The Fledglings' nests will be clean in 2013!

[superfluouscurves]

(With many thanks to Jdub for title inspiration!!)

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.

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 (although some Fledglings find the compilation e-mails helpful)! 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 Flying lessons. Here's the launch pad for more experienced fledglings. Don't be put off by the barf-tastic language of the site - the underlying system is sound (and you may discover a few of our subversions of the vocabulary along the way).

Huge thanks to Lauren for being our incredibly reliable and organised shining star in the East and leading us throughout the very busy month of December!!

Happy New Year Fledglings!!

All welcome!!

Well Bitchy you are welcome to the white stuff! I have just spent an hour clearing the drive and before I'd even put the coffee on it started again - horizontal sheets of it! So I have cancelled teaching this afternoon and tonight's outing is also off

Whoop I think were done here for snow now, we have clear sunny skies and no more clouds coming this way (well as far as I can see), dp has tidied hall ready for when we have kids in and out cold and wet and needing to change every five minutes. I've tackled my bedroom and brought all the dirty washing down, it's no wonder dp's got no underwear, I think I just found a months supply on his side of the bed!!! dp has also shredded stuff, moved stuff and loaded the dishwasher, he is being very good today, however has also put me to shame !!!

Our last lot of snow cleared all our snow away for us Honu I know i live on the wrong side of the hills for the snow but then again I live in the wrong country for snow really.

SC brilliant ideas. Unfortunately ds seems to have grown out his science obsession and has moved onto a new one.

The original to do list:
rescue my room slowly getting there
laundry -4th load on
put clean and folded/ironed clothes away mine done
put Christmas decorations into the loft
job applications
thank you cards just need to address envelopes
ds' homework He hasn't got any.
and a very much needed early night!

also done
declutter and sort through the card drawer
have coffee and a catch up with a friend
let my mother put the world to rights
Hang my bedroom door
watch a film
Reset handwarmers ready for next time needed.

Our snow has mostly gone now (needn't have bothered sweeping the drive), the DCs were disappointed when they came out of school. However they had been let out onto the school field this morning, when we went to pick up there was a green field full of dozens of snowmen, luckily todays snack was carrots!

Lilleth? What's your course? I'm doing a few random OU modules at the moment, more for interest than anything, not sure what I want to do when my current one finishes.

Goth - hope you got the hot water sorted.

I have hot water!

Fabulous news Goth

No snow here (yet)

Ta da

Letters posted
DS check-up and jabs
Walked into town and apart from lovely bargain lunch (5 euros for soup and sandwich) managed not to spend anything
Handwash
Load of washing ? away already!
Yummy HB chicken, ham and leek pie (whoever got the book out of the library the other day inspired me!)
Washing up
Kitchen hotspot is miraculously still clear ? bets on how long it?ll stay that way?
Trip to Makro to stock up on nappies and wipes

Didn?t manage my letter to DSis last night as one of my Stateside friends called and we were nattering for an hour. Should write that letter this evening then! Also going to have shower and do hair once DS is in bed.

Bitchy I love the sound of a themed cake. Sounds like a great birthday tradition. What types of things is your DS into? What did he have last year for his cake?

Great news Goth

I can?t remember who was asking about morning routines but on work days mine is minimal ? up and dressed, bathroom, breakfast, DS up and dressed, DS breakfast, out the door. That?s it!

Actually my evening routine is the one that Flylady has really helped me with. At the end of dinner, DH finishes feeding DS while I do washing up, prepare my lunch for tomorrow, restock DS nursery bag, make sure my school bags are ready. Before bed I lay out my clothes.

On days that I?m not working, my morning routine usually includes putting a load of washing on and emptying kitchen bin. and washing up if my evening routine hasn't gone to plan

List for tomorrow

Inset so will be a long and boring day
Find moments to escape during inset and go Flylady on my school cupboard
Left-overs for dinner (so no need to cook)
Bully DH into going to the gym (he told me to)
Run when DS is in bed

It's snowing hard here at the moment. Boys bouncing off the walls.

Tomorrow is supposed to be DS2's first day of Nursery. He's been looking forward to it for so long that I really hope it doesn't end up being a snow day!

Ooooooooooooo Engels, You have solved the cake issue... It was staring me in the face. It'll be a variation on last year's theme. And it is a simple design!

No more snow here yet, it warmed up and rained most of it away.

DS has had a friend round for tea, first time in ages, those of you on here for a while might remember that I find his playdates quite stressful, he has AS and socialising can be hard work for him. I normally throw him and his friends in the garden to play football/use the trampoline but that wasn't really an option today without them getting soaked, so I was a bit nervous but it went very smoothly (with a bit of help from the Wii), friend has just gone home.

I went swimming, I don't terribly enjoy it but it was fine really and I think that lunchtime might be a good regular slot for me on my non work days. I do find MFP quite a powerful motivator for exercise, being able to add back everything I have done (including housework) to get more calories is a good incentive. Then for coffee with 3 friends which was really nice, we had a lot to talk about today.

Better go and start clearing up tea stuff, back later.

You are most welcome Bitchy

Holy crap. Ds2 is having the biggest kick-off/tantrum.
He refused to eat dinner so I told him he couldn't have anything else. He starts screaming and crying. I'm ignoring it, but dp sends him to bed after telling him to calm down and ds2 shouts at him.
He was in his room starting to calm down, so I went in to talk to him about what happened, he stresses and kicks me in my face.
I come out and close the door. He starts throwing things at the door so I go in and calmly tell him that everything he throws, I'll be taking away. he throws his toy buggy and a bob the builder toy, so I took them away, cue more screaming. He then comes out to scream in the hallway, so I tell him next time he comes out he will lose his ds for tomorrow. He comes out, I tell him I'm taking the ds away and if he comes out again he will lose his choosing time on the telly tomorrow. He comes out again, so I tell him there will be no tv tomorrow. He kicks off more and is now standing just inside his bedroom screaming and yelling at me.
I am ignoring it, and have put ds1 in my bed (they share a room).
I hate leaving him in his room alone when he is like this, but don't know what to do!
When he stops yelling, I'll go and see him, but think that might kick it all off again.
Will be back to catch up in a mo

Silvery - DS1 used to have massive tantrums so you have all my sympathies. My advice would be to stop engaging with your DS whilst he's doing this, otherwise you are a) still winding him up and b) giving him attention for undesirable behaviour. Give him time to calm down. He may fall asleep from exhaustion. If not, you could go in and give him a hug.

Good idea to bring DS1 into your room.

I mean, go in and give him a hug later, after he's calmed down.

Is he particularly tired today or sickening for something? Or is this normal behaviour for him (I hope not, for your sake!).

Phew. All done.
Ds2 started calling me nicely, so I went to his room and he told me he needed to tidy up and could I help him. We did that together, he asked for his bugy and bob back, so I explained to him why I had taken them away and that he could have them back tomorrow if he showed me he could stay calm and deal with his problems using nice words and not shouting.
He also asked for his ds, so I reminded him that it has gone for tomorrow and he took that all well.
He got into bed after we had a big hug, I told him I loved him and I was very pleased and proud that he had managed to calm himself down.
He told me he doesn't like daddy shouting, so I told him daddy was in the living room feeling really sad that he'd shouted and not used his nice voice and that I think he wanted a hug but ds2 said no.

I hate tantrums!

Oh, that's a lovely, happy ending, Silvery . What a bright and dear little boy to try and tidy up his room. I'm so glad you were able to hug and make up. I'm sure DS2 will do the same for DH in the morning too.

Go and do something nice for yourself now. Tantrums are harrowing. I always felt emotionally drained after coping with one of DS1s.

Thanks toffee. I know what you mean about not engaging with him, but I can't allow him to throw things around. He shares that room with ds1, and therefore there are a lot of things in there that aren't his.
I had spent nearly half an hour not making eye contact and everytime he came out, just walking him back in, but he is relentless!

It's not normal behaviour but he is very overly emotional and has a shockingly bad temper. He gets it from me
You have to be very careful how you word things to him sometimes because he just has the biggest melt-downs.
What doesn't help is me and dp have very different ideas on parenting. He likes to just shout straight away and expects the ds's to do what they are told straight off, where I am more about choices and thinking/talking things through.

Not much FLYing here today.
I did mornign routine, most of afternoon routine, have layed out clothes and done some washing but haven't done the mission or any detail.
My zone 3 is just the boys bedroom, so couldn't get in there tonight. Will try to do 10 mins in the morning incase we have another issue tomorrow evening!

Yes, I can see that's difficult, Silvery - you can't let him throw around things that aren't his. I had to laugh that your zone 3 is the boys' bedroom though - at least DS1 has started tidying it for you .

Bedtime routines underway here...

Why am I so rubbish at this? I just cant seem to do the 5 mins room rescue or the 15 min declutter. I need a kick up the bum please. I know why I put it off, its cos I hate the fluff that always appears with mess, you know that mixture of hair, dust and just mingingness. Its makes me boak.

DH is fine with it and will happily clear things up as and when they need doing, but he's not one to do 5 mins here and there, but would much rather just go all out and do it all. We are getting a new carpet next week so the front room will be done then by DH and will be done well. I will just have to keep on top of it afterwards. We also said that we will see if we have any money left over for some more bookcases so we can sort out some more boxes in the Dining room. So that will be done too.

Perhaps I should leave any decluttering things to DH and just to do hotspots (once my carpet is down it can be done properly), detailed cleaning, missions, laundry and sink shining.

Anyway today's list
tada

• turn on washing machine
• Dry Laundry
• Go to course
• Try to find out what the real mission is (I got confused earlier too SC) Its looking up in the bathroom, but until we get a feather duster Im not doing it. Although I may have a look at the light later.
• Put Laundry away
• Wash Up 2X
• Shine Sink
• Fill Washing Machine for Tues

not done

• Hotspot
• 15 min declutter
• daily mission of looking up (well I did look up, but did nothing about it as Im waiting for my feather duster to arrive from Ebay. DH has already said he's going to go round the whole house with it when it arrives)

Tomorrow's list

• turn on washing machine
• Dry Laundry
• Go to exam
• Put Laundry away
• Wash Up 2X
• Shine Sink
• Fill Washing Machine for Wed
• Hotspot (it will get done though there is nothing there that shouldn't be)
• Wash bathroom door (daily mission)
• Make my bed in the morning (which I do anyway and the DC's beds so this baby step shouldn't be too hard)

Condensation in the windows on a morning. How do you stop it happening? Can you stop it? Ive been ignoring it, but decided I need to either do something about it or give them all a wipe down as part of the morning routine. Perhaps that should be my next babystep instead of making the bed which I do anyway.

whoknows Im doing 3 courses ATM: Level 1 City and Guilds in Business and Admin (this will turn into an NVQ for level 2), ECDL (European Computer Driving Licence - Currently just finished level 1 and about to start level 2) and AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians -currently on level 2, but about to start level 3 in March)

Silvery You and your DH sound very much like me and my DH. He's one for telling them off and Im one for asking them to stop being naughty. Hope the tantrums die down soon for you.

Hope everyone has had a more productive day than me.

Evening all!

Ta da:
Home bleugh
Work- all day
Changed playroom display
Walked dogs
Dog poo
Put laundry away
Washed bath mats and towels
High dusted

The lady I was supposed to be having a meeting with didnt turn up so I've had a bit of time for paperwork this evening.

Sorry I am being really rubbish at keeping up

BB tomorrow!

Final list

done
Beds
Windows
Wash load on
Dd to school
Bank
Grocers
Rang letting agent re water, should be fixed by this afternoon
Disinfected cat litter tray
Dry washing away
Dust
Vacuum
Mirrors
Bins
S&S
Mission
Unplanned trip to city to drop some paperwork off at the Council
Dinner
Wash up & SS
Knitting

On list for tomorrow
Ironing
Mop floors
Baking - probably little chocolate cakes

Ta da

Empty dishwasher
Put washing on
Put clean laundry away - didn't quite make it into the wardrobes/drawers but at least it's upstairs now
Declutter in bathroom for 15 mins - ended up doing for much longer than 15 mins, but the light fixtures are those recessed thingys so don't really need cleaning (do they?!)
Shine sink
Lay tomorrow's clothes out
Try to persuade DH to put box of Christmas decorations in the loft - fail
Partial S&S

And now I'm lying in bed writing this - I never get to bed at this time, so it's almost an early night for me.

Night!

Sticking my head in to announce that I have washed and dried all the pots, and the sink is clean.

Baby Step no. 1, done.

I'm on a mission this week to get the house sorted and I'm hoping routines won't be so daunting when we've cut the crap, moved a lot of stuff around and I know where everything is.
Anyway, night night fledglings,I will try and post more frequently. And clean my sink more frequently.

silverymoon - that tantrum sounded exhausting for all of you. At least it all ended so well. How old is your DS. My DS don't have spectacular tantrums but DS1 will laugh at me when I tell him off and that really sends me over the edge.

SO here goes...

tada
Card written
Playdate organised
Phone calls made
Online shop ordered
general tidy up
made huge train track with DS3
Stripped and made our bed
ironing
Proof reading for DH
Reading and Homework with DS1&2
Everyone fed, cleaned and put to bed
'Looked up' and decided to 'hoover' ceiling when I do house blessing!

Tomorrow
Post card
Pay childcare
tidy and hoover for DS2's first school playdate
Baby and Toddlers
Put away shopping when it arrives
Hot spots
swish and swipe
Load of washing and ironing

Hope you have all had a lovely snow day - if you had any - DSs announced it was Christmas and had a lovely snowball fight before school!