindle and good meeting. Hope your brain has stopped buzzing now and is letting you sleep. What a day!

Nettie - Sorry there is sickness in your house too. Hope DD is on the mend. Re: bedtime routine - I can't manage without laying out all the clothes the night before (which I haven't done tonight, so morning routine will now be tricky). Like Ogre, I do everything the night before so that I don't have to think too much in the morning.

Ogre - thinking of you. Good luck.

DS2 was coughing, but seems to have settled himself again (phew). Off to bed now.

Do be doo doo be doo! Still awake managed hour so far.

Have done Ocado shop online though.

Todays list

Dc up breakfast
Check suspicious spot on Dd chin
Dc nursery
S/s
W/m
D/w
Sink
Work
Pick dc up
Tidy shoe mountain to enable furniture to be moved.
Dsis inlaws picking up nursery furniture.
Shopping for 3 presents/ wrap along with two others to post to Scotland
Visit B&q for filler, sandpaper and lightbulbs
Print off 241 London attractions
Prepare day bag for trip to London Saturday
Lay out clothes
Bed to sleep I hope!

Must try sleep again as Dd will be up anytime from now! Oops

Have lovely days

DD2's virus has now turned into the stomach bug doing the rounds in her class, so no school for her again today. DD1 was still refusing to take DD2's homework in or pick up any work for her; I compromised by agreeing that I'd take in the homework and DD1 would bring today's schoolwork home, but DD2's teacher gave me today's work at the same time so DD1 is let off the hook.

Everyone slept through last night for the first time in well over a week, so I'm feeling quite refreshed this morning. Must make the most of my energy before it vanishes and make a start on today's list:

Take DD2's homework into school/pick up today's work done
Morning routine
Mission
Decluttering
Make shopping list
Clean out bag
File any papers lying around in the hotspot upstairs
Afternoon routine
DD1 to dyslexia lesson
Food shopping
Thank you letters x2
Pick up DS and friend from gymnastics (friend supposed to be staying overnight, but will probably have to cancel due to DD2)
Update calendar
Book flights for summer
Fill in kindergarten form
Evening routine

Nettie Hope you got some sleep in the end. We have also spent hours perusing photos of your DS on Facebook!

Toffee Another one up late - I hope you managed to get back to sleep OK as well. Your DH's job sounds really interesting; I can get far more excited about books than wind turbines and photovoltaic systems!

Ogre Thinking of you today.

DH has just sent me some work (from his boss, so at least it's paid), so had better make a start - it's not needed until Monday, but with one DC (so far) with a stomach bug, I don't want to take any chances.

everyone slept well here, ds2 suspiciously so (still asleep at 8am which is almost unheard of)
I put him in his uniform and he just burst into tears and seems to be refusenik no2 this week . So he's here now quietly colouring with a runny nose.

toffee Dh is an Anti B too but he works in a company! You probably all know each other...

Linzer - sorry your DD's illness has turned into a stomach bug. It's good that you at least managed a full night's sleep last night . Work is probably the last thing you need at the moment though.

Nettie - I hope you managed to get some sleep and that DD didn't wake up too early.

DS1 has the bug now, so he is also off school. DS2 is still very poorly. Both of them are protesting about us going out tonight. DH had a terrible night's sleep and said he felt rough this morning and maybe we should go to the cinema next week instead. He's going to email me later. To be honest, I don't feel up for it either now, though I will go if DH still wants to. Would rather go when I've had a decent night's sleep though.

I'm so glad it's the weekend tomorrow and that we have no plans. I want to do absolutely nothing.

Still in my dressing gown, so must get myself dressed. DS2 says he will only eat 'shop bread' because he doesn't like 'Daddy's bread' from the new breadmaker . Maybe he's missing all those lovely additives and preservatives .

Swan - my DH works for a company too! Would be funny if it turned out to be the same one. Sorry your DS is unwell. I hate this time of year - horrible, freezing weather, dull days and sick children .

Quiet moment in the cobweb house. DS has been "kidnapped" by friend and taken to Toddler Group early, DH not up yet, so I'm enjoying a whole mug of HOT tea and a browse through MN. Friend saw me after playgroup yesterday and offered to pick up DS early this morning and take him to toddler group with her DD so I could have a bit of time to myself. Life is not great at the moment, but I didn't realise that I looked that bad. TBH DS and I were very late to toddlers last week, as I just had no inclination to get in gear and out of door (bad mummy emoticon) as I know he likes to go and its not really fair to keep him home just because I don't want to socialise. Anyway I'll go later, and collect him.

DH tax return finally finished and submitted last night , just WI end of year, and playgroup financial report to do this weekend now.

Morning routine done
DS ready for toddler group done
Walk to road for DS collection done
Large cup of tea and MN - doing, but really ought to get going and make use of the extra time I've been "given" this morning
Make beds - need to wait for DH to get up first
S/s
Clean washing away
Find rest of Christmas presents to take tomorrow
Make sure presents wrapped and correctly labelled
Bring bulb planters in from porch to start to warm up done
Make lavender bags for presents
RR living room (DH has been doing things in there)
RR kitchen (ditto)
Go to toddlers' and be sociable
Lunch
Activities/play with DS
Zone cleaning - the dreaded bedroom again
Zone mission (2) - don't know whether I dare tackle under the bed
Clear out handbag
Our computer finance
Washing in machine
Filing
Make tea - reheat yesterday's beef casserole
Tea
Bedtime routine
Evening routine
Exercise
WI end of year
Playgroup financial report
Get everything ready for softplay party on Saturday
SET ALARM for morning, so I can get us all up, dressed, fed and in car on time

Toffee - my DS is the opposite, likes "real bread", not keen on "shop bread". Hope you enjoy your "nothing" weekend. I like those too, good for recharging the batteries.

PA - I have kindle

Ogre - hope today goes as well as it can

Nettie - the lists are an illusion, sometimes I can barely keep head above water. House is not helped by DH being an 80:20 type of guy!

swan Sorry to hear you are suffering from refuseniks and ill children too. It was reassuring to hear about what your piano teacher said. The thing that I find equally frustrating is that even when I can get DD1 to sit down and do her piano practice, she won't listen to me if I try to correct her - I try to hold back and not do so too much, but also don't appreciate her snapping at me to "Be quiet!" if I try to help her.

Toffee Sorry to hear that your two are still ill. It does sounds like you would both appreciate it more if you could postpone your cinema visit if at all possible.

cobwebs Enjoy your hot tea and MNing!

Now need a more realistic list for the 50 minutes before DD1 is out of school:

Coffee (delayed as forgot to put water in machine first time round)
Proofread and send translation
Menu plan
Make shopping list
Think about lunch

Triumph last night as I tidied our bedroom before going to bed and it is nearly there!! All I need to do is pick up a few more toys and pencils (why are they in our room not kids' rooms??) and move the Christmas decorations up to the loft. I am not counting the paperwork - that's another project.

I have decided that my BBR needs to incorporate flexibility. Rather than thinking I'm a failure if I haven't done x, y, and z, I am going to reframe it. Each night load and run dw - that's established anyway (I am slightly in love with my dishwasher). Then, each night, do some tidying / sorting out, and any clothes putting away needed. Aim for 15 minutes but if it's 5 it's not the end of the world. If I consistently do something at that point in the day, it will help; once I have the principle established that it is possible, I can revisit what it is I actually do. Right now it's a triumph just to get ahead a bit. (Not an evening person - can you tell?)

Toffee and swan, let me know if there are any jobs going and I'll pass it on to dp ! I wonder if we would know each other in RL, or whether our dps would anyway, the bookselling world is such a small one ...

Still bogged down with TILES.
Ds is going back to school shortly reading your posts, I see he is not quite ill enough.

Linzer don't know the answer. I think you have to leave her to struggle by herself, and if she asks for help then help her, but just keep the practice "slot" going. The only thing I know works like magic is to start playing piano myself, or one of other children playing (bribery?)
A friend who was Grade 8 as a teen herself just decided to give up on her 8 year son's piano lessons - there was too much tension involved and she kept trying to show him how to do it, or get him to practise and in the end it was just a battle, so she stopped. And has turned to Karate lessons. I somehow think if she had been much more laissez faire he might have just pootled along a bit longer. On the other hand it is an expensive form of pootling Dd does no violin practice whatsoever, and I've given up trying to make her. But she is still improving and can still play competitively against ds1

sorry was not smiling at thought of ill children just that ds might go back to school this afternoon [mean mum emoticon]

Hi all Hope you don't mind I've jumped ship from the other fly thread to join my mate Swan Will you be starting a new thread in February? If so I'll join you lot then, So it's Hi and bye for now

tentatively pokes head around door and waves hello....I have followed swan and star across...and may join you all (if you'll have me!) if I decide I can keep up with bigger thread without my poor tired brain getting too muddled!.....
Just to note I haven't done much FLYing today...and am now hiding on internet...so really should get off computer and actually do something....

The tiles are still driving me completely up the wall [pun - ha!) - I cannot seem to make a decision. I thought I didn't want beige and now I see I am beige in spirit after all

Ds is still here, as he has sniffled rather a lot
Have cancelled dd's singing lesson

done
darned ds2's holey school jumper rather beautifully (inspired by Lair and SCthank you! for reminding me about mending)
did some schooly stuff with ds2
piano practice x 2
lunch
changed two lots of sheets
cleaned upstairs loo

mess mess mess still everywhere where builder is working, so useless to hoover

STAR hello

OFM kind people do roundups on this thread for those of us who post and run

I need to go out and buy some food with ds2 now - have tile search/computer headache.

Hi guys

I'm one of the oldtimer fly ladies with Swan, OFM and Star - we are all coming over here to gatecrash on Swans recommendations, I hope you don't mind. Not much flying done today as been in Uni allday but will be back to it tomorrow. Just introducing myself really.

Swan are you deliberating making it harder for me to know who anyone is? Or just trying to cover up own flying inabilities?

Teatime update before I start the evening shift

Morning routine done
DS ready for toddler group done
Walk to road for DS collection done
Large cup of tea and MN done
Make beds done
S/s done
Clean washing away done
Find rest of Christmas presents to take tomorrow done
Make sure presents wrapped and correctly labelled done
Bring bulb planters in from porch to start to warm up done
Make lavender bags for presents - doing, will finish while DS is in the bath
RR living room (DH has been doing things in there) done
RR kitchen (ditto) done
Go to toddlers' and be sociable done
Lunch done
Activities/play with DS done Lego garages
Zone cleaning - the dreaded bedroom again done
Zone mission x 2 done
Clear out handbag done
Our computer finance
Washing in machine
Filing done
Make tea done
Tea - everyone eating
Bedtime routine
Evening routine
Exercise
WI end of year
Playgroup financial report
Get everything ready for softplay party on Saturday
SET ALARM for morning, so I can get us all up, dressed, fed and in car on time

I think I am going to run out of hours again . Off to gee up DS again to finish his tea - he's sitting with DH in living room eating tea and watching a daddy programme as a Friday treat, but the eating part tends to get forgotten.

Hello and welcome to Starbear, OverflowingMum and Makingchanges .

swan I fear I may be very similar to your friend (the difference being that I failed grade 8 piano as a teenager ). I try to be more hands-off but it didn't work with the recorder - and as my parents invested quite a bit more money in the piano than we did in the DDs' recorders, I feel like I owe it to them to make sure that the girls practise properly and make a bit of progress. Oh alright, I admit it - I am a control freak.

DS's friend is staying overnight tonight; his parents were supposed to be going to see the specialist in Germany today, but his father is back in hospital and not well enough to travel, so the visit has been postponed. It's the first time he's stayed overnight with us so all the DC were very excited (DD1 was very cooperative during her piano practise tonight as we'd told her she couldn't sleep in the same room otherwise) but are surpisingly quiet despite the fact they only went to bed 20 minutes ago. His friend's mum was completely unconcerned about DD2's stomach bug (she's been fine since late morning, but I did say I was worried she might still be infectious), but as his little sister has been ill with a similar kind of thing for a week or two, I'm hoping he'll be immune to it.

Hello all,

Feeling very rough today (suffer with depression which is well managed most of the time but randomly sneaks up on me) and I have been shouty mummy today which makes me very angry with myself :(

I think I've rescued the day now though, so I'm going to post an achievements list for the day to cheer myself up.

Done :

• cleaned up toddler poo
• Shopping for the weekend / early part of next week
• bashed old ladies on the bus with my bags
• filled in initial online form to claim income support
• watched too much tv with toddler
• cleaned up more toddler poo
• cleaned up explosive baby poo
• sent toddler off with daddy
• made delicious prawn fried rice
• got baby to sleep
• rescued downstairs rooms
• made BLT sarnie for brunch after the gym, and raspberry porridge for first thing :)
• evening routine
• collected some supporting documents for income support claim ready for when they phone
• wrapped presents for DCs party tomorrow, realising I have only bought them for one child!

To do tomorrow:

• finish getting gym bag ready
• get present and card for other child for party
• hand over DD to XH
• gym
• second half of kids party
• rescue control journal / filing area of lounge
• more decluttering in spare room

swan / linzer - I was awful practicing my clarinet as a kid - I wish I'd been pushed into it as I probably could have been good, rather than forever banished to 4th clarinet :) However my parents blamed and berated rather than encouraged, so I probably wouldn't have listened to them!

Now I'm off to attempt to sleep. Wish me luck!