Fledglings “March” 31 steps away from CHAOS and mess towards domestic success...

[sanguinechompa]

... well, a shiny sink at least!!

Welcome to the March 2012 Fledgling Flyers thread. Park your mops, buckets and microfibre cloths here!!

A huge "thank you" to Linzer for steering us all through February - not a small achievement Linzer considering your school run/teaching commitments and with your dh travelling so frequently.

If you're house is a mess and you are strugging with C.H.A.O.S. (can't have anyone over syndrome) and S.T.U.F.F. (something that undermines family fun) then this is the thread where we (loosely) follow the step-by-step Flylady housekeeping system (in our own, unique, relaxed style) with lots of chat, whinging (in my case anyway ) and support along the way.

We advise not signing up to receive the Flylady e-mails as you will be inundated! All the information you need will be linked here on a daily basis.

From the first of the month, we will be following Flylady's tips on restoring order to our homes, and as we are all at different stages we will be using one of the following methods:

Here you can, for one month:

• repeat or start baby steps

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

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

More info here and here!

All long-standing members, intermittent returnees, lurkers and newcomers welcome!!

Lucky you, Toffee - where was my not-entirely-unattractive neighbour when I needed him? (Looking the other way, I hope!)

WhoKnows You have a good reason for not going out - plus you've been doing far better than I have recently. I really enjoyed my run today (probably because it's still a novelty) and only had the odd twinge in my knee, but I've got an appointment with the orthopaedic specialist on 2nd April as I don't think it's suddenly going to clear up by itself.

Phew. This morning was bit more frantic than it had to be...but the trouble with having just one dc is that it is possible to be unprepared and get away with Must resist that mindset though ...

Office work done (only had to show temporary cleaner the ropes and do some filing/unpacking of stationery order).

Sorry no personals for the mo but must get on and tackle rest of this house which seems to have taken a turn for the worse over the w/e - even though we weren't here for a lot of it bags/coats/wellingtons/shoes/rucksacks/ladders/roller skates/golf clubs/filthy jodphur boots/glass recycling/post/dumped all over hall etc. Why does dh no one else help with this ?

Ta da:
morning routine inc s&s, dw on, wm on
hang out washing in sunshine on terrace (first time this year - yippee [saddo emoticon]
work tasks

To do:
sort more laundry and wash
put away clean clothes
dye Barnet Fair
tidying in sitting room
tidying in play room
tidying in major boudoir
hoover out some drawers in major boudoir
small supermarket shop for salading & fresh fruit
drop off glass recycling and deposit load at dry cleaners
school run
hwk supervision
baking with dd
supper (already prepped because its yesterdays roast we didn't have)
afternoon/evening routine

[reserve proper kitchen clean and downstairs home bleugh for tomorrow]

On the positive side had a lovely day in fresh air yesterday - which cleared out a few cobwebs - can still feel wind on cheeks etc so feeling fairly chipper

Hope everyone has a good day!

Morning all!

The bit of work I was half expecting this morning has been cancelled, so instead while DS2's at playgroup I have:
got the washing on the line
emptied the recyling
rescued the kitchen
chased up printers re newsletter
blogged
done under-bed diving - removed enough stuff to clear the top of the wardrobe!

Don't suppose much more flying will happen today, but I'm intending to enjoy the sunshine, make biscuits with DS2 and go to Zumba this evening.

Waves to all and hands out and liberally!

Morning All

Had a busy Mother's Day here - 12 for lunch but we all mucked in - and great to catch up with family and there are leftovers so that's supper tonight sorted.

Morning routine done and Laundry under control.
First meeting done and went better than hoped.

To Do
Contract mark up to finish for meeting (No 3) this afternoon
2 more meetings that don't need much prep but will have folow up.
Ironing
Supervise homework
Nag about music practice!

It is lovely and sunny here - hope it is the same for everyone.

Sunny here too, but cold. About to go and stick some washing on the line and do a partial home blessing (letting myself off the hoovering due to my back playing up). Need to do paid work and OU work mainly today, which means sitting in the kitchen where it is neither sunny or warm till later in the day.

Lunch time (chicken salad, finding it v. difficult to resist bread but won't be able to fit in to summer clothes if I don't ) Also giving up coffee between the hours of 9.30 am to 5pm so I can take iron pills at lunch time.

Right, how have you all been getting on?

Bitchy glad your Sunday turned out better than it started (sort of). at buttons! And well done for persisting with file box removal and getting through your list!!! A large golden duster goes to you for not giving up!!!

Swan On motherhood - I can't believe it either - have no clue what I am doing half the time. (Dh much more naturally 'cuddly' and maternal than me - his mother was over-the-top-suffocating, whereas mine was rather aloof and Victorian and as you say, I am afraid we both bring our own variety of parenting in to the mix however much we try not to (and while desperately trying to do certain things very differently). Larkins 'This be the Verse' so very true .... I think we can only know if we are 'succeeding' if we feel we are doing a bit better than our own parents ...

Sorry thyroid pills not working atm... good you have an appt soon to get levels adjusted ...I think this is often the case with thyroid meds.. (certainly was in my friend's case) but don't be despondent because you will feel an improvement once they get it right....(friend was woman transformed - honestly!!)

Good news about your mother!! (She sounds like my late ma - very feisty and independent! [goes off to look up Job/Leviathan]

Toffee sorry your mothering Sunday wasn't as relaxing as it could have been either. Minimal flying routines are still routines (remember hoovering up middle of room?!) so don't be too hard on yourself! Fingers crossed for you that outreach worker meeting goes well this afternoon x

Scatty at silver dancing shoes!!

Membership are you OK? Feel free to vent on here any time!!

Valium we have a ready supply of on here most evenings!!

cq Have to wait for mother's day here too - not that it is a big thing in our household - but dd's school usually makes mahoosive fuss. Great that tickler file is working!! I am in "lawks" state about main boudoir too ...good luck with under bed fishing ....if I'm not back on here tonight you'll know where I am ...

Chitchat a golden duster to you too as you did LOADS (not just of washing and dishes!!) yesterday!!! Hope you can catch up on sleep tonight.

PA a veritable whirlwind this morning as ever! Your "pathetic" list looks like one of my more respectable ones !! Re: "charming" e-mail: you'll be well shot of that lot come July (and it will be their loss!!!)

Linzer arf at "gait analysis" in drunken German. We believe you about the slope [nods head vigorously] !!! but at your dh's reaction!! Suggest falling over right in front of dishy neighbour next time in retaliation !!! Well done: re early run!!

Whoknows [Can't stand dh watching F1 midday w/es when Sun streaming through windows either!!!] good luck with dc bedroom and take care of that back!!

Welcome back Jax! Hope your dd's ankle recovers soon - must be difficult for her hobbling around school. We may have fallen off your thread list but you have certainly hit the ground running this morning!!

As have you Blue!! I must try and follow your example and be more self-disciplined and get more done in the morning instead of faddling around on Mnsnet Top marks for having things under control!!

JWIM all your planning obviously paid off - glad the lunch went well - sounds absolutely lovely!! And well done re: having laundry under control - no small feat!! [SC looks shifty ]

And huge flappings of wings to Ellie Feetheart Droitwich Honu Nicknacks MissBennett Grownup Lifebegins Neenook MummyNickleby Timewasting Justgettingonwithit and anyone else I've inadvertently missed!!

And well done/hats off to all of you who have been pampering your mils over the w/e!!

Crikey, how did I manage to miss Nettie off the list!!!! Sorry - bit bozz eyed from scrolling!!

List update:
me and ds up
lunch for ds made
ds to school
put load of washing on (half loaded in machine atm)
make sure know where to be for tomo appoint
appointment
ironing
kill off another ufo?
chickens
important email
shopping

That was a list dump will catch up with gossip with coffee and lunch in a mo...

OMG! have just done 2 maintenance washes on my poor machine. 95 degree with a squirt of bleach after I cleaned out the filter and powder drawer.

And then a 60 degree one with soda crystals as it still smelled a bit. No idea what I am doing wrong. It is all clean and shiny inside and out, have left the door open to 'air' it and see how things are later.

Laundry comes out smelling nice and fresh, but I can smell a musty smell inside the machine... oh well.

Have hoovered and washed all downstairs floors, hung some towels out to dry.

Been to supermarket, scoffed ham and cheese salad and cleaned rest of kitchen.

What detergent do you use Jax? I used to get mustiness problems and a disgusting detergent drawer and filter when I used eco detergents, since switching back to Fairy tablets my drawer and filter never need cleaning and no more mustiness. I do leave the door open all the time it is not in use though, which probably helps on the mustiness front.

Hi all

Well done with your list Bitchy

Jax at the risk of boring everyone to death (although have probably done that already, several times over ) I swear by clear vinegar for appliances (and tiles, sinks, shirt underarms, kettles, etc etc)

This thread bears witness to its efficacy (smelly washing not wm itself but same sort of thing)

Agree with whoknows about always leaving door open

Ta da

sort more laundry and wash done
put away clean clothes done half more to do
dye Barnet Fair done
tidying in sitting room done a bit - loads more to do
tidying in play room NOPE
tidying in major boudoir done a bit - loads more to do
hoover out some drawers in major boudoir done
small supermarket shop for salading & fresh fruit done
drop off glass recycling and deposit load at dry cleaners NOPE ran out of time
school run done
hwk supervision done
baking with dd NOPE
supper (already prepped because its yesterdays roast we didn't have) done
afternoon/evening routine still to do

If no one minds, I am going to risk you lot having a natter fest tonight resulting in 40+ posts to read in the morning post tomorrow's steps now and catch up with you all tomorrow as I want to do a bit more tidying and laundry sorting before Univ Challenge and then have an early night

Don't know why house so messy at the moment - Fat Fairy definitely correct in saying clutter attracts more clutter ... [sigh]

Baby step number twenty for tomorrow, Tuesday 20th March is

here An important one - including laundry in your routines!! You know how Flylady says "as the kitchen goes, so does the rest of the house" well, for me, I could substitute laundry for kitchen in that sentence - if my laundry is out of whack (as it is at the moment) everything else goes to pot chez Chompa.

This week we are in Zone 4 here the main bedroom.

here's the detailed cleaning list if you are at that stage.

Tomorrow's mission is here flinging old socks and pants + clearing top of dresser

Tuesday's daily focus is planning - activities, wardrobes and meals etc etc

Have a good 'un!

Ta-da!

Strip DCs beds
Pilates class
Cancel blood donation, wouldn't wish this cough on anyone who is unfortunate enough to need a blood transfusion
OU work
Paid work
Clean bathroom
Sweep kitchen floor
Unload DW
Detailed cleaning - one skirting board, two walls with magic eraser block
Dust underbed boxes, bedside tables, bedroom windowsill, bedroom telly
Try all my jeans on and earmark a few old pairs for charity shop
Two lots of washing
Put away yesterday's washing
Cook and eat dinner
Take DCs out to play on green

To do
Remake DCs beds (groan) I left all the crap on there and pulled the sheets off from under it, all needs moving now
Unpack DS's keyboard and get him to practice
Ballet practice for DD
Unpack Ocado shopping

Write down a list for tomorrow. Migraine inducing after school programme as follows:

3.15 - pick DCs up from school, home and change DD for ballet
4.30 - take DD to ballet
5.10 - be at school for first parent's evening appt
5.30 - pick DD up from ballet
5.50 - back to school for 2nd parents eve appt
6.30 - DS at Cubs.

Problem is parents eve appts all usually overrun, think we are going to have to take a sandwich tea and DS Cub uniform out with us just in case.

Luckily all are within 1/2 mile of each other but the timings are tight so will have to drive and this particular road is horrendous in rush hour.

Hope your parents' eve went well, WhoKnows. Out of nosiness interest, what OU course are you studying (and how on earth do you fit it in? ).

Parents' eve went well for DS2, except that I kept referring to DS1 . It is so hard to get the 'problem' child out of my head! Oh goodness, a psychologist would have a field day. Anyway, teacher was full of praise for DS2, who has the good fortune to be born with good concentration and listening skills, is good at reading and loves Maths. Nothing to do with me. Just good luck. Just as well he's not my first, as I would probably have thought it was all down to me . As it is, I know it has nothing to do with me and is just the way he's made .

Am on the (can you tell?) Just off to read a story to DS2. It's actually been a good day. Had both DC at home, but they were both lovely and busy and left me to get on with things.

Ok, well day one back on the baby steps has gone pretty well, although I did spend a lot of time grumbling at flylady under my breath.
TADA!
Dinners cooked for me, DS and DH (which DS even ate which is a miracle currently)
Clothes ironed for tomorrow
Industrial amount of coffee consumed
half a home blessing (dusted, mopped, changed beds)
swished bathroom
online food shop
hot spot
5 min room rescue
Still to do:
Make sandwiches for tomorrow
wash up and begrudgingly shine sink
Feeling very much today that flylady is like AA but with , a sponsor keeps an eye on us, we admit we have no control, that we need help, get steps to follow... I guess this is why it works? Who knows, right off to shine that hated sink!

Yes, valium, I think you're right. We need those steps or it all goes pear-shaped. Well done on getting through the routine in spite of under-breath grumbles.

Am skipping DS2's bathtime and going straight to storytime. Then am hoping that Dh has managed to record 'Walking Dead'. I never thought I would get addicted to a zombie series, but I admit that I am - completely, helplessly addicted.

Hi all.

toffee I had Ds parents eve today too and kept referring to DD! Funny isn't it?

swan your Mum sounds like she's on the mend.

linzer your falling down story made me laugh (sorry).

DD has nits (sigh).

Nits? Oh, scatty . I hope you don't have them too. .

Evening,

Toffee parents eve is tomorrow. Glad DS2's went well. I worry that I focus too much on DS possibly at the expense of DD, but it's hard not to really. i'm doing a short OU module in microbiology, which isn't too hard for me as I do have a science degree already, but have never studied biology formally and wish I had as it is very relvant to the sort of work I do. I can't see me taking it much further though, just too busy. I haven't picked up the Walking Dead since the mid season break, had found it was getting a bit predictable but I've still got them all recorded so might catch up at some point. I'm watching ER from episode 1 at the moment, not much time for anything else.

Scatty oh no to nits. We haven't had them for a while (touches wood).

Had a scare tonight, I was in the DCs bedroom with them and needed something from a high shelf, reached up and realised the very fully laden shelves were coming away from the wall (shelves on brackets screwed to the wall). I touched the box I was reaching for and the whole lot slowly came away and tipped the entire contents over me and onto the floor. Luckily nothing very heavy (board games and baskets of dolls and stuff) and none of it landed on the DCs but I had to stand and hold the rest of it up for 20 mins till DH came home from work and rescued me. Just glad I hadn't bothered tidying it up today after all, it really does look as though a bomb has gone off. The DCs have been relocated to the spare room for the night which is quite exciting for them. I am feeling a bit dazed and in need of . We took down the shelves completely but we are now minus a considerable part of our toy storage, time for a big declutter I think.

Today has been one of those days. I did read through but can't remember anything

afraid just going to dump a list as ds has been uber challenging tonight and I am shattered. Why is it when you ground a child it seems to be a punishment on you too?

List dump:
me and ds up
lunch for ds made
ds to school
put load of washing on (half loaded in machine atm)
make sure know where to be for tomo appoint
appointment
ironing
kill off another ufo?
chickens
important email
shopping
Chase replacement inhaler things for ds
start the great hunt for a non scarey, non expensive, non signing dancing mobile :( :(
get scared at above phone hunt, run away and hide
wash last of the pillows
empty gap by bed
move bed
turn down radiator and plug in extension lead
replace bed
unpick quilt which was quilted with wadding and not batting as it doesn't look right
cut up wadding
stuff elephant and sew

will see if those last three things on the list get done but i suspect they will feature on the list tomo. Actually looking at the time I think they will.

Tues' list:
me and ds up
morning school run
stuff elephant
kill another UFO
Kill off chickens
15mins on bedroom floor
ironing
Job hunt and application
sort paperwork for meeting wed
Lunchtime school run
feed ds lunch without killing him
Do not shout at ds or rise to his provoking
evening school run
ds to sort ds' room as he is banned to his room for the evening.

That list looks rather long. And not as if it contains results that are obvious. Very unsatisfying.

Yep, Bitchy, it's always a punishment on you too if you ground a child. DS1 is in disgrace tonight after we discovered that he has - again! - managed to change his pc settings so that he can stay online as long as he likes . He is certainly making us suffer. We are not sure how he's changing the settings as we have passwords and parental controls installed . Anyway, DH has just installed NetNanny and DS1 has flounced off to bed as if we are the ones being unreasonable. DS1 is still denying all knowledge, even though it's absolutely clear that he's fiddled with the settings. His propensity to lie is just breathtaking sometimes.

WhoKnows - at microbiology (English grad here). You have to catch up on WD! DH didn't manage to download it tonight and I was almost weeping with frustration. He says it's the season finale . Will definitely have the popcorn ready behind the sofa tomorrow night.

Whoknows that does sound I am very nervous about putting the head of ds's bed under his wall hung shelf for that reason, although kind builder swore it was very secure. I'm glad dh came back when you were expecting him!!! Very impressed that you dovetailed parents' meetings and other evening clubs.
I wanted dd to go as Pasteur for the Inventor's Day with a giant milk bottle (sorry that's microbiology tangent) or perhaps mb is genes...?

More screaming this afternoon about various things, but house is cleaner after cleaning lady, I've hoovered under ds's bed (which took all morning) and managed to make tuna pasta.
Ds went to football, dd to ballet, dtwins are still enjoyng using our bedroom as a playroom/dormitory/gymnasium (we have moved to dd's bedroom ever since the sleepover 2 weeks ago and can't seem to organise our return...) and Ds's homework prevarication and procrastination still continue I refused to take him to Scouts as a result and I'm hoping he may start listening to me FROM NOW ON!

SC thank you for your kind words, I hope yesterday was not too hard for you, thinkng about your mum. Despite your doubts she probably did a very good job making you the person you are. My mum is very keen on the Victorians; her favourite book is Middlemarch which she reads on a continuous loop...but I think they are maligned for their affections, as far as I can see they were very devoted in all but the most difficult families(re-reads Trollope)

Bitchy ds2 has been shouting about so many things today - in between talkng very calmly and sanely. The new X Box has proved a temptation too

and
decluttered
grey net curtains

Toffee I've started a lie problem teen thread in Teenagers
I think we just didn't have these temptations as teens. Temptation ran to reading a book with a torch when you were meant to have switched the light off. I can't even let Ds1 use a laptop for homework without standing next to him because he strays onto football results or Youtube immediately. And also I can't even understand parental settings, yet...