Fledglings Fly into July!

[BlueEyeshadow]

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

A huge "thank you" to SanguineChompa for leading us throughout June!!

If your 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 wine 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.

All welcome!!

Apologies for starting the thread so late - it took SC lobbing the duster at me to make me remember it's July tomorrow (and I've blatantly cut and pasted her OP too)!

The first baby step is to shine your sink! See here for the Fat Fairy's tutorial...

No mission because it's Sunday. But here's the flight plan for established flyers

Oh, Ellie, I'm so sorry you are feeling so upset tonight. Probably schoolwork and end-of-term stuff has helped keep these feelings at bay and now they have a chance to surface. It is such a big change in your life and you are bound to feel sad before you can move on. As others have rightly said, this thread is about far more than housework, so vent all you like here.

To save you bothering, I'll post the links tonight if that's ok (and, like WhoKnows, I hadn't noticed you missing out the links last night either ). Tomorrow's babystep is for Day 20: include laundry in your daily routine. The mission is here.

Bitchy - thank you for the tips on dog training .

WhoKnows - congratulations on finishing your OU assignment. I did an Openings course a few years ago - only 10 points, but I found it incredibly hard to fit in the work (and only had one child then). You must have been really disciplined to stick at it.

MrsOnatopp - your post reminds me that I need to tackle under our bed tomorrow too. The last time I looked, there was a bottle of wine there, so who knows what will turn up this time .

Makingchanges - sorry you've been coping with lack of sleep and an ill DD. I hope you get enough sleep to see you through your day at work tomorrow.

Blue - I noticed you said your eyes are glazing over, so hope you don't mind me stepping in with the links as I hope you're now sleeping soundly.

Eyes glazing over here too. Not sure what tonight holds as DS2 is coughing a lot this evening and keeps waking up and crying...

I need this. Long story short Dh and I split last Dec after his affair. He was V good at housework and did all the clothes washing/gardening/rubbish/recycling.

I nfind myself slowly drowning amongst the housework, it's so daunting I end up just going out for the day, dinner out, DC into bed (climbing over mounds of clothes to get there) and then going to bed myself .

I struggle most with 3 kids like whirlwinds through every room I've cleaned, it's like groundhog day everyday. Also still have lots of boxes of 'stuff' crammed in cupboards that have been there since moving.

Tomorrow is housework day (I WILL NOT go out for the day)

Hi Pantone, sorry to hear about your split, not surprising you have let the house slip. We are all in various states of drowning in housework at times on this thread, I've certainly done just what you describe many times, taking it step by step really helps. Have you been lurking, do you understand the Flylady system?

Morning all! Thanks for listening to my inane ramblings last night. Feel better this morning. Had a good sleep last night, Dd slept until 8 and DS is still in bed! Onwards and upwards so they say.

Today mainly consists of getting some housework done, pottering shall we say and a lovely evening out with the History Department to say goodbye to a member of the department who has been at the school for 33 years.

Am going to drink some coffee and lounge around in my pj's for a bit. I love holidays.

Hi Pantone. I know how you feel as I am currently going through the same thing myself and you will find lots of kindred spirits here as far as the housework goes.

Any questions, just ask.

Morning all!

I managed to do everything on my list yesterday apart from putting DD laundry away, including kitchen floor which I put off normally for days on end

Just a list and then I'll be back later when mindees have gone to catch up

Garden day with mindees with a trip to park thrown in for good measure
Walk dog
Put DD laundry away
Wash my laundry
Cut grass
Gardening
Shred
Clean rubbish out of car
Friend is coming round for a catch up later when DD is in bed!

BBL!

Morning everybody - managed most of the things on my list yesterday. Didn't quite finish accounts but got all the receipts recorded on my spreadsheet so they could be shreded. Just need to check the statements now

Easy day today, laundry on, bit of card making to do, and that's about it. Looking forward to the weekend!

Hey Ellie and Pandora - I have been split from exH for three years this month. It's gonna get better. Even on the housework front. I still am rubbish at it but it is better than the 'How Clean Is Your House' situation I had going on at first. I wont read back to see what happened in your relationship Ellie as I have only just come to the thread but wanted to give you a big ((hug)). Your DCs are so much better in a stable but split family than in an unstable together family. Don't ever feel guilt for it.

Thanks WhoKnows - You are right of course. I just need to keep reminding myself that it will be good to have on a CV and then I can chose what to do. I can still indulge in my creative hobbies during the time as well. If I can get any motivation to do them . How far are you through your degree?

Ok so we are three weeks through our holiday now (Scotland) with only four more to go. It's not been nearly as bad as I thought and I feel I am making more of an effort with DS to do activities and engage him than when he was in nursery and getting stimulation from them. Must try harder with him too because I do really enjoy the time with him.

I have to look after some relatives animals today so will only put

To Do
Dishes
Animals
Bathroom (which I STILL have not gotten around to )

That was my first module MsOn. I already have a degree (in chemistry) but I have never studied biology, having worked in biochemistry type fields all my working life I always felt I ought to know biology a bit better, now the DCs are at school it was time. I tried to enrol for A level at the local college twice but they never ran the course. I've enrolled for the degree purely to keep my entitlement to transitional funding going, and I will do one or two modules a year while it lasts, probably not all in science, but I just don't think I'm up for the amount of work the whole degree would be, not on top of a job and two DCs (one with SNs). I also love a bit of crafty hobby stuff, as do a few people on here, crochet is my current thing.

Well, I was about to put my third load of washing on the line when it started raining, so I took it all down and lined it up by the dryer and now its sunny again, grrr. Just managed half an hour ironing, half an hour gossiping with neighbour (there's some good gossip around school stuff at the moment) and half an hour tidying. Oh and half an hour re-reading the OU stuff before hitting SEND. Phew. Gardening club next.

DH and I have both got rid of loads of old books, which has freed up shelf space for the DCs books, a lot of which are in crates under our bed, so I am moving their books onto the shelves and filling the crates with toys that are currently cluttering up floors etc.

Thanks for the welcome everyone

I've been lurking and did the sink last night! And I did smile when I saw it this morning. Did the school run and then went for coffee . Home now and have just ordered a new Hoover to be delivered tomorrow (old one broke a month ago so you can imagine what the carpets look like)

Going to do:

Dishes/sides
Put away dry clothes (there are mounds everywhere, I could spend all day doing just that, but will aim for half of them)
Tidy living room and playroom.

Aiming to clear the bottom floor so it's free to Hoover tomorrow (DC at ex tonight so it should stay clear)

Ex just sent me a message reminding me to send CLEAN pjs tonight (I forgot once)

He's obsessive about them wearing 'sets' of pjs and not odd tops/trousers

Also quick question do you dry dishes or just leave them on the rack? I never put stuff away and then it all gets wet again next time I wash up

Welcome, Pantone .

Ellie - glad you are feeling brighter this morning.

WhoKnows - good planning of yours to get the DC's books out on the shelves just in time for the holidays.

Both DC at home today . DS2 was wheezing and coughing last night and woke up with a temperature. It's his third Friday off in a row.

Thought I'd be clever and let the boys watch telly together after breakfast so I could get on with my batch cooking. What was I thinking? War broke out on the sofa almost immediately ("He snatched the control!" "It's my turn!" etc). So most of this morning was spent trying to sort out some equilibrium and free up time for me to do stuff.

Ta da :

B/fasts
Calpol for DS2
Declared ceasefire between DC
Gave DS2 a new audio story CD to listen to (thus buying me some free time)
Cooked mammoth quantities of spaghetti bolognese sauce, tomato sauce and chicken and mushroom mix

To do :

Finish batch cook
Cool and freeze meals
Lunch
Big clearout and tidy up of our bedroom
Room rescue in DS2's bedroom
Get presents to teachers if DH home in time

Pantone - my DC are always wearing odd sets of PJs. Sometimes the tops are not even PJ tops, just tee-shirts .

Am having quite a productive morning in a pottering kind of way.

Ta da:-
Tidy downstairs
Hoover
Clean kitchen
Decluttered worksurfaces
Washing done but foul weather here so haven't hung out and trying to restrain from putting dryer on!
Decluttered top of hallway cupboard
Sorted some paperwork

Like toffee, have also spent half the morning fighting fire with dc's. DS in particular is clearly suffering from end of term tiredness and is very grumpy.

pantone have to admit that drying up is a rare occurence here, particularly during term time. Plus 'pj's' often consist of pants for ds and t-shirt for DD.

Back later!

Me too! DS would happily wear pants to bed.

EX however doesn't "see how hard it is to wash a set, dry a set and send them over"

I'm adding get supplies to my list.

Crappola at buying cleaning stuff so putting a list together now and then off to the budget home shop before the school run

Matching pjs? What are they??!!

Pantone I'm new at this too, hi! I never used to dry up, and tend not to during the day, but make sure all the washing and drying is done and put away before shining sink in the evening.

No real list today. Will be a miracle if I survive until bedtime (DCs, not mine!). DH is out with work this evening. DS is potty training (and has just gone down for a nap having only done 1 teeny tiny wee this morning, so am anticipating an extra washing machine cycle shortly - sigh) and DD is weaning. Exhausted! However, have taken delivery of a new dehumidifier this morning in an effort to get clothes dry indoors in less than 2 days - so soul-destroying when they won't dry and become smelly, while it's raining outside! Can't wait to try it out!

However, i've put all the shopping away, which is somehting. Off to play wiht DD and relax in front of tv for a few minutes before DS starts screaming that he's wet himself 2 minutes in to the looooong nap that he desperately needs.

msonatopp glad to hear there is light at the end of the tunnel. No big dramatics in break-up. Just two people who met when very young and have grown in 2 separate directions over time. Very amicable split but a sad situation for all concerned. I am sure we are doing the right thing and dc's are coping well so fingers crossed. Last night was the first time i had a major wobble.

pantone tell ex to buy some himself if he is that bothered!

pantone - I agree with ellie re ex and PJs .

Kitchen now a tip, but three industrial-sized portions of food are cooling on the stove. Have offered some to DS1's friend (called in after half day at school), DS1 and DS2 and they have all refused . Hope I'm not going to be the only one chomping my way through this lot in the next few weeks.

DS1 has gone off with his best friend to walk bf's dog, so it's just me and DS2. Now I have to work out how to combine giving DS2 some attention with clearing up the kitchen and our bedroom .

pantone tell ex to buy some himself if he is that bothered!

^ this ^

DS never wears pyjamas in bed except on holiday, its pants or pants and t shirt. DD wears PJs or little cotton tunic dresses in bed. They both sleep stark naked at times too.

whoknows glad it is not just my two that are naturists at heart. I've only just managed to convince DS that, at nearly 9, he is too old to wander round the house naked..... he has conceded to wearing pants but often refuses to get dressed because he is happiest when naked.

We are that state too Ellie! But that is because i made the rule he is not allowed out of his room without pants. Otoh what is the point in clothes when you are not going anywhere and are just being at home with a tv/chillout day? Ds' words not mine. I like my clothes.

Ex is insistant on PJ because it puts ds in the right mindframe for bed. Ds otoh cba. I grab what i can find cos getting washing done is no problem getting clean clothes put away seems to be non existant in this house. it is something I have to work on.

I have done nothing. Didn't sleep well and I have to drive serious mileage so decided sleep was the best and safest option. feel tired and half asleep but brain feels like it might function with the help of coffee so that is fine.

to do:
School run
pack ds' stuff for wkend
load car
drive mileage
bake chocolate brownies?/ take cake out of freezer to decorate?
sort out stuff for sat
early night

sat is going to be insane. can't promise to be back tonight or even here tomo. sorry.

And re ex's it does get better - especially as you both set up routines in your new lives. There will always be wobbles but they get fewer and less and more insignificant.