October's Fledgling Fliers: Seasons of Mists and Mellow Flyfulness

[elliepac]

This is where from the 1st of the month, we attempt to declutter and follow the 30-step wisdom of Flylady (minus cutesy language and a surfeit of e-mails) with lots of chat and support and mutual motivation along the way. (More info available here )

Humungous thanks to our previous thread leader Blue for navigating us all through the August school holidays...and for doing it so consistently and well!!

As usual we will be following a three-pronged approach - and don't worry - we are all at different stages. Some of us (SC stares at feet) -are even embarrassingly stuck at decluttering stage after two years

• repeat or start baby steps (again!)

• repeat baby steps + do 15 mins a day decluttering in the current zone

or

• reinforce babysteps and do daily missions if you have finished decluttering.

I like the sound of this one "Science experiments with DS's" nicknacks. What sort of experiments are you thinking?

Hello all. Not much flying lined up today, although I did attack the top-of-the-piano-hotspot this morning which makes me feel a lot better about things.

We've been to Messy Church and come back with a paper plate-and-ribbon basket, two Moseses and some sequins stuck in air-drying clay, the significance of which escapes me, but which I'm hoping might be a Christmas decoration for somebody from DS2!

DS2 is currently asleep and DS1 parked in front of the TV. Will go and sweep the floor in a bit before playing games with DS1 and then all going to see friends.

Swan - I think I need to re-read "How to Talk..." as well, although at the moment I'm having another go at "When Your Kids Press Your Buttons..." I think it'd be very easy to become addicted to books of this kind so I'm trying to implement the ones I've got rather than buying even more that I've seen on Amazon...

Eh up my lovelies ...

Hope you got off to Wales OK Ellie and thanks for round up! Have a good trip!
swan/whoknows I also return to How to Talk at least least twice a year once I find my shoutiness ratings creeping up
Swan am now getting v. familiar with that 'hurriedly clearing one room ahead of the cleaner scenario'!
Glad the party went well Rowingboat although sympathies re stress of uncooprative dcs after one has spent hours late in to the night/morning preparing all the games. I find forced gym-mistress heartiness/coercion (think Joyce Grenfell on speed), combined with extensive prior bribing of dd usually does the trick!!
Thanks for volunteering Darkness! Good luck with your humungous lists.
Nicknacks at born in eighties!! Tell me this can't be true! Like Feetheart was studying at uni 80-83. How can you possibly be old enough to Fly and do housework???
Toffee hope your appt went well yesterday

[Delivers energising wheat grass treble espressos to Whoknows and Blue in the naughty corner and plonks self down on cushions too]

Waves to Laurie Linzer PA and anyone else I've missed

Spent entire day working yesterday (rather unexpectedly) covering for missing admin staff and cleaner. Done the same this morning so house still in post-weekend disorder. Have an hour now to whizz around and sort before heading out for school meeting. Frankly rather pleased it is half-term next week - could do with a change of routine.

darkness Unfortunately not the kind which would render them quiet, which is what I could do with today. They have a book called 'The Super book of Simple Science Experiments all around the house' which involves using lots of every day household items/ingredients to make some really cool results. It keeps them occupied anyway!

Wash, dry and remake our bed in the drier
Hoover upstairs
Clean bathroom
Make lunch done
Empty DW done
Another load of laundry on done
Make dinner
Clean laundry away done
Mop kitchen floor
Science experiments with DS's done

Loving everyone's surprise that I could be born in the eighties and still a grown up!

Hi all,

SC you sound as if you could have sorted-out my unruly bunch. I have no confidence with the organisation of groups of children, I'm OK with two or three, but I hate trying to discipline a group. Last year I had a problem trying to lead an unruly reading group, just couldn't get into 'teacher' mode.

Darkness that spreadsheet thing sounds very organised!

DS is back at school - hooray (that's both of us). It will be nice to see the people we have missed over the holidays, we were one of the few not away.

To do - going to put times on this so that I don't get side-tracked

continue to sort out bits and pieces from party
morning routine -
kitchen s&s, sweep, wash up 15 mins total
bathroom s&s, sweep, wipe DONE
washing up/out 10mins Done
new load 3 mins DOne

Phone Kalixa about weird account thing happening - done
vitamins 2 mins
vacuum 10 mins
5 min room rescue sitting room done
15 minute anything - organise walk-in cupboard
clothes away 10 mins
get a babystep
Measure a bit of skirting board for the bathroom 10 mins
Collect ds and his friend and take his friend home
dinner - sausages and squash

Hate to break it to you SC but it is getting to the point where those born in the early 90's are old enough to be doing housework. which is really scarey. Born in 1991 = now 20years old by my maths

sorry - main point of my mahoosively boring last post is that yesterday's list has now become today's and at this rate I suspect half of it will form tomorrow's

x posts with Blue arf at self-help book addiction. I also confess to having far too many and consulting them far too often to the extent that DD, on detecting a change of tone, has started to say "have you been reading that how to be a good mummy book again?"

(Rather embarrassingly also have very large collection of "how to declutter your house books" cluttering up my landing )

Thanks for the coffee Blue

NickNacks Sounds like mine and ds' kinda book. we are going to make fake fossils this week when ds comes back. should be fun, but stupidly messy

Hi all not much flying done here, I've been too busy proudly showing everyone my badge

nicknacks can I join the born in the 80s club? also, have you tried the coca cola volcano science experiment?its my favourite!!

Darkness I know, I know [weeps]. We've recently taken on a new stagiare born 1990! I can't quite believe she is wearing a business suit and not Pampers!

diet coke and mentos [hgrin] back garden much neeeded. love that one.

That's the one darkness

sc Much of my list has overflowed to the following day many times this week- I blame having the week off and being lazy enjoying it. I think I need one of those good mummy books too. This week (its only tuesday) has been very trying so far and I usually love being off with the kids, not sure if its them or me who has changed.

Darkness The fossils sounds like fun- the mess doesn't though.

lauren Of course, us young 'uns have to stick together . We have a lot in common don't we? We have done the coca-cola volcano before and this morning we make vitamin tablet rockets.

Anyone else care to share their ages? I feel all exposed that you know I'm a grown up fraud.

If it makes you feel better I am only just not born in the 80's. Only just a 70's child. It does get depressing when you go X is a really fabulous song, and the response is yep when was it released. Erm 95 ish? Oh I wasn't born then :( Oh the musical education possibilties. Shame that even that generation admits that music release late 90s/early 2000s is significantly superior to a lot of the modern crap. :( :(

I am constantly being reminded of my age mind you I don't act it. I am still 21 in my brain and fuck what my birth certificate says [hgrin]

I like that one, Got red cabbage in the freezer for making red cabbage indicator this week too. But want ds to help in the garden and do some wood working so it will wait.

Loving all the hands on half term activities :-D does anyone recommend any books with household science experiments or similar? We do lots of painting and gluing so it would be nice to do some different activities for a change now it's getting a bit cold for outdoor fun!!

Which age ranges are you looking for? there are loads but it is really age dependant which book is best. Iyswim.

Usborne do some good ones. But you can google them for free and there are some really good websites with kitchen experiements. everything from making bath bombs to making coloured sugar crystals that can be eaten.

Agree with looking at usbourne. Thats where we got ours from when they came into school.

Sharing with you whoknows I love the sixties. even though my parents were still children

Ooo didn't think of age range, up to 5 year olds really, so things like volcano coke bottles look like magic!

Bicarbonate of soda and lemon juice volcanos are best for the under fives. then you have the big explosive guns for when they get bigger. Also bicarb is ok for indoors coke definetly outside...

Bicarb and lemon juice (or vinegar) also handy for keeping your kitchen sink drain fresh, Flylady would approve. I try and remember to doit every week or so.

at flylady aprroving of messy science experiments [hgrin][hgrin][hgrin]

[clears space in naughty corner for youngsters complete with velvet cushions, nude jeggings (probably already out-of-date), seventies clothes in 'burnt' colours and downloads of Noah and the Whale]

Phew. Just back from whirlwind but productive meeting with dd's form tutor in rapid fire French. She had a firm handle on every single issue that was concerning me (most of the time before I raised it) so feel hugely relieved, impressed and reassured in equal measure.

Nipping out again now to avoid having to do housework supermarket to pick up a few things for tomorrow and because I don't fancy what we have planned for supper tonight [meal-plan rebel emoticon] plus we have friend poppingby so want to make supper a bit more fancy than intended. Will ply with alcohol in the hope that they don't notice the mess ...

Nicknacks wishing you 'bon courage' for the remainder of the holidays. I find it always takes a few days to get back in to "leisure mode" when you've been going full tilt.
Rowingboat I've got a bit better at marshalling groups of dc over the years but am still pretty hopeless tbh largely because I am trying to do it in 3 languages. Fortunately over here you can employ an 'animatrice' who, for a small fee, will come and translate barked instructions and generally lead activities when the hostess has imploded and taken to the gin bottle had enough! They are usually primary school teachers in training which helps! Have picked up a few tips from them such as, believe it or not, whispering instructions in front of rowdy group. All the dc seem to immediately calm down and try and hear what's happening ...

Wishing the rest of you fun with your science experiments!