fledglings falling out of the nest thread

[IceColdBitchy]

Ok So a new year a new thread.
You know the ropes flying the fledgling way.
Decluttering 15mins at a time in each zone.
Babysteps and missions.

Sunday is renew your spirit day and seeing as today is new years days I hope there aren't too many evil hangovers in existance.

Babystep 1: shine you shine. yes we know this one but do you shine it the fat fairy way? cant remember? check here

And for a treat as it is sunday no mission.

Oh and can i just may 2012 bring you productive decluttering and flying so your houses step closer to those of your dreams and house work no longer be that evil monster that dominates.

Aaah, learning styles. There are 3 main learning styles we teachers work to. Visual, audio and Kinaesthetic. A lot of boys, particularly those who find reading/answering questions boring will gain far more from seeing the action. Youtube is your best friend in this situation. I know i am a bit late but there is a great drama doc from bbc on gladiators of he is still doing it. Search for The Collosseum A Gladiator's Story. (can't link as posting on phone). Homework is harder to set as you are trying to cater for all hence it will ofte be written work. The Romans are brilliant though. I get my Year 7's tramping round the school as the Roman Army. We role ay the death of Caesar and the local museum brings us replica armour to try on. The problem with History is that it can be very dry of not taught properly and pupils struggle to see the relevance. You have to make the connection to the 21st century to help pupils get it and to hook them in. Eg. I use the x factor to look at bias. Judges are biased when giving their opinions on own acts. Show a clip. They then get it. Another example is the suitors to Elizabeth 1, link it in to Take Me Out ( terrible show but they all watch it) and compare the Roman Army to Manchester United.

Sorry went on one there. In short, role playing, model making ( we make world war 1 trenches out of play dough) and youtube.

I apologise for the teacher geek in me escaping. I shall put her back in the cupboard now.

Am going to do the washing!

Morning all,

Sorry, I've been lurking rather than posting this week, just busy.

Sending a big hug to Lauren, sorry to hear your news.

As for merging the threads, although I think it could be a little bit overwhelming at first I'm sure it will all settle down and I think it is the right thing to do. I'm not all that bothered about roundups either, I am pretty good at scanning the thread (my learning style is definitely the reading one, nothing make me click away from a website faster than clicking on a link for information and realising it's going to be a video rather than text). That particular bugbear is becoming more and more common, I do wonder if they realise how many people they might be losing by not giving the choice (or I might be in a minority, who knows). Ellie, I can't abide role play either but grit my teeth and do it for the DCs as it is effective.

Whoknows I'm with you all the way on not wanting a video (unless it's an actual 'how-to') and being bored by re-enactments. And I loathe fancy dress!

Me too Honu, an invitation to a murder mystery evening would have me running for the hills!

Even for instruction I prefer diagrams to videos, I tried teaching myself to crochet using YouTube videos but only really got it when I found a website with text and diagrams.

I'm another one who'd far rather read instructions than watch a video. And the words "role play" send shivers down my spine, although I must admit I associate them more with job interviews than school. I went to an assertiveness workshop at university and had to role play taking an item back to a shop; I just felt so silly. I didn't go back the following week.

Having said that, you sound like a great teacher ellie. DD1 did the Romans at school last year and it was taught in such a dry way; school here basically involves sitting at a desk, listening to the teacher and writing. She had 13 or 14 A4 pages of dense notes and photocopies to learn for the test they had, and helping her to revise was just a nightmare.

Am trying to declutter/file some paperwork today. It's built up to a ridiculous extent again. I really need to set aside some time each week to deal with it as I have about two boxes' worth of documents to find a home for.

So sorry you are in the midst of teething hell, flying . I hated that time too. Calpol is your friend. And a DH who gives you the time to catch up on sleep (and/or does his bit in the night).

Honestly, you must be the most fantastic teacher, Ellie. What you say makes perfect sense and it sounds as if you make history really interesting and relevant to your pupils. Making it relevant was exactly what I was stuck with when I tried to teach DS1 about gladiators. I'm sure it felt to him like this was just a boring task being imposed on him when he had much better things to do. What is a modern-day equivalent of gladiators, do you think (cage fighting? Oh gawd, I'm not showing him that!)? I suppose 'X Factor' and 'Britain's Got Talent' are spectacle sports where the audience watch people 'get slaughtered' (metaphorically) on stage. That BBC documentary looks fantastic. Thank you! I'll watch that with him tomorrow, before he has to write his next piece of homework. Any more advice from your teacher-geek self is extremely welcome .

WhoKnows - glad you feel OK about the thread merge. If anyone invited me to a Murder Mystery weekend, I would decline. Can't think of anything worse! I like dressing up, but I hate games (with the exception of board games played with DC).

Honu - I have to dress up in medieval clothes for a school event next week - you'd love that, wouldn't you? I actually quite enjoy it.

A reasonably good morning so far. DS2 slept in till 8.30am, so we all had a lie in. Then I came down to a clean and tidy kitchen, which I'd forgotten about, so it really cheered me up. Spent ages making a Lego house with DS2, so I feel like a good mum too! The only downside so far today is that DS1 is being manic and difficult to manage (new meds, I suppose), which upsets DS2, not to mention us. We just have to maintain firm boundaries and keep calm, which is not always easy. However, DH has just suggested that we walk to see his mum this afternoon, which is quite a long way and will mean the boys get lots of exercise and, hopefully, get tired out. And then will be spoiled rotten by their grandma as a reward .

Still in my dressing gown, but it is nice to have a morning off the strict Flylady/before-school routine now and again.

Hope you all have a good day. (Lauren - thinking of you).

Flying past in the middle of tax return / Sunday Roast.

toffee either on sky or youtube have you though of wwe wrestling. Entertainment, crowd paying to watch in an arena, knlw stars etc. Quite a good analogy.

That should say known stars.

Sorry, or even search for some old episodes of the Gladiators tv series that was on in my youth.

I love dressing up, but I too prefer written instructions! I remember piano teacher trying to show me sequence of notes on the piano and I kept reverting to the sheet music to understand what she meant...

Thanks, Ellie. I'll try that. And old 'Gladiator's series. That Sunday roast is smelling lovely, by the way.

I generally hate role play, but I love murder mysteries - we have some old murder mystery games knocking about in a cupboard (since pre-DS1!). Really will have to do something with them, but I won't invite you lot then...

Good luck with tax return and Sunday roast Ellie - I definitely wouldn't want to tackle them both on the same day!!

Thanks blue. Tax return isn't actually too tricky because despite being officially self-employed, DH is sort of employed and has already paid tax on his income. Just have to configure expenses etc. I love a bit of Maths me so don't mind doing it. Although have had to have a massive paperwork search this morning. And Sunday lunch is of the chicken variety (bung in the over for 2 hours) and pre-prepped veg . So easy Sunday lunch, only thing I have had to really do is roast potatoes and stuffing.

.

Ta da:-

Half tax return
3/4 of SUnday lunch
2 loads of washing
general tidy
stripped our bed.

Back later.

Argh, that reminds me, I still need to do my tax return. The tax office always used to send me the forms, which would remind me, but didn't do so last year so I missed the paper deadline - luckily I still had two or three days to file it electronically by the time I realised, but it was all a bit stressful.

Have also just remembered that DS's passport expires in June and DD1's towards the end of the year, so that's yet more paperwork to deal with. And the expense! It will be around ?250 altogether, although I think I may save around ?30 on postage if I'm organised enough to apply for both passports at the same time.

Flying poor you. DS has been teething on and off for months now, but he's mostly not had it too bad. I'm really not looking forward to the molars coming through, as they were by far the worst for DD. Sleep deprivation really is the pits though, and not being able to do anything to help them.

Toffee I'm the opposite. I love board games especially those which need thinking about, but I'm really rubbish when it comes to dressing up. I like murder mystery, and have actually hosted a couple in the past, but stopped when I realised I just couldn't bring myself to "act" the role properly.

Must go off and pack for journey home, then plan next week properly, and try to organise some playdates (coffee with my mum friends).

Hiya all!

Just popping by to say thank you to everyone for the well wishes it really does mean a lot!

DP is still here and we are talking about what we want but it does look like we will be staying together. It's not an infidelity thing- that is a no return area in my books- so he is giving me full control of finances etc until I can trust him again!

Anyway lists:
Ta da today:
Put DD clothes into storage and tidied her room
Updated a section of portfolio
Cleaned kitchen
Washed kitchen floor twice (stupid dog)
Laundry
Walked dog
Cooked Sunday roast - lamb here!

To do still:
Hoover
Clean out indoor rabbit
Wipe mould off bedroom ceiling no idea where this is coming from but I'm
Not happy about it!
Dust DD room

I'll try BBL to do personals. Hope everyone is well!!

Lauren - That's good news - I really hope you two can sort it out. Am impressed that you managed to do that list today in spite of personal dramas!

Have had a stressful day with DC. DS1 was too anxious to go out to his grandma, so she came here instead. Am finding DS1's anxieties incredibly difficult to cope with today (patience wearing thin, but I know it's not his fault). And DS2 decided to behave appallingly most of the time, whinging and sulking . DH and I are feeling like the most rubbish parents in the world. Both DC seem to have the most dreadful table manners (I thought DC were supposed to learn by example, but we don't eat like pigs!) and, inspired by the knowledge that we are visiting my mum at half term and she minds about these things, I have decided to set up a reward chart for table manners next week.

Must get on with the bedtime routine now and do links on the other thread.

Lifebegins Hope you have a good journey back.

lauren That's great news; talking is definitely a good start and you sound much more positive. I really hope it all works out for you both.

Toffee I'll join you in feeling like a rubbish parent. DH was helping DD1 to practise writing a description of a person for her next school test and she chose to write about me. Apparently my favourite thing is playing on the computer. When he asked her what she liked doing with me best she said that we never did anything together as I was always too busy on the computer. I tried to convince DH that I don't actually spend the entire afternoon on the computer - but I do look at MN at lunchtime and then again after lunch, when I sit with the girls doing their homework (half supervising and half MNing), after which we're generally out or have friends over for the rest of the afternoon. However, he said I don't need to convince him - that's the way that DD1 sees it and he finds it very sad.

I do feel guilty about the lack of "quality time" I spend with the DC, but that has more to do with the fact that there seem to be so many other things to do (supervising homework and piano practice, constant tidying, chauffeuring, cooking dinner, etc.). It's made me realise that I really do need to make more time for them, however, and to make sure that they're at the top of my list of priorities. At any rate, I've been feeling quite low about it all afternoon and evening, but tomorrow is a new day - and I'm going to make a real effort to actually do things with them tomorrow.

Back in a minute with the links.

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Links:

The penultimate babystep this month is to look at your calendar for next month, see which birthdays are coming up, and put the cards and presents you need to buy on your errands list.

We'll be in the living room for the last two days of the month, but the week's missions haven't appeared yet so I'll be back to post the mission tomorrow morning.

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Linzer - sorry you are feeling like a rubbish mum too . It's obviously not true, but you will probably feel better if you spend some 'quality' time with your DD and she will feel that you've heard her. It's tough though. You do so much for your DC and then you get this as your reward! Not fair!

To make you feel better, I'll PM you DS2's description of us - we are a thoroughly dysfunctional lot, apparently (far too embarrassed to post it publicly).

Lauren - good news!

Flying - hope tonight is better.

Ellie - My tax return is fortunately straightforward enough to do on paper in Oct. Unfortunately that means I now have to pay the bill! Hope your chicken was good - we had chicken too.

Linzer and Toffee - and hugs! I think all parents must feel like the worst in the world at least some of the time - I certainly do!

I now have a nice substantial piece of work to do, so flying may take a back seat for a couple of weeks... I will try and at least look at the missions though!

Linzer I wanted to say that I think your dd's comments are a speciality of daughters of that age! Because my dd (9/10) certainly levels the same complaints. Not about computer especially,, but of the "You Don't Care About Me" "You Should Say Sorry To Me" kind.. regularily makes me want to weep because she obviously believes herself to be neglected. However, she gives me lots of hugs and is always chatting to me, so I wonder whether it isn't shorthand for just GIVE ME ATTENTION NOW rather than accusations as such. I never said such things to my mum, I was much too shy, and perhaps that is worse...so better out in the open and then they get it off their chest and feel understood... Dd was foul today, sulky and whiny and yet so lovely with her friends in the pool, that my only consolation was, she clearly has had love from her evil mum because she knows how to be nice to other people! And I think she might be easier in her teens because she is venting all her frustration now, rather than bottling it up for later. Anyway that's what I hope

sorry, rambling, you are NOT the worst mother.

The strange thing is that the last few days I put a lot of effort into making the house nice and calm, being nice to children, prioritizing individual attention, rather than worryng about externals...and what is result? Today I am in a foul mood It clearly used up all my strength paying them so much attention and not worrying about the washing up!

Evening all,

Well, did anyone watch Birdsong? I'm on the sofa feeling drained, that was quite a bit of drama, wasn't expecting it as the first part last week didn't live up to the book for me, but it really got to me in the end. Phew.

Lauren glad you are thinking in terms of working things out together now.

Swan/Linzer/Toffee I too am aware that I spend too much time on here instead of parenting the DCs and it is a bit rich me limiting their screen time whenI am just as addicted. Maybe it's because I don't want them to,end up like me, hmmm.

With that in mind we had a lazy morning at home, I limited everyone's screen time and it was nice, the DCs both did some good drawings and played nicely. We dragged them off shopping and to the park this afternoon and ended up in Waterstones, which made me think of all the book selling folk on here, also made me resolve to buy more new books from the High Street, the DCs love bookshops and the sight of them both curled up in chairs in Waterstones engrossed in books combined with the number of empty shop units in town now was certainly food for thought, the Internet just isn't the same for choosing books.

I'm off to bed now,see you all tomorrow.