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.

Swan - your mention of 'My Naughty Little Sister' moved me to buy a secondhand copy on Amazon. Started reading it to DS2 tonight (I don't see why it should just be for girls - why are all the reviews from people who have bought a copy for their daughter or granddaughter? ). The look of delight on his face as the 'naughty sister' did more and more 'naughty' things was priceless. There is something very comforting about those stories. I felt as if I was tucked up in bed, aged five, with my grandfather reading to me .

You won't be getting rid of me that easily, Toffee. I'll probably be around as much as ever in the mornings - I'm feeling quite inspired atm Flying-wise, which always means I post more - and have usually posted less in the afternoons anyway. I'm definitely going to limit myself to the threads I'm on and not allow myself to look at active convos, at any rate.
DD2 can be utterly obnoxious if she has a late night (a foul mood is virtually guaranteed whenever she has a sleepover) so it could well be the reason for your DS's behaviour too.
(Btw I read your post before Cheerful's and was a little by you going to bed when the clock said PM - I imagined you going to bed after lunch. )

Cheerful Have you mopped your kitchen yet? Yes, I think that aiming for "good enough" is far more realistic than aiming for perfection - besides, I remember hearing somewhere that it's good for our DC to see that we're not perfect.

lauren I wish I could get on with things in the kitchen (cooking, cleaning) while supervising the DC, but unfortunately our kitchen isn't quite large enough to have a table in it - I did try for a while, but it was just in the way.

swan I think the DC definitely pick up on our moods and behave accordingly. And of course at that age, they mainly focus on how they're feeling and don't see all our hard work. Hope you survived the visiting children; we had three here this afternoon and it was very hard work (the girls kept complaining that the boys were disturbing them and the littlest girl didn't have anyone to play with until DD1 took pity on her).

feetheart Yes, I think that guilt goes with motherhood unfortunately (for me, at least). But there's definitely room for improvement - I wish I could ignore the state of the house and just play with the DC, as DH does. (He also claims that the house is tidier when he's looking after them. Admittedly, he is better at getting them to tidy up than I am.)

Bitchy I would be quite happy never to have a birthday party at home again; if the house wasn't chaotic beforehand, it certainly is afterwards. Theoretically we can throw all the children out into the garden at DD2's and DS's birthday parties in July, but the weather on DS's birthday has been awful for the last two years.

WhoKnows My mum didn't work after she got married (she claimed she didn't have time) and didn't believe that women should work if they had children, and I was always determined to be the opposite. I can't imagine not working, although it's only been p/t since the DC were born (actually more like working f/t for several days/weeks and then being unemployed for about the same amount of time!), but at the same time I'm finally beginning to understand why she said she wouldn't have time to work. Even on mornings that I'm not working, there just aren't enough hours in the day.

Thanks Feetheart, I for one feel better now . It's good to have someone even bossier than me telling me what's what .

Dedalus if you find out the answer will you please let me know. I confess to having a cleaner once a week so I don't have to do the weekly Home Bleugh, but getting routines into place has been a struggle, and still is in the evening when I'm exhausted. And I keep planning on starting to seriously declutter (just 15 mins, but every day), but there's always a reason it doesn't get done. Usually because someone small is clinging to my leg or wants to help . Still Flylady is helping. Babysteps. And not being perfectionist about anything.

**

Here are the last links for January.

Tomorrow's babystep is about not getting bogged down by wanting to know everything about the system; keep on FLYing and you'll get there eventually.

(Have the babysteps changed? I'm sure the last one used to be about looking back on what you'd achieved over the past month and feeling proud of yourself.)

The sneak peek for the week has finally materialised and is here. Tomorrow's mission is to spend 15 minutes putting out hot spots in your living room.

Finally, Tuesday is planning day.

**

I'd been hoping to start February's thread tonight but rambled on for far too long in my previous post so will leave it until tomorrow morning. DH has to be up for a flight at 4.45 am tomorrow, which no doubt means I won't be able to get back to sleep after his alarm has gone off (or, as usually happens, I'll finally get back to sleep after five minutes before my alarm goes off). I'm not going to manage an early night as it's already 20 minutes past my ideal bedtime, but I don't want it to get even later.

Back in the morning with a shiny new thread.

So how did I do?

get DC dressed
nursery run
take DS to CM and attempt to leave him for first time
rush home
pack up boots to send back - tried but ran out of time
fill in urgent form to post
write out rest of today's to do list which needs to include "what's for dinner"
unpack suitcases - only managed one
go to post office
pick up DS - only leaving for an hour or so today

Also done:

made dinner
swam
top up shop
put washing on
pick up DD from nursery
feed DC
bathtime
eat my dinner

Now I'm trying to motivate myself into getting up and starting bedtime routine

Evening all,

Toffee - it can go either way can't it, what your mum did. I am obsessive about never being late because my mum was (is) a chronic late arriver, I hope the DCs don't go the opposite way again (I try and remind myself of this when I am getting stressed about being late for something that really doesn't matter too much like Beavers). DS gets his obsessive clockwatching tendencies from me, that's for sure.

Dedalus - welcome back - I do most of mine while the DCs are at school (I work p/t within school hours, they are 6 and 8). I do manage quite a lot of housework while they play though, but it is a balance between wanting them to play independently and wanting to be involved. I have got a tendency to reach out and start tidying something the second there is a free moment in whatever we are playing at and the DCs do get annoyed with me so I am trying to make it one or the other, either I get fully involved with them or tell them that I can't but will watch them while I do specified jobs. Both are less frustrating than a mum who is only joining in half heartedly.

When I worked full time after DS was born, one of us would take him out on a Saturday morning while the other did the home blessing type jobs, the rest just got muddled through as and when (this was pre-Flying).

Swan - it is SO hard not to get irritated sometimes, isn't it? I am working hard on the not escalating irritation into anger thing at the moment but do struggle.

Er, Flying.

Well, I muddled through about half the home blessing, plus some paperwork, then spent the afternoon at school helping and did some shopping, followed by two school pickups (one DC at a club) and the Beavers run. We all had a good tidy up before the DCs went to bed, which we don't always manage.

Oh and I have enrolled myself onto an OU course today. So that makes me a student again. Gulp. It has been a long time since I did anything career-development wise, I am aware that my professional body could take my letters off me if I don't keep up a bit, so back to college I go.

Thanks for the links Linzer - totally with you on the work patterns!

Toffee / Swan - DS1 loves the story about My Naughty Little Sister and Bad Harry eating all the trifle! It's in a book of classic stories. DH hates it though, and I have to say I'd forgotten how prim the big sister is with all the "Wasn't that rude and naughty of her?" stuff!

Dedalus - I try to do routines around the boys and hotspots when they're in bed, but the house bleugh has to wait till they're at the CM, partly because DS2 is still terrified of the hoover.

DS2 is feeling lousy and full of cold tonight. He's just started whimpering again. :( I really can't have him being ill just at the moment because I'm in the working almost f/t phase of freelancing... Gaah!!

Evening all.

toffee . Glad you found it useful. I always use it in class and it never fails to engage. If DS is ever struggling with History again, you know where I am.

Flying wise, the cleaner has home blessed. Uniforms etc all ready for the morning. No cm for the first couple of days this week. Those of you who have been here a while will remember she gave birtj tp twins that died shortly after birth and it is the twins birthdays this week. Does mean i have to be a bit more organised though.

As for the quality dc time debate. As a full time WOHM, i am pretty sure my dc's miss out. However, i have learnt not to beat myself up about it. They are happy secure kids. We try and do one thing as a family each wkend. I do think feet had it about right.

Anyway, I have a tax return to finish.

Hi, can I rejoin you all for Feb?

I've 'fluttered' a bit once or twice but never really stuck with it. Have been doing babysteps for a few days now and want to try again - goal is to do babysteps for a month - and other bits if I can!

Sorry, should have been rejoin

Hi Neenook welcome back. I will be here in February as well.

Glad things are settling down a bit lauren

hello all, had a not so good day, but not so bad in the end

felt anxious {what's new} but cracked on a bit, and then felt irritated {what's new} but have achieved

nice supper for all family which dh ate too! (chicken casserole and light flufffy rice
ds1 in very good mood and did all his homework, rushed off to football, then rushed off to Scouts
dd started her papier mache (but refused to go to ballet)
stopped ds1 having meltdown with a six year old who called him a Weirdo
talked to builder about kitchen door fitting
arranged ds lift to Scouts with neighbour [yay!]
helped dd with wallpaper paste etc
dd piano

checked ds homework in bag
uniform out for him at least
wiped table

bit of house bless, and swept floors downstairs a bit, otherwise still a mess everywhere

swept front path

Whoknows OU excitement! Will it be a science?
My mum was always late too...but only because she was an organised multi-tasker . I am late [not for that reason unfortunately], but NEVER to pick up the children from anywhere, I am fanatical about not being last to pick up, as I used to hate it sooo much when my mum used to turn up last.

Lauren house buying excitement, hope it works out

Toffee horrible that feeling of nameless being on edge, I think you have been absolutely saintly in temperament recently.

better go to bed
Bitchy Enjoy the party planning, please. One theme, followed through is all you need to survive it! That's my theory.

Lauren - glad things are looking more positive.

Toffee - It?s embarrassing when they behave badly, especially when you?re eating out, isn?t it?!

Swan - children are contrary creatures, aren?t they?! Ooh house too messy for a cleaning lady. That?s why I daren?t get one at the moment!!!

Linzer - there is so little time when you take into account after school activities, homework and meal preparation though. I?ve only started with home work and can?t imagine what it will be like when there?s more! How do you get the energy to do ANYTHING else with them? I fit a child?s table into the kitchen for the DSs to sit at. A normal table wouldn?t fit, and also do what Lauren does. It?s about the only regular time the kitchen gets cleaned.

Bitchy - birthday party in the house???!!! You?re game! I?m opting out this year and having DS1?s party at a venue

Feet - Yes mum !!!!

Dedalus and Nenook - Hi! Welcome. You won?t recognise me, I started just a couple of months ago.

Life - well done on getting through most of the list, and doing the extras!

Who Knows - how exciting! Are you looking forward to your course?

I haven?t been particularly organised today. DS1 has an inset day today so we had a relaxed morning and then went out to a soft play centre and met some other mums and DC from his school ?was a lot of fun!

I have done some furniture rearranging in the lounge room, bringing in some furniture from storage. Think it looks much neater and organised now. More room for the toys, but they can?t be seen ? always a good thing.

I had (coincidentally) already done today?s mission on Thursday so didn?t bother doing it again properly, but did give a good sweep.

First child free morning for a few weeks tomorrow ? yay!!! Lots on my to do list.

I?ve been asked to consider a job opportunity today which has thrown me. I wasn?t planning on looking for work until DS2 was in his second year at nursery due to child care costs (paying for care AND nursery!) But this opportunity is not one likely to come up again anytime soon so having a serious think about it. Need to get some sleep but I think my brain is going to be whirling all night.

Night all!

My List:

-MOP KITCHEN! I keep saying that and it keeps not happening. I have a tiny little kitchen, too! Done! Yay

• Fold and put away the laundry heaped on the chair in the living room No, but maybe tomorrow!

-Finally give my friend's DDs their super-belated Christmas presents. Done

-Dishes and wipe surfaces in kitchen Done

-Really sweep and vacuum downstairs..the dog hair is getting crazy again. No...sigh

-Feed DS dinner early so I can make it to work at the theater tonight on time. He wanted to "eat later with daddy"

• GO TO BED WHEN THE CLOCK STILL SAYS PM! No, but only about an hour off

-Dog fed, watered, and let to romp around Done

-Ingredients for Cheesy Chicken Chili thrown in slow cooker...house smells wonderful! Delicious!

-Clothes set out for tomorrow Done, though I have a beastly cold and feel terrible, so have opted for a not-very-professional-but-comfy ensemble

Today I have managed to be the first one up! I have been really struggling lately to wake up and get going in the morning, and I am lucky DH is about a bit more this time of year as he has been getting up with the kids and giving them breakfast. But today I woke up at 6.30, made DS his bottle, a cup of tea for myself and had a bath. Not dressed yet, but awake and clean - it is a start!

To Do
Get dressed
Make beds
Do breakfast
Get dcs dressed
Empty dishy
Laundry
Do hair (dd and mine)
DD to preschool
Town - market, library, get milk and coffee
Make bottom half of shepherds pie
Pick DD up
Lunch
Laundry
Coffee and get ready to go out
Maybe go to look at a trailer
Horses
Snack
Organise dinner
Kids bed (early if possible)
Tidy round
Some paperwork
15mins declutter (hopeful)

I have just been out for a run and can no longer feel my fingers. It was -7.5°C when I set out. On the plus side, I am now fully awake.

Will be back to start the new thread as soon as some feeling has returned to my fingers!

Linzer you have put me to shame! There I was feeling pleased with myself for getting up and havibg a bath and you have been out running in -7.5 degrees :o

Dedalus It sounds like your DS is still quite young if you're making him a bottle. I don't think there's any way I'd have managed to get up, have a cup of tea and have a bath when mine were that age. I'm forced to get up early as school starts at 8 am (although we're an hour ahead here so it's never quite as early as it looks when I post), although I am slightly masochistic and get up over an hour before I have to wake the DC as I need like some time to myself in the mornings.

Right, the feeling is slowly returning to my fingers so off to start the new thread.

New thread is here.

Morning all!

After finally getting round to ringing the estate agents the house is due to exchange contracts there's the decision made for me then!

Just a list dump as I'm on phone...I've finished work and it's only 9am

To do:
Laundry - first load on
Hoover
Wash down doors
Wash down sofas
Clean indoor rabbit
Walk dog and mams dogs
Living room hot spots
Wash up/ shine sink
Mop kitchen floor
Clean out fridge
Go to post office to tax DP car for him
Collect parcel from depot

Paper work when DD goes to bed
Zumba!

BBL!

Linzer - gloves and a hat essential running kit at the moment :)

Quick list:

• S&S, washing on - done
• All up and out - done
• Say 'yes' to DS's teacher re helping on a trip to local church - done
• Avoid playground moaning - got Ofsted report last night and it is NOT GOOD, which a lot of us were expecting. However it really gives new head the mandate for change she needs. She has done some good stuff already and I have high hopes. Done - stood with positive people :o
• Work - bits and pieces
• Emails re School Assoc
• Hoover upstairs
• Various phone calls
• Reading Buddies at school
• Early dinner for DC
• Mad Beavers/Brownies drop off/pick up if on my own, slightly less mad if DH around. Not sure which it will be

Better get on or CBA will set in :)

Right today i shall be discovering the safe places that everything important is hiding in.

Party wasn't having a theme just dvd and pizza making (with possibly biscuit making thrown in in an emergency). And the cake is themed. Btw ideas for films for 7/8yr olds? Boys.

I am stuggling to find a nice card with 7 on it that is grown up. most of them are rather babyish which is a problem when you have an old before their time child. Might brave toys 'r' hellus and see what character ones they have.

Right on my list for today;
ds' kit bag
ds to training
clothes away
ironing
washing
books onto the bookshelf in ds' room
my room
find ID card
remember to take abs

lauren Oh no, how disappointing.

feetheart Yes, I've been wearing a hat and gloves for weeks - the hat is great for stopping my hair going frizzy keeping my head warm, but the gloves just don't cut it at these temperatures. Will have to go for a woolly pair of gloves over my running gloves next time!

Have finished and sent off one job, the other job that I was working on all weekend has finally been confirmed so I can carry on working on it without worrying that it's all been in vain (although I did discuss it with the agency on Friday, who agreed that I should go ahead), and I'm also busy preparing this afternoon's two English lessons.

Not quite sure how I'm going to find time for FLYing today, but I'm determined to shine my sink this evening at least - must get the month off to a good start!

Thanks for the welcomes - feel very motivated!

Am at work (shhh) but have got a load of washing on and house is quite tidy. Do need to master getting up a bit earlier though

Linzer very impressed by the running - do you do it every morning? In my head, the night before, it seems like a great way to start the day - but at 6am when my head is still under the duvet it always seems so much less appealing...

Todays list...

Pick up DS's
Organise hwk/reading/piano practise
Cook dinner
Pay cheques in
Walk dog
Tackle huge pile of ironing
Swish and swipe bathrooms
Banking
Sew on Cub/Beaver badges

Nice to be back

Flying by as have guests later (no panicking strangely!), so not a lot of time. Thanks to Linzer for the new thread.

Today I have done:
Morning routine
S&S bathrooms
Muffin mix made and in fridge ready to go in oven
Bread mix in machine making bread (funnily enough! )
Dinner into slow cooker
Kitchen tidied after above
Dusted and hoovered living room
WAH job (just compiling a report while I MNet )

I still need to:
Take out the bins
Lay away washing
Maybe make rock buns?
Make DS's lunch (just boiling pasta really!)
Change for guests arriving.
Mop kitchen/utility floor.

Right, off to bung the muffins in the oven now it's at temperature.

Have a good one folks!