Fledglings Fly in Flaming June; C.H.A.O.S. will be banished soon!

[sanguinechompa]

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

A huge "thank you" to Toffee for leading us throughout May!! Hope you have a fabulous holiday in Spain!!

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, support and 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:

• 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, here and here

All welcome!!

Quick list dump as it's a busy/crap morning - will catch up later on laptop (currently on phone)

Change & wash our bed - in machine
Toddlers - 10am
Library & pick up suit trousers - either side of toddlers
Home for nap
Washing for us - sorted ready to go in
Towel washing for us - after clothes
Afternoon plans? depends on how long DS naps - maybe park if it stays dry
I also need to figure out what to do for lunch and dinner

I'm also a bit shaky at the moment as I've just smacked DS

I was changing our bed, and heard him playing about, then came back into the living room to find he'd managed to get a couple of forks out of the cutlery drawer (no clue how!) and was busily sticking them into the socket - which he'd managed to switch on. I feel terrible now, but I was so scared and just reacted with no thought. He's always being told not to touch them, but he always does. I've ordered socket covers for the two he can access (not the ones you plug in as they're dangerous, but these that stop kids pulling plugs out. Hopefully that will break the fascination.

Still, feel like I need in copious quantities.

Needless to say, DS is fine and running about like nothing happened. I'm in tears and have had to phone DH for a bit of support. Feel like such a shit mum - feel free to judge away!

Oh poor you Carpe Sorry to hear you have had such a stressful morning. And don't be so hard on yourself. We've all had days like that and and although it's easy to over-react in such circumstances, you were doing so out of fear and concern for your ds, so totally understandable in circs. And your ds is fine and you have taught him an important life lesson!

Have a and hope your day improves! x

If it's any consolation Carpe dd rolled off the bed twice as a baby in my care (once hitting her head on metal bedside table) and ate a potentially poisonous plant ...

Thank you swan I'll get on amazon now

carpe those boxes that go over sockets are FANTASTIC! DD went through a phase of trying to put the pull in and out ones back in like a jigsaw but she can't get into the boxes! Draw locks for your cutlery drawer are cheap too and easy to fit! I have locks on EVERYTHING as I have to for my work anyway! My friends hate coming round they say it's like a Menser (sp?) test to do anything in the house!

sc MFP- once you have accepted as a friend you can set your settings to decide what people see- you don't have to have a photograph on and you can choose whether people see your food diary or not! It doesn't say your actual weight either- just how much in pounds you have lost since the beginning! People can comment on your logged exercise and food diaries a bit like they would on a status on Facebook.

Oh and carpe if we are owning up, I fished a half eaten snail out of DDs mouth yesterday I also caught her stood ON TOP of the playroom toddlers table trying to climb out of the window- even though the doors were open

A sharp shock is sometimes what they need though. Sorry but I am not of the school of thought that children shouldn't be smacked. In some circumstances it is appropriate, but they are few. And one is enough. Don't beat yourself uup about it Carpe One smack does not a beating make. Good move on the covers.

Lauren I giggled at your I hope they don't get that bad comment. That was a description of short mild night terror for ds he had them so bad he got tested for epilepsy. He has a diagnosed sleep disorder which he has had medication for. But they do grow out of it all by themselves and it is rare for them to get half as bad as ds got them. Ds seems to feel the need to be an extreme child. Makes life interesting.

I have just discovered that my drinking coffee is triggering my migraines. I have just had one kick in really badly really quickly so am going to take some meds and try to sleep it off. No more coffee for me

Ds literally had no fear. At all. Didn't feel pain either, still doesn't feel pain in the same way as normal people. It makes life very very exciting around here some times.

Ds' moto for life: If it is there it is meant to be climbed, if it is tall it is meant to be jumped off/out of, if it can go faster it should. Why read/listen/be told when you can test it out for yourself.

My moto: if it hurts he will only do it once. And there are no prizes for being a fool.

don't ask about grey hair as a result

Bitchy - love your description of your DS. I think I have the slightly milder version but he has been the cause of many trips to A&E and most of my grey hair. We also have the 'throw yourself on the floor and skid on your knees at every opportunity' version :o

Carpe - hope you feel better now? No-one is going to judge you, you did what you did out of fear and love and hopefully DS will have learnt a lesson (though I think the covers are a very good idea - see above re DSs!)

SC - think I will add earlier nights to my Body Clutter challenge. I have become rubbish at going to bed at a decent time and it does have an effect on what I eat, and on various other things too.

Ta da:

• Cooked reduced price chicken - That's dinner sorted thanks to the Co-op and their rubbish stock control :)
• 1st wash done and out, 2nd lot in
• Bathroom S&S and towels changed
• DC beds stripped

To do:

• Washing up
• School for Father's Day crafts
• Make Lemon tart
• Dinner
• Out to friend's for House-warming pudding party, hence Lemon tart

I have 5 mins before I leave for school - best straighten wild hair :)

Sympathies for those with DC having night terrors and doing scary things. I was so neurotic vigilant with both mine, yet they both did terrifying things in spite of that . DS1 had night terrors and was hyper in the daytime and DS2 was an escape artist. I do remember being careful not to remind DS1 of his night terrors during the day as that was recommended in a book on sleep (probably the one Swan recommends, which was excellent).

My current crop of grey hairs are caused by DS1's difficulties engaging with the rules of e-learning with the LEA. However, in between emails to the LEA and trying to get DS1 to focus, I have managed to do most of my morning routines and the washing is hanging on the line (sunny at last outside).

Have just received a copy of 'Calmer, Easier, Happier Parenting', which is going to transform my life .

Leaves and out for fledglings.

Lunch break (hr ahead here)

I have had a revelation! Let's just say I follow some of the Flylady baby-steps and routines er, a little loosely at times - a select few I stick to rigidly. But I have been trying (finally) to follow the system a little more closely overall of late.

Well, for the first time ever, I am doing regular, consistent, hot-spotting and it has transformed our sitting room and dining room (which is one long joined up room actually) and is having a positive effect on dh and dd in that they now don't dump more stuff down on top of the stuff I have left out!! It's miraculous!! Not that I didn't always have faith in the fat fairy but it's amazing when her recommendations actually work!!! Or I actually pull my finger out and do them properly

Toffee and Swan speaking of book recommendations, did you see that Hilary Mantel's sequel to 'Wolf Hall' is available on Amazon, it's called 'Bring up the Bodies'

Feetheart I love the sound of your friends!! Pudding party sounds fab!!

Bitchy Ditto your ds!! He certainly sounds like a live-wire!! Fantastic!! Commiserations over giving up coffee btw. I am going through similar trauma. I love it but it doesn't love me.

Lauren thank you thank you (grovellinging grateful emoticon) !! I don't 'do' Facebook or any other social networking site other than Mnset so all this sort of thing is very new to me so your explanations are much needed and appreciated!!

Better get back to unpacking new rabbit cages and equipment which have just arrived. Bought both buns what I thought were reasonably sized litter trays but obviously got the dimensions wrong on-line. Two huge tug boat-like containers have appeared instead. Surely people don't have cats that large???

right, I am pleased with myself, I went into town for the most laborious trek known to man for a simple blood test (had been putting it off on the basis that it would take my entire morning, as indeed it has)

now, my energy has left me...
except to say Carpe I once smacked ds1 (2years) for pushing over his baby brother (6 months) - it is a panic response isn't it? Quite frankly there are so many dangerous things they can do [all of which one feels are one's own fault] that it is v dispiriting.

Bitchy coffee makes me ill too, but I seem to need it, classic addictive cycle. Trying to have a few cups of decaff today to form a pyschological subsitute, and just one cup of real stuff. I literally feel like death warmed up until I've had some caffeine, that can't be good, can it? Dependence clearly.

Now dog was very very pleased to see me back again, and did a sort of dance with a blue bunny (stuffed I assure you SC) and has now rather pointedly gone to sleep blocking the door from kitchen again.

Lauren I may have to pm you for some springer tips, or even ask you here if you don't mine, as I feel I am not in charge of this dog and he is getting the better of me!

don't mind rather than don't mine.

There was a hilarious spoof "digested" of Bring Up the Bodies by John Crace, I think SC, in Guardian a few weeks ago. I'm sure it was very mean and undeserved.

I still haven't finished the Corrections

SC our litter tray is enormous, and resembles a kennel, if that is any help

He's fine now, I'm still a wreck though. He has however been very, not obedient as that will never be DS, but mindful of me saying no now.

Toddlers was a nightmare though - I posted about it in relationships - but basically, people there ignore me, walk off from conversations to talk to others when I'm in mid sentence and it's my own personal hell - that DS loves attending. Today was all of that, plus some of my "friends" were there, and seemed to join in. But, I'm not going to take it personally - I just stuck a smile on, and at a suitable juncture, bribed DS and got out early! So, he's now had a hair cut as well.

He's napping just now, and I think we'll play in the garden later (well, he'll play and I'll have another go at decluttering the garage.

Off to have some lunch now (suitably logged!).

again to everyone for comforting words!

So today I have tried to sleep off migraine. feel a bit better. Not 100% but I am going to take the su per duper fucks with brain migraine meds tonight.

Weekend plans have all suddenly changed so I am left wondering what the hell is going on with the potential for lots of time to tidy/declutter.

In the meantime, I need to get cracking as must get life sorted out for tonight's activities. So far I have achieved nothing, best scroll back and find that list of mine as my brain currently doesn't work.

Decaff sound like it might work but as I am not sure if it is the caffine or just all the other chemicals in the coffee that are causing the migraines I guess cold turkey is going to have to be the plan. I suspect I shalln't be getting much done this weekend other then sleeping and clearing coffee from my system. However, it might be more productive long term if I can achieve this.

Especially as Dsis is visiting next week which means ds will be ignoring me in favour of his favourite aunty who will need two weeks to recover from her week long visit and thus i can focus on getting other stuff done.

Hi! Was just popping back to check my list but saw swans post! I MN off my phone so not sure if I can get pms? But ask away on here if nobody else minds generally walking and getting them
Using their brains- finding and retrieving etc fixes all springer problems though! Dougal does 5 miles a day and is still a general pain [disclaimer- only 2.5 of the miles is with me, my mam takes him on an evening walk with her springers as I can't get out when DD is sleeping!]

Feetheart - "We also have the 'throw yourself on the floor and skid on your knees at every opportunity' version" I did until the last time ds did it and required new school trousers. I made HIM pay for them. Amazing what not being able to buy that important piece of plastic tatt because you broke your trousers will do

Tbf ds is completely the two extremes because he is also known to be very still and very quiet. My theory is that he has to expend all of his energy in order to be still and as long as he is well exercised and allowed to indulge in the jumping/climbing/testing in a safe environment regularly then he is more able to function normally/in a calmer manner. I have heard of boys being compared to dogs in that respect and my experience of this pretty much holds.

I balled ds out for attitude to learning and approaching things he found difficult yesterday. His swimming teacher balled him out for his attitude to trying in swimming. He was so proud of himself for achieving in swimming yesterday as a result. He has been given a target for this term in terms of attitude. And then we will be starting advance science for him. But he has been warned to do the advanced science means he has to do advanced maths too. (advanced for age group) I have been avoiding this simply because I didnt think emotionally he was ready for this. Unfortunately educationally he has now moved on to a'level physics and he is just incredibly determined that he will be going this. So i have a choice help him to do this right or watch him assimilate inaccuracies. which goes against my teacher training still wont let him take the GCSE papers before high school. No 7yr has a right to be taking exams that early, they dont have the emotional development!

carpe that toddler group sounds horrific. I was thinking of taking DD to one hope it's not similar. Thanks for the link for the socket protection I'll have to look onto that
bitchy good luck with the caffeine withdrawal when I've done it initially more headaches very dull and constant

Have dysoned DD room and sorted and packed away all her outgrown clothes.

Need to decide on a hormonal coil or an ordinary IUD so will try to google later

carpe are there any other toddler groups in your area for you to switch to? I go to lots through work and can assure you that for every 1 cliquey catty group there is 5 lovely ones with genuine people!

I'm here again - I think it is likely to be a theme that I disappear Monday-Thursday as I'm so busy working, then re-appear on Thursday night/Friday, panicking about the state of everything!
Today, apart from work I have:-
Cleared draining board
Washed up half of the huge pile
Put washing on - that's it!

To do:-
Massive de-clutter and clean everywhere!
Rest of washing up
Turn garden from wilderness (no exaggeration - the grass is about as tall as DD!) into garden again!
Hmm - thinking that's not all going to get done today!

fatsams - like the blog, and agree with a lot of what you say you re: Flylady. I'll check back to the blog.

Carpe - don't be too hard on yourself - it won't have done DS any harm and we've all reacted rashly in the worry of the moment. The toddler group sounds horrible too - why are some people so nasty and belittling to others? Don't let them get you down.

SC/Linzer/others - I have a feeling that I could also become an expert at reading about decluttering but not doing it, but at the moment I haven't read any books on the subject. The clutter around this place really gets me down - I could do the housework (or so I tell myself!) if I could get to the house! I know a few have been mentioned, but can anyone recommend a good starting point if I'm going to read a book on the subject. DH is a librarian, so can try and get him to source some from the library for me if I know titles etc.

Also, is the Flylady book worth reading?

Off to do some more porcrastinating!...

Carpe - sorry you had a horrible time at toddler group today. Sometimes, people are just rude. It's hard not to take it personally, but it's most likely nothing to do with you at all and just that people can be very thoughtless sometimes (btw, I can't find your post about it - had a look in Relationships). Toddler groups are an odd thing because nobody really wants to be there - they would just rather be there than home alone with their child all day. Oh, and, by the way, I once smacked DS1 when he hit me too hard once too many times (he used to have violent tantrums till he was about nine). I was horrified at myself at the time, but have long since forgiven myself as I think it was an instinctive reaction, which you can't anticipate.

Bitchy - I agree with you about not rushing your DS with exams. How fantastic that he has discovered such a talent. Sounds as if you have a future scientist on your hands!

Swan - it's comforting to hear about your borrowed dog. Are you still enjoying your new kittens too?

Brice - I have a Mirena. It's been no problem at all, although I didn't like having it put in. Apparently some women take paracetamol first and I wish I'd known that beforehand. You can learn from my mistakes!

lauren - a friend of mine is bitterly regretting buying a Springer Spaniel as she didn't realise how much work it would entail . They sound a bit like Collies in that they need a lot of stimulation and exercise.

SC - yes, it's great when the system works! That's exactly what Flylady says will happen. Thanks for the tip about the new Mantel book.

Feet - at your pudding party.

Have managed to steer DS1 through another day of online learning and it seemed to go better this time. He did particularly well in ICT (no surprise there), though he confused the teacher a bit by using HTML code to answer on behalf of other students and change the Google logo when he got bored . Had to remind him to focus on the lesson again .

Still have achey legs and feel tired. Am beginning to worry it's some weird flying-related disorder. helps .

Speaking of which....

... it's wine o'clock .

Toffee I don't suppose the achey legs are running-related? Though I'm sure you can tell the difference between unexplained achey legs and what's known as a "muscle hangover" in German... My legs used to ache when I first started running, although not usually for longer than a day afterwards.

Curly I found No More Clutter a good starting point and quite an inspiring read. I should probably read it (yet) again.

Brices I've never really got on with hormonal contraception, so have a copper coil and am really happy with it; my moods have definitely improved since I switched from the pill. My gynae gave me a tablet to take two hours beforehand to dilate the cervix slightly so I didn't find having it inserted too uncomfortable, although I did feel a bit crampy for the rest of the morning and she advised me to take it easy for the rest of the day and to take paracetamol when I got home (I didn't find I needed to, but Toffee's tip about taking it beforehand is a good one).

Carpe The toddler group sounds awful; how can people be so rude? I hope you can find a friendlier one to go to.

DH is away yet again, but for once I managed to tidy up downstairs before having dinner so I'm going to reward myself with an evening of pottering around and possibly decluttering, followed by an early night with my book. My will have to be virtual as I'm still sticking to my "no wine on school nights" resolution, but I shall no doubt make up for it tomorrow night.

Hi all, just swooping in.

Ta da

DS fed and in bed (and a few extra portions of dinner for him in the freezer)
Went for a walk after dinner with DS
Washing up done
Work all day but only 2 more weeks to go

MFP is certainly working at stopping me from eating. yesterday I did it retrospectively (as only read about it on the thread last night) and was horrified to see how much I'd managed to put away with a few snacks. So today am at my limit (unless I do anymore exercise) and am going to do my best to keep the fridge and biscuit tin shut!

carpe - sorry that you've had to put up with rude, nasty people.

curly - I got the flylady book for my mum as she would never go on MN or read the FL website. I read it before I gave it to her and I think you're just a well off reading the website. I found the book a bit too much - she goes on about loving yourself a bit too much for me

Crap day at work - long, boring and couldn't get the bank to reconcile so really annoyed too - will have to start again on Monday. On the other hand my day of supply tomorrow is looking quite attractive - keep your fingers crossed for me!!