October-fest: a fledgling (at best) might spruce up its nest (then take a rest?).

[strictlycaballine]

Welcome to the October 2012 Fledgling Flyers thread. Park your mops, buckets, microfibre cloths, golden dusters and spiders-web-removing-implements here!

A huge "thank you" to Whoknows and Pushme for leading us throughout September!! (Hope you are recovering well Whoknows - take it steady!)

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 along the way.

This little-and-often system is designed so that you can follow a series of steps and routines each day (which gradually become second nature) in weekly designated zones of the house; defining and minimising housework - which in theory should leave you with more time to do other more interesting things instead! At the same time it is intended to reduce that panicky "rabbit in headlights" feeling when you are overwhelmed and everything needs doing all at once. No problem if you miss a day or two; just jump right back in and it will all come around next month again anyway!

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 steps and routines using a three-pronged approach (dependent on the stage everyone is at):

• start or repeat 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.

[And if you are really enthusiastic and have finished decluttering - you can go on to detailed deep cleaning in each zone.]

More info here on getting started, and the flylady system here and here Don't be put off by the barf-tastic language of the site - the underlying system is sound.

All welcome!!

Hmm I think i am insane. ds (Aspie) is having a friend for a sleep over tonight. And has been coping challenges at the weekend. Calm is shall not be.

*big coping challenges coming up at the weekend ffs my typing

Ooooh housey threads

Hey all I'm back, went to think tank in birmingham kids loved it, I'm exhausted, no flying here tonight.

oh and I held a tarantula

Right, going to post links at decent hour tonight, then watch Gareth, then attempt to get to bed early so I can get more done tomorrow.

Something wierd is happening with the weather atm. Gone from balmy to positively chilly in the space of about one and a half hours this evening ...

Apologies for earlier whinge-fest btw. Feel thoroughly ashamed of myself for complaining about something as mundane as half term when posters such as Trazzle are going through such hard times I need sharp kick up rear, I really do.

Issima sorry - probably being really thick - but can't find your threads in Chat - pls can you provide links? Had forgotten all about Kate being married to Sam btw!!

Good luck for this evening Bitchy and for the weekend ahead. I'm sure your ds will enjoy it even if you end up thoroughly cream crackered by the end of it

More waves to Lauren Gossip and people I forgot earlier on such as Trazzles Nicknacks Madwoman Pushme Mymums Honu and Sowornout and many more ...

Can't believe we are nearly at the end of the week already...

eek at tarantula Gossip [Don't tell Toffee ]

Baby-step no. 26 for Friday 26 Oct is one to ignore about Big Tent imo but also has useful bit about it taking one month to establish a new habit

Tomorrow will be our last day in Zone 4: the master bedroom here Oh dear - I've done dreadfully this week with this one.

Try and declutter for 15 mins per day in this zone. Once decluttered, you can go on to detailed cleaning

Also, don't forget your super fling boogie in this zone this week in preparation for the Christmas holidays!

The last mission of the week is: here flipping mattress and making bed

The daily focus for Friday is : declutter handbag and car day

The habit for October is: getting rid of paper clutter here Try and shred/recycle/jettison papers you no longer need, 15 mins per day.

If I've missed anything, have a look at Friday's flight plan which should update automatically with date.

G'night all

*

Did someone mention a tarantula?

Crisis clean was interrupted by early arrival of DM, so house is not quite as finished as it should have been, but she doesn't seem to mind. And she is suitably impressed by my kitchen cupboards .

Last day of term for DS2 tomorrow . We could all do with a break.

Night night.

Strictly - I think I have caught your CDA-itis. I could have written your post myself - especially the crafting/housework part but as I've now had someone pay me to make them a wuilt as a present for Xmas I best buck up my ideas

Waited in all day for a lady to (not) collect something she bought off Ebay - grr - so that impacted on a couple of little jobs I needed to pop out to do - so they have been moved to tomorrow now.

DH has a "bring-a-dish-to-work-day" tomorrow, so the last 2 nights he's been in the kitchen concocting and although he "tidied up" the sink has been left with spot welded pans soaking!

We have BIL, SIL and 3 kids arriving on Monday for a few days, so I need to get the house presentable, think about sleeping arrangements and plan menus. The latter being the hardest task as all the kids seem to eat is chicken nuggets.

Morning all...just a dump, I have work til 6:30 so there isn't much on it apart from damage limitation

To do:
Yesterday's mission
DD laundry and away
Buy fabric softener and mayonnaise
School run*2
DD and mindee to playgroup
Put toys DD has grown out of into playroom baby toy draw
Clean toys that need cleaning (did an impromptu toy sort of living room toys last night)
Put up playroom autumn display
Tidy playroom
Walk dogs
Pick up dog poo
Paperwork- display photograph permission and learning journeys

BBL!

Hello.. An old timer flybaby here having been off and on, then off then on and off for some time.. It works. I know it works, but I still let things slip and slide back to chaos, lol! Anyway, thought I'd say hello although I won't be around much as in the throws of moving home (next Wednesday). Hope to join in more once the dust has settled

Dh has officially started working from home today!
Cue slinking off to study in pjs

He is still in slight state of schock having worked for someone else for last 28 years so next few days weeks may be a bit odd.

Parents eve yesterday, following by Guides/Fencing/catechism meeting, all very not conducive to tidying. Ds2 is lonely according to teacher, and his writing illegible, but she was impressed by his contribution to discussions etc, behaviour, knowledge. And they are doing social skills with him in small group. All a bit worrying; I didn't realise he was sad at school . She said he needed a friend...easier said than done She is v supportive, having taught ds1 for two years; she knows us Dd is doing very well in a different class, though she needs to work on presentation and rushing through her work too fast [ahem, unlike her mum then in one respect, if not in both)

Done
very early start, no meltdowns
Kittens playing chase in the corridor
3 children off to school, one with packed lunch to O2 on a reward trip, two in mufti (cue much delibaration in order to be suitably fashionable, tg for uniforms most days)
Dh said ds2 was wearing a girl's shirt, but dd confirmed it was a fashion item (had epaulettes) for boys nowadays...Ds2 looks so handsome.

TO DOFinal push today,handing in last batch of forms, medical evidence etc to Council, printer working
Catechism meeting last night, promised the school lady I would go to library today so I MUST.

House in ruin...

ThatsNice are you [ahem] a veteran flylady or a fledgling fly veteran...I am Swanriver that used to be...?

Swan - is he actually lonely or just tends to be on his own? Because the two are different. One is the fact that he feels sad as he needs social contact and the other that he is perfectly happy but it is felt he would benefit from the social contact. Don't beat yourself up. These kids struggle with communication at the best of times which makes it even harder to know what is going on with them.

Ds is struggling but his friend is being brilliant and that is really helping ds. Consequently the atmosphere is calm. I am incredibly impressed with the pair of them. To the point I might have to have a sneaky five mins for a sob in the corner at the progress ds is showing in coping. For the child that two years ago couldn't have new people in his house without freaking out this is a major thing!

Hello that'sNice good to 'see' you and look forward to you dropping in again as and when!

Crikey Swan Many congratulations to your dh!! That's a brave step and a huge change for him... and for you and your dc too. Hope it all goes really well!!

When dh set up on his own, it was the best thing he has ever done and he now says he doesn't know why he waited so long. People in his particular profession are renowned for never seeing their dc and he didn't want to be like that and so its been great for all of us. (I went and ruined the plan slightly by only being able to have one dc but heigh ho!!) The stresses of running your own business are huge of course - and they do intrude in to your private life more than usual - but they are your own stresses, which makes all the difference.

Sorry your ds2 is having a hard time at school but v. positive that he has such a supportive and encouraging teacher. It sounds like she has a handle on it and is committed to helping.

Lauren like the sound of your autumn display. DD went to the woods with the school last week and unbelievably - they didn't seem to look at, or discuss one single plant, bird, animal or tree . Going to rectify that this holiday and set up a nature table.

Glad I'm not the only one struggling with CBA Dizzy!! Good luck with all the prep for your visitors - hope you all have a lovely time. Oh and I have a good recipe for home-made chicken nuggets if you would like it .

Issima sorry - didn't realise we had another arachnophobe on the thread! And "oh yes" to winning the Lotto. Hope you can catch up with sleep over the w/e [re-fillscoffee mug]

Toffee dd very relieved that it's the holidays too - the school work them ridiculously hard and she is exhausted. Hope you and your mother have a lovely visit! And well done re: the kitchen cupboards!

I am not going to post a list because the house is so dire and everything needs doing frankly but I am ignoring it all and gloomily trying to improve the state of the main boudoir - 15 mins by 15 mins in true Eeyore Flylady style! And for my reward tonight I have decided not to cook (usually fish night on Fris) - we are going to have a take away for once and watch a family film. [Sleeping bags/duvets may well feature Swan]

x posts

Bitchy that is fab news about the sleepover and your ds coping so well. Well done him!! His friend sounds lovely too - bless 'em.

Oh I really wanted to shake the thing of my hand and run away, wish I had traded places with my friend but its something I've done now. I've not done much flying today, in fact I've not even got dressed.

Just checking car insurance quotes, not sure whether to quote for after my test or before, if I do it before it means I can still drive the kids to school and go around town, with dp ofc, but he's on about getting a van, for work which means there will only be 2 kids space and there are three? So that means that I'll have to walk children to school until I pass my test. hmmmmm.

I will catch up later.

But, I've a free house for a couple hours.

ta da
school run
baby feed/nap
laundry load in

to do
eat
progress laundry in all states
hot spot frenzy - chair, bottom of stairs, top of stairs, end of counter
attack the kitchen - pots, sink, counters, table, floor

Hi, thanks for the welcome :) I am new to MN, but been doing FL for many years now. When i am on it, its great but i am not a naturally tidy or organised person, so i find it hard to keep going with it when laziness takes over and then it is hard to get back on it once i've let it slip a bit, lol! Overall tho..I am a hundred times better than i used to be, so some of her flywashing has stuck and is still working, lol!

Wooooohoooooooo. I have never been so chuffed to see a half term holiday as I am right now. Apologies again for drifting off mid-month. Work, work and more work has made me a very dull girl.

But I am doing precisely no work this holiday so am planning on setting up camp in the naughty corner and opening the . Anyone care to join me?

Will catch up with you all later but for now I am actually going to do some flying because my house is a shit tip.

Whooooooo! TGIF!! [Dives in to naughty corner besides Ellie and inhales a bottle of Actually - better make that mulled wine please - tis brass monkey weather here all of a sudden - our house is freeeeeeeeeezing ....

[SC stirs cauldron saucepan, adds eye of newt lemon peel and cinnamon sticks...] [hwink] [hgrin]

[Waves wand at Gossip Iwipearses That'snice Ellie and everyone else]

Baby step no. 27 for Sat 27 Oct is a good one about meal planning

No zones or missions because it is the weekend, but if you want to get ahead, we will be in Zone 5: The Living Room (October 28-31) next week, see here

Focus for Saturday is family fun day If you are going on an autumnal walk with dc this weekend - have a look at this website which Toffee recommended it to us originally I think - it always contains fab outdoor activities, esp at this time of year - and they don't cost a fortune either.

Habit for October is: getting rid of paper clutter

Reminders because it is Friday here

Have a good weekend everyone! And for those of you for whom it is half term - hope you get to have some fun with the dc!

Nature Table now that is an idea. Never done one before, relied on children going into the garden and being thoroughly bored I doubt they know the name of anything...except possibly grass...

Yay! Secondary school forms all done and submitted including attachments.

Bitchy sleepovers is one of those things ds2 finds difficult to manage, so you are doing very well (although dd has them all the time) And it is alright if they don't go to sleep! No-one ever does at sleepovers (this is the thing I had to learn the hard way...I started off very upset and school matron-y when no-one slept till 11pm.
No, ds2 does long to to play with other children, he doesn't want to be by himself at break or help teacher, just wants to join in their games, but has managed to alienate most of his playmates I fear by not doing things the right way, talking too loudly, insisting on his rules...

Anyway I have a strategy..not going to talk about it here until it is possibly working

the strategy I mean.

oh yes, and dh had a depressing first day. He couldn't understand software on his new computer etc etc, all the headaches of setting up, fiddly stuff, servers etc. So I think he is very relieved tomorrow is the weekend