Flinging our way through the chaos: February’s Fledgling Flyers

[LinzerTorte]

Welcome to the February edition of the Fledgling Flyers' thread.

If you're living in CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome), this is the thread for you! We follow the tips on the FlyLady website in an attempt to restore order to our homes, but advise against signing up for the e-mails; all the information you need is on this thread.

Each day, I'll be posting the links that will enable you to do any of the following:

• start or repeat babysteps

• repeat babysteps and do 15 minutes a day decluttering in the current zone

or

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

More information about the babysteps is here.

So please join us - there's always plenty of chat, , cake, encouragement and the occasional to help us on our way!

So here goes:
up at stupid o'clock sleep fail so easy.
kit together
bedding on to wash
early training
sort out comp stuff
drop off dress for alterations
drop off envelope of paperwork
deal with car paperwork
tackle bedroom and: 30mins but no dent made :(
find missing paperwork found most but not the specific bit i was looking for
find safe place credit card is in
sort out pile of urgent paperwork that needs action
laundry 1st load of proper stuff is on
take recycling out
take out rubbish
ironing
put clothes away in wardrobe
up date calendars

...

Right i think coffee, shower, and second breakfast in that order is needed. then to tackle the rest of the list.

JustGetting - Wow, you sound like a brilliant friend. But just remember that there is only so much you can give before you have a breakdown. Some people would just take it all and not consider the consequences for you. Please don?t let them

Toffee - if at 10 they are considered grown up enough to be charged with a criminal offence, then I think at 12 it?s not a big deal to be left alone for a short period of time!!!

Linzer - DS1 asked me when he would be old enough to walk to school on his own. We live in a small village and we walk across a small park and down two small cul de sac roads, and we?re at the school. I had to fob him off as sadly he will never be old enough to walk to school alone -it?s an infant school only, so he will leave when he?s 7. How silly is that??!! I actually do think he could walk on his own in Y2 but there?s NO WAY the school would allow it, they don?t even let parents leave the school until the bell goes and the children all go into class.

LiveBegins - you?re right, I was a child of the 70s and and a teenager of the 80s, I loved it!!!! Not loving being in my 40s now though!!!

Bitchy - good to see you up and about. I know how it feels to spend time on a room and not see any result! Hang in there, there IS less to do. It may not FEEL better, but it IS better!

Jax - welcome back!

Swan - Monday mornings always feel worse for me too, it just feels like the start of a very long week of work with no excuse to bunk off like you have on the weekend.

I?m finally starting to feel better, but this morning?s school drop off left me feeling exhausted so don?t have a lot of energy back yet, and still coughing lots and lots, but the penicillin is working and so my coughing is at least doing something productive, even if a bit icky.

Have managed to do bits and pieces over the weekend, and have made a massive dent in my washing and ironing pile, but have more to go.

I can?t really do the mission for today, as my bedroom is being painted and we are camping in the spare room. But.... instead I will go declutter my chest of drawers. My top drawer has become a junk drawer and there?s lots of things in there that shouldn?t be! It will certainly make it easier to transfer my things over to the new storage if there?s only things I need in there!

To Do

Meal Plan
Grocery shopping
Put yesterday?s ironing away
Strip DSs beds and remake
3 loads of washing
Remnant ironing
Declutter top drawer in my chest of drawers
Declutter entrance and hall
Kitchen rescue
Utility room rescue
15 minute lounge room tidy up

Hmm, that's a lot so I had better get my skates on!!

Morning all.

Ta da!
Survived first school morning of the half term and everyone in the right place at the right time! (thanks, Swan! )
Washing done and in drier
Clean laundry away
Shiny sink
Swept floor
Sorted sewing stuff into new boxes (one was belated present from the w/e)

To do:
Sponge bags etc away
DH to put cases etc in loft
Mission
Recycling out
Blogging
DS1 school trousers
Today's laundry away
Meal plan
Zumba!

MummyNick - good luck!

ChitChat - glad you're feeling better - still take it easy though.

Bitchy - here's a for you.

Waves to all. Better get on.

Thanks Blue I have made several attempts at making coffee but yet to get one.

List up date because tbh i want to crawl back into bed. Although the cunning plan of washing bedding and covering bed in stuff being sorted in progress means i can't. And no i haven't broken the fat fairy's rule of not getting out what can't put away in 1 hour. It is just moved from floor in a slightly more sorted manner and was out already

So here goes:
up at stupid o'clock sleep fail so easy.
kit together
bedding washed
early training
sort out comp stuff
drop off dress for alterations
drop off envelope of paperwork
deal with car paperwork part one done
tackle bedroom and: 1hr and 30mins and a small dent made
find missing paperwork found most but not the specific bit i was looking for
find safe place credit card is in still fecking looking
sort out pile of urgent paperwork that needs action pile has been mostly created
laundry 1st load of proper stuff is on
take recycling out
take out rubbish
ironing
put clothes away in wardrobe
up date calendars all 4 of them
make important phone calls. 2 done many to go.

...

15min break and then back to it

It's going to be a long day.

TaDa

Children to school, lunch box made for DD
Dogs walked
Breakfast had
Dressed (obviously so I could walk dogs and do school run)
Kitchen cleaned, DW unstacked and restacked
2nd load of laundry on
Blinds in Dining Room cleaned,
Dining room dusted/cleaned
hoovered all downstairs
Washed all downstairs floors
Upstairs bathroom cleaned
Downstairs bathroom just needed a swish n swipe
Dinner sorted out for this evening
some laundry put away, rest folded on my bed to be put away next time Im upstairs.

Puppy dog has a dodgy tum and just had an accident on the dining room floor, so that is cleaned and washed again. Have hosed her bed down and the industrial rug and hung on line to dry.

Ive had enough now, going to make lunch.

Glad all who were poorly are on the mend, all those who were super busy and motivated keep on being so.

just I think you may be over doing things a little, take care of yourself.

D&V bugs are my absolute nemesis. Almost phobic about it if the DC get them. Poor DH does most of the cleaning up if he is around, otherwise I have to get on with it and end up vomming myself.

Happy Monday everyone.

leaves fresh coffee for all

well, the cleaning lady has been here for 2.5 hours and together the pair of us have achieved less that Jax

She has: cleaned the kitchen
sorted the dry goods cupboard and spices
taken the bin out
done some ironing
hoovered the stairs and landing
dusted kitchen light
sink
reloaded dw with breakfast stuff

I have: washed floors in kitchen, hall, bathroom, front room
put on a load of washing
washed a duvet in the bath
tended to dd rather half heartedly
had a shower, dressed
made lunch dd - need to serve it.
rescued several surfaces to no avail as I ended up just dumpign everything in playroom
washed & scrubbed loos and basin x 1

I feel very depressed by it all. No end in sight, nowhere to put anything, and can't throw anything away because of DH, my diary is a mess and dd wants me to sit with her. Couldn't even find any decent clothes to wear this mornign our bedroom is such a muddle. No hope of changing sheets today. Tomorrow is booked up. Wed is long dentist appt. Thurs and Friday booked up.
Perhaps I could tidy/declutter playroom whilst sitting with dd.

No doubt I will gather my wits later. Waves to Bitchy - is that name sung with a Scottish accent lyrics from the 80's? Can't remember the band name but the one with song about walking 500 miles as well...

Proclaimers that's the name of the band..!

erm too young to remember that am afraid

just wasn't kicking ass so didn't feel right. and not in a particuarly bitchy mood when name changed. But like being bitchy iyswim.

yet another to do list because am failing. sorry to bore please feel free to skip.

So here goes:
up at stupid o'clock sleep fail so easy.
kit together
bedding washed
early training
sort out comp stuff
drop off dress for alterations
drop off envelope of paperwork
deal with car paperwork part one done
tackle bedroom and: 2hrs and 30mins later and i am now clearing up my bed and consolidating what i have achieved.
find missing paperwork found most but not the specific bit i was looking for
find safe place credit card is in
sort out pile of urgent paperwork that needs action - *pile is gathered together ready for tackling later.
laundry 4th load of proper stuff is about to go on
take recycling out
take out rubbish
ironing done last weeks
put clothes away in wardrobe done mine
up date calendars all 4 of them
make important phone calls. 4 done many to go.

I remember it Swan.

Swan have some . I'm sure things must be looking much better around the house than they were this morning, you just have to let yourself see it. As far as getting rid of stuff is concerned, have you got a loft? Can you package up stuff in smallish cardboard boxes, taped up and labelled and put in the most inaccessible out of the way place possible. Only stuff you actually want to get rid of. Then don't mention it to DH, wait until he asks for the stuff, and you can honestly tell him where it is. In two years time you can chuck it out, and he'll never have bothered about it.
If you really have nowhere at all to get it out of the way, and out of sight, then you might have to get sneaky. Start with two or three items that he really won't miss and get rid of them. If DH does ask, then say quite honestly that you don't know where they are (you really won't), and that the last time you saw them was... (the room they were last in). Obviously, this is not ideal, but the chances are he won't ask, and in a few months when you are feeling confident he hasn't missed anything, you can 'fess up.

I'm going on strike today! Just come back from nursery meeting 1 1/2 hours later than I expected, and feeling totally done in. Coming down with the same thing the rest of the family has (cough, tight chest), nothing serious or worrying, but energy-sapping. House is a tip as didn't have time for proper morning routine before leaving this morning. Might tidy up before picking DC up, or might just watch TV catch up, and drink tea .

Bitchy how can you call that failing? You should see my list in my CJ. Nothing done! You are not failing! I'll see you in the naughty corner later if you like, though. I'm heading there now.

failing motivation wise. I meant. Sooo much that needs to be done before wednesday. And need to keep going til about 6pm when I will finally find my bed and hopefully see a normal sleep pattern again.

List update:
up at stupid o'clock sleep fail so easy.
kit together
bedding washed
early training
sort out comp stuff
drop off dress for alterations
drop off envelope of paperwork
deal with car paperwork part one done
tackle bedroom and: 3hrs and 30mins later and i am now clearing up my bed and consolidating what i have achieved.
find missing paperwork found most but not the specific bit i was looking for
find safe place credit card is in
sort out pile of urgent paperwork that needs action - *pile is gathered together ready for tackling later.
laundry 6th load of proper stuff is about to go on
take recycling out
take out rubbish
ironing done last weeks
put clothes away in wardrobe done mine
up date calendars all 4 of them
make important phone calls. 4 done many to go.
wash car
Discover bed in progress and looking achievable
Handwashing
watch a film tried multi tasking as a motivational tool. was slower but kept going so better then other wise.
discovered loads of photos simply waiting to go into a photo album. All printed out
look for new profile picture for fb looked but failed.

time for a coffee break, a sit down with a hot water bottle and a bit of paper to construct a plan of action for tomo.

Right I'm back in. Home from a very sad half term in England for a very dear friend's funeral - heartbreaking - and a few days with ailing PIL's sorting them out with home help, decent chairs they can actually get in and out of, and an electric fancy-nancy bed that sits them up and tips them out. Could do with one of those myself.

Just when you think life is great, it jumps up and slaps you in the face.

But, back to babysteps in real life here now.

Kids still off school as teacher training and President's Day here in the good ole USofA. Bet Barack & Mich are having more fun than me.

I need to look back through the thread and catch up - don't even know what zone we're on.

My plan today is to plough through the washing, finish unpacking, do a meal plan for the week and then a quick grocery shop. I think that's all the jetlag will let me do for now.

So sorry to hear about your friend cq; it must have been a very sad visit for you.

Bitchy An impressive amount of crossing off there; I wish I could manage to get that much done when I'm not feeling motivated (or even when I am).

Lifebegins Hope you're all on the mend soon.

swan I must admit to secretly decluttering things without DH or the DC realising - it's the only way sometimes. The DC's things generally go down into the cellar and if they haven't missed them after a couple of months weeks, I get rid of them.

Jax I'm an emetophobe too and live in dread of D&V bugs, although for some reason can just about cope with the DC being sick - not DH or anyone else, though.

Blue Well done on surviving the first morning! The Semesterferien seem like weeks ago now...

ChitChat It almost seems to be the other extreme here. I don't have any problems with DC walking to school on their own (the DDs have a few roads to cross, but no particularly busy ones) but I'm constantly shocked by how laissez-faire so many parents are about leaving young children on their own.
I had a text from DS's best friend's mum earlier to say that all three of her children now have chickenpox. "Poor thing," I thought, "she won't be able to leave the house." Only to see her out running about half an hour later! (I don't think she'd have had anyone to look after the children, who are 3, 4 and 6 - and I know she's left them before to go running.)

MummyNic Hope the appointment went OK and that the hunger pangs were bearable!

Neenook Hope you manage to have an early night tonight after your early start.

The DC went to bed very excited this evening as it's Fasching (carnival) tomorrow so they're allowed to dress up for school - DD1 is going as a princess and DD2 as a witch. DS is having a pyjama party at kindergarten; he's already taken a pillow in and we've got clean PJs ready for the morning. It's also another excuse for school to finish early... DD1 will only be at school until 12.45 pm one day this week; she'll be finishing an hour early on Thursday and Friday too as her RE teacher is still ill. Hmm, wonder if I'll get out of next week's English lessons if she hasn't recovered by next Thursday.

**

Tuesday's links

The babystep is to read the answer to a question put to FlyLady.

Tuesday's mission is to spend 15 minutes putting away the pile of clothes in your bedroom.

Tuesday is planning day - and once your planning is finished, spend the rest of the day doing something for yourself. Although the "rest of the day" is probably a little optimistic if you have children around...

Just a quick update:
Appointment went well, eventually. Waited 1.45 hrs to be through the doors of doom!!
Had sedation and the throat spray
Can't recall much apart from a bit where I was thrashing about - probably as the tube came out
Can't drive or work for 24 hrs which makes it 2pm tomorrow, so I shan't be going into work

Good news is: I don't have an ulcer!!!
So my troubles may be gallstones or "simply" an inflamed stomach (possibly due to stress, possibly due to the struggle to save my dog's life).
Big relief all round

Sorry for nothing more, utterly exhausted.

Haven't been motivated all that much here today. Shopping wore me out, don't have much stamina yet!

List update
Meal Plan sorta done
Grocery shopping done
Put yesterday?s ironing away 1/2 done - no room for ours in spare room!
Strip DSs beds and remake done
3 loads of washing done
Declutter top drawer in my chest of drawers
Declutter entrance and hall done
Kitchen rescue
Utility room rescue
15 minute lounge room tidy up

Plus
Fix broken crossbar in Lounge room unit done
Fix temporary hanging rail for excess clothes to hang on until we move back into our room done - but we'll see how successfully tomorow!

Linzer I think you should read her some Struwelpeter about people's houses burning down!That's insane, unless they are actually asleep or telly addicts, or just very very good children..I worry about mine tripping up or falling down the stairs when I'm out, let alone fighting or setting the house on fire. [resolves never to leave burly ds1 in charge again]

Life yes you are right. Only he has a nasty habit of askign for books/games which have gone to the shelf in the sky (the loft) and getting in a complete strop when I say they are up there. Tonight he was outrageously rude to me for putting away some Dr Who Annuals. After long consideration I've realised the only thing I can do is shame him out of hoarding, by [sob] throwing away all my own possessions. Yes, that is the only solution.
House looks vaguely better.
Carbonara for supper
Dd went to ballet without screeching

Now plunged into homework nightmare with ds1 who has admitted he's lost his Literacy book and was meant to write an essay on two poems (2 weeks he's had! Bah!) so I've been lookign them up on internet and planning to get up at six tomorrow to do it with him. [grrr]
Still he went to Football and Scouts before he mentioned said essay, and I'm relieved he did, because he needs the company/exercise.

Chitchat glad you are feeling a bit better, don't overdo it
Mummy glad it is not ulcer.

I am very very cross with Dh and his hoarding actually, the only thing that keeps me going is that he puts the children to bed beautifully , and also I see it is in my own power to solve the problem if I can just take responsibility for my own hoarding issues even if I can't solve his.

Just lost post again . Can't cope with my new computer. It keeps doing odd things.

Sorry for those of you who are having tough times. Sometimes I find housework is the only way of taking back a bit of control. Am going to test that right now by sorting out the kitchen before bed, so that tomorrow (first day back at school for DS2; DS1 still unable to go, but that's another post) will be a fresh start. Have already laid out clothes, PE kit and school bag. Hoping for an earlyish night.

Night all.

Morning everyone. I am still here and trying to keep up but RL seems to be cutting into my MN time - how very dare it :)

So sorry to hear of poorly, frustrated people

ChitChat - it will take quite a while to feel 100% again and will take much longer if you don't take it easy. Voice of experience here having had numerous 'chest' things over the years including pneumonia

Justgetting - helping someone with their hoarding is SO much more than just helping them get rid of stuff, it sometimes involves a whole life-time of issues. Most of the time they will see you as the enemy because everything is special/meaningful/etc to them and you are trying to get them to deal with it. I still haven't got over trying to help SiL 6 years ago (how there can be an emotional attachment to plastic bags that 'stuff' came in I will never know but the fight she put up to KEEP THEM ALL is still beyond me ) If there is a bereavement on top of it all you have no hope so I'd stop for a while if I were you and never start again

Swan - I can share your frustration too. Thankfully my DH isn't as impossible as yours sounds but I get to frustration-boiling point a little too often than is good for me. My current tactic is to try and declutter everything I can in the hope that seeing the extra space/neat and tidy tiny areas will get through to him. I am feeling positive at the moment but will no doubt hit despair again at some point

This week is 'birthday week' in our house - DD is 9 tomorrow (how?) and DH is 'still younger than me' on Thursday :o
Need a quick list:

• All up and out
• Morning routine
• Sort out presents from various cupboards/hiding places
• Get cards
• Make buns for Dd to take into school tomorrow
• Tidy living room so it can fit in 9 x 8/9 yr old girls!!
• Ditto DD's room
• Work - if there is time

DC just appeared, best get on!

Goodmorning Feet just waved off ds1 to school (he will do anything to get out of essays)

He has refused to write it despite early start (we got up at 6.15), saying he needs sheet with two poems rather than my interpretation of what sheet said, ah well, at least he's taking responsibility for problem instead of screaming at me. I suspect he will get there before school opens; at least it is not dark now in the mornings. His coat is, of course, in his locker

Feet yes, I think Dh noticed playroom was looking a bit tidier and saw the link between removal of items and tidiness.

Toffee hope you are alright this morning.

I have a streaming cold, but I have to say the kitchen is delightfully peaceful at this time of day, birds frantically singing outside notwithstanding. Busy day ahead. Ds2 to dr to check his cough (still paroxyms), me to Library duty, and various other things. Not even sure what they were. But yesterday they assumed gigantic proportions will have to write list

Feet [going round in circles] What are you planning for your dd's party this year - last year I remember it was craft?

todo
put out three unused cardboard veg boxes
dcs x 2 to school
shower, dress
hang up wet laundry
order things
send back revised drawing of utitility to planning person
ring lady who talks to dd in Barnes
book workshop
more chucking

Hello.

I have hoarding tendancies. I always make myself feel better by thinking "that stuff you chucked last month, do you remember it all, do you miss it at all?" The answer is usually no, although I am a bit gutted at chucking a teether the kids had (yes I know, no hope!)

DH off this week, so we are just having an easy week. DH has cleared the garden, I have gone through the bags of handed down clothes, outgrown clothes and through the chests of drawers and now have several bags to get rid of. Just pottering and slowly decluttering.

Back with you all next week

Hi all . no work today so catching up.

Lovely day. Just seen a bluetit go in the nesting box .

My dh hates throwing stuff out tooo, but luckily he rarely buys anything either. I am the opposite and love a good fling, but also buy too much stuff . I am stuff bulemic!

Hope the poorly folk are soon on the mend.

Today:
laundry
beds
hoover
mop
dust
sainsburys
Tel Mum
consider pancakes .

BBL

School mornings are horrible . DS2 didn't want to go and did everything he could to slow us down until I was at boiling point. Then I hated myself for getting so angry. To concentrate on the positive though: we were on time for school and I left DS2 happily chatting to his friend.

This morning, I have to tackle a lot of things (phone calls etc) that I've been putting off. DH has finally agreed to pay someone to sort out the sorry state of our garden (it has taken him several months to accept that neither of us is ever going to have time) so I'm going to phone round about that.

School have invited us in for a meeting about DS1 next week. In the meantime, I am trying to keep some structure and discipline (and education!) in his life by doing some home ed with him today. Haven't had any work from school, so I'll just have to make it up myself. Decided we'd begin with reading, as we'll both enjoy that.

Am also planning to get him out for a very short walk (getting his computer back is the incentive ) and hoping to build it up every day until he can walk as far as his friend's house without panicking.

Am feeling quite down about it all, but I think that's because DH is at the end of his tether, plus I have cut down my ADs. Probably not the best time to do that, but decided there would never be a good time!

Feet - it is very inconvenient when RL cuts into MN time, isn't it? Hope you and your family have a happy birthday week.

Swan - sorry you have a streaming cold. I am on Lemsip myself today, but I didn't even wait to see if i really did have a cold or if I was just snuffly. Decided that I couldn't cope with a cold on top of everything else! Find Lemsip quite comforting anyway. Am intrigued by your 'book workshop'....

Dedalus - excellent and enviable decluttering going on in your house! I feel your pain re the teether. My DS1's first Christmas present (a cat-shaped soft rattle) fell out of the pushchair when I was childminding and I wasted an inordinate amount of time retracing my steps to find it again because I couldn't bear to lose it. It still bothers me sometimes, but, really, how silly of me. I think it was because I didn't choose to let it go, it was taken from me. But it was only a rattle!

Mummy - sorry to hear you have had to have such a horrible procedure. Glad it's not an ulcer though. Gallstones make you feel really ill, if it is that - but the good news is that you feel well as soon as they're taken out. Hope it all gets sorted soon - and that you are resting today.

ChitChat You are not taking it easy! Why not? You need to rest more.

Linzer - at your friend leaving her three young children! Don't they have rules about neglect in Austria? Hope the carnival goes well today.

A blackbird has started singing its heart out in the garden - very cheering to hear it. We usually have a nest outside our kitchen window. Does this mean Spring is coming?

Off to make a start on chores now.

Scatty - I see you are noticing bird activity too! It really must be the start of Spring.

Re: pancakes - I am cheating this year and have ordered readymade ones to come with my Ocado order today .