FLYing through March: Fledglings Assemble

[SilveryMoon]

Welcome to the March Fledgling FLYers thread

... where we (loosely) follow the step-by-step Flylady housekeeping system (in our own, unique, relaxed style) with lots of and chatting along the way.

This little-and-often system is designed so that we 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 us 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 we get when we are overwhelmed and everything needs doing all at once.

To avoid being inundated with details, we advise not signing up to the Big Tent

We are in the process of 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.]

Flylady site here

Don't worry if you are behind; just jump right back in and it will all come around next month again anyway!

All the links for the babysteps and missions will be posted here every day and we'll all be here to cheer each other on.

to SC and Blue for leading us through January and February and for the brilliant OP I've just cut and pasted .

Let's get the old dust balls rolling for March!

Aargh, just remembered that I need to write up PTA minutes and create a poster for the cake sale tomorrow, no wonder the house is a tip.

Evening all. Been a fairly manic day, and tomorrow's going to be worse!

Ta da!
Tons more laundry done, dry and away
Work in 15 min blasts interspersed with:
Playing loads of games with DS2 before:
CBeebiessitter and solid hour's work
DS2 perked up so out for lunch and Aldi shop
Visit to friend and her DD2
Dash to Sainsbo's for non-Aldi stuff
Collect DS1 from club
Cook tea
Remake DS2's bed
Dessert for tomorrow
More NCT sale labelling
Wash up and clean kitchen
Collapse!

To do:
Cross all fingers and toes that DS2 can go to nursery/CM tomorrow
Clear NCT boxes from sitting room
Call Pregnancy Crisis re baby clothes
Goulash
Blinkis
Roast veg
Pasta
Crisis clean downstairs
Boys tea
Lovely relaxing adult dinner party with friends :)

Erk to nits, WhoKnows - been nit-combing DS1 since Jan and still finding 1 or 2. [boak]

Silvery - we don't have an Ikea within 100 miles so it's quite a treat for DH and me to abandon the boys and head over there from MIL's!

Going - glad knee is a bit better. Wine, cheesecake & flowers sound good. Congratulations on your anniversary.

Big waves all round. Night all.

I don't know what you are talking about whoknows

Silvery is just organised The style of thread leadership follows the general approach to the thread with a relaxed but supportive environment Goth

Not much to report here. Thank you for the links Silvery.

Ta-da: Went to work, piano lesson, dinner, wash up, rebooted laundry, decluttered paperwork in our zone, organised paperwork for posting for new credit card application (balance transfer, in an effort to clear debt NOT run up more ), got paperwork together for first visit to a new bank for a mortgage application, fingers crossed for tomorrow!

School holidays tomorrow for two weeks, bring it on...

Castle we don't break up til next week. There's light at the end of the tunnel but next week will be painful. It's been a short term, but a hard one for me. I am more than ready for 2 weeks off!

Thanks everyone for the thread reassurance. Talking of it nearly being the end, who's up for doing April?

Morning all. Hope everyone OK.

Going to try and make headway in the boudoir today. Dreading it but it must be done. As there is actual sunshine here today at least the dust and cobwebs will be visible...

[Reads down thread] Mmmmmmm, thanks for links Silvery I'm afraid I can't volunteer for April because apparently some of us don't post the nightly links early enough I'm away in Blighty for first fortnight

Perhaps someone more punctual else might like to volunteer [stares purposefully at Goth]????

[Hoicks bosom a la Les Dawson and stomps off, linking arms in solidarity with DEM on the way]

Harrumph

Actually i was thinking that it might be time for me to take control of the thread. I am in need of some fun perhaps someone more sensible really should take a turn

On a more serious note, there is horizontal snow here. School website is not updating and there is no one in the office. Which means no way of knowing if school is shut until i get there. Need to move but don't want to. guess i need to get the snow clothes out of the cupboard.

Today is going to be stupid busy and it would be best for ds to be at school and not in the way BUT really can't be bothered to move. bed is warm and comfy.

Well I have woken up with D&V (possibly from yesterday's sushi) and dh was supposed to be taking dd to a dad's group but his ongoing eye problem has flared up so he needs to go to the hospital instead.

It feels like all I do is moan on here at the moment but it just feels like one thing after another at the moment :(

I think we need a holiday...

Morning all! Another late night out with some moms & pudding, so am super tired, but hey - as a mom, when are we ever not tired!!

Ellesabe - that sounds horrible, hope D&V clears quickly!! Feel free to moan - but hope it all gets better soon.

Chaos - we've got horizontal snow as well, but Dd still had playgroup (yay for 3 hours of peace!!)

Ta Da
Facebook/e-mails/MN
Get Dd to playgroup
washing in

To do
Beds
windows
breakfast things & D/w on
dinner (although take away might be on the cards)
fetch dd
take ds for 8 week jabs :-(
fold & put away ALL clean washing
room rescue - main room & play room

Not much - but it is Friday - so taking it easy. Hope you all have a fantastic weekend

Hmm, I'll give April a go, just don't expect wit (or consistency)

done
Beds
Windows
Wash up
Dd to school
Shops - emergency cat food purchase
Fed ravenous beast on return home

to do
Thaw out
Dry laundry away
Washing on
Clean out purse - ridiculously full today
Dinner
Wash up & SS

I'm sure there's more to add.

Jumping back on.
We are finally on the way out of flu-ville. Ds still has a runny nose and we're all still coughing, but nowhere near as bad as before.

DM and DF have just left to head back to the UK. Think I have given DM the flu

I have one week left of school to mark a big project and get my moderation sample in. Then I am really looking forward to enjoying myself for my one week holiday and not doing ANY school work.

Ta da
Hoovered
Changed DS bed
One wash away
One wash in td
Cleaned coffee table
Toilets cleaned
Food shopping done
Dusted lounge

To do
Get cracking on marking project
Put 2nd load of washing away
Hotspots

Yay goth You will be fine!!! most of us are disorganised on here so really it doesn't matter

ta da
ds to school
nap

About to get up and hit the ground running now i feel slightly more human. Cancelled normal training, and booked and early night with the hot water bottle. Feeling this is most sensible baring in mind the snow and how rubbish i am feeling.

to do
wash ds kit and sort non washing bits
normal washing load
sort ds' room
sort back bedroom
make pizza for tea
ds to have his hair cut
ds through bath/shower to remove little bits of hair that annoys him.
set ds up on his wii/ds so i can get on with stuff
folding
ironing
sort junk in lounge
collect washing up from where left in house - cups of tea/coffee often get lost/forgotten around here atm.
15mins in my room
Hang up comp stuff to continue drying
consult the master plan of what needs doing
make appointment that i didn't do a few days back and then forgot needed doing
Early night

right I have coffee must not procrastinate, need to get going. Oh and fly lady can go jump if she thinks i am dealing with the car in this weather!

Thanks goth for volunteering to take over for April.
I'm a bit fed up today.
Won't bore you all with it but will be back later with links etc. Bit later than usual as ds1 has football training tonight.

Nearly Easter holidays Silvery.

Sorry you are having a crap day Silvery

Oh Goth thanks for volunteering. Hope you don't feel press-ganged (I was actually kidding this morning (albeit a bit heavy-handedly before my morning coffee). Sure someone else would step in if you are pushed and/or knee making life difficult.

Fwiw I'm travelling loads in April and May but will be happy to do June if that's not ridiculously too far ahead.

WhereChaos sorry you are dealing with yet more snow.

Good luck with project Engels and glad you are all recovering (apart from your dm)

Hope jabs are going/went OK Louise

Oh that's horrible Ellesababe hope you recover soon. I know what you mean about one thing after another ... it's been that sort of winter hasn't it? Vent away - it helps!! Hope you (and your dh) recover soon.

Hope bank visit proved positive Castle

Hope challenging day going ok Blue

Big waves to everyone else

Having bit of a crap week in terms of school which is distracting me from Flying (well that's my excuse ). DD struggling in two most important subjects (maths and French). They all say she is bright and has the competence and does well during lessons, just that she goes to pieces in exams and makes silly mistakes and is generally over anxious (and we live in the land of continuous pressurised testing and assessment (even more so than UK) [sigh]...). Does anyone have any tips about how to overcome this? We only have next term to improve or she might be kept down .

Right, must get back to decluttering....

Silvery no I don't feel at all press ganged

Leg is fine now and I may as well do something productive as I spend far too much time online.

Done
Beds
Windows
Wash up
Dd to school
Shops - emergency cat food purchase
Fed ravenous beast on return home
Thaw out
Dry laundry away
Washing on
Clean out purse - ridiculously full today
Wash up again
5 min room rescue in DD's room
Knitting

To do
Collect DD from school
Supervise home work
Dinner
Wash up & SS

At the risk of sounding contriversial, would it actually be that bad if she was kept down? would give her the chance to focus on exam technique?

Yes and no Wherechaos The social aspect of it (leaving her friends) would be very hard (friends take on more significance when you are an only) and as she is competent in ordinary classes and does the homework OK (and is top of her class in some other subjects) - she would find going through the same course work again for one whole year extremely tedious (generally it is taught in a very structured, rote-by-learning, death-by-worksheet sort of way and so it isn't that exciting the first time around!)

On the other hand, it might be good to have the pressure off for a while and relax a bit, and we'd be happy to do so if I could guarantee that this would help with exam pressure, but on the whole think the negatives might overwhelm the positives. (Not bothered about "stigma" because dc are kept down all the time here so it's not at all unusual. You have to reach a certain mark to "pass" before they allow you through to next year and about one third of students have been kept down a year by the time they finish primary school.) Thanks for input though. We have some thinking to do ...

Thanks then Goth - much appreciated!

[It's me btw - SC - not Silvery]

ta da
ds to school
nap
wash ds kit and sort non washing bits
normal washing load
sort ds' room
sort back bedroom
make pizza for tea
set ds up on his ds in bed
Hang up comp stuff to continue drying re wash comp stuff that ds got water marks on
Catch up with some good friends
15mins in my room

to do
folding
ironing
sort junk in lounge
collect washing up from where left in house - cups of tea/coffee often get lost/forgotten around here atm.
consult the master plan of what needs doing
make appointment that i didn't do a few days back and then forgot needed doing
Early night

ARGH! The consultant at the hospital said the pressure in dh's eye was dangerously high :(

They gave him 4 different types of eye drops and he has to go in again to be monitored tomorrow morning. If the pressure still hasn't come down, he has to go on a drip

On a brighter note, my D&V only lasted an hour so I had a lovely indulgent shopping trip in town this afternoon while dh looked after dds Got some gorgeous sunglasses and jeans in my pre-preg size ...So chuffed!

Just swinging by to say hello since it's been a while

Still in hospital and I have to say I actually can't wait to get home and actually do some flying again!!!!! I must be mad...

Off to peruse the thread now. Hope you are all ok

Well, today we have been discussing who will be leading the thread in April. You?ll all be pleased to know that Goth has volunteered, although Chaos wants to have some fun! Maybe May?
Some of us have admitted to preferring to get the links in the evening before (no pressure Goth)
WhoKnows has dd production this evening, hope it?s gone well.
Castle is now on school holidays
Elles woke up ill this morning, hope you?re feeling better now. Her dp?s eye problem has flared up again, hope he?s ok too. - Just seen that you recovered quick enough to go on a shopping spree but very sorry to hear that dh?s eye problem is bad enough for hospital intervention
And, moan away elles we all need somewhere to off-load. Safe haven and all that.
Louise had a late night out last night, good to see you had a good evening and hope you?ve not been to exhausted today.
Engels and the rest of the household are on their way back to full recovery from the dreaded cold/flu bug thing. This years one has been nasty.
Thanks sc and chaos re my shitty day. Am ust fed up of it being that if I forget something, it doesn?t get done. I am not the teacher, half the shit I do is not my responsibility and I spend so much time keeping on top of the teacher and organising him, making sure he?s doing what he should be, I?m forgetting to do my job. I am awae that makes me sound like a complete control freak, but honestly, this guy is fucking useless.
sc How many of us are there on the thread? I know it changes often, but don?t feel pressured to run the thread again, you did January which, without a doubt is the hardest month what with all of us newbies throwing ourselves on you and making thread running harder. I?d never do a January. If I am here (which hopefully I will be) next Jan, I am saying no way right now
sc?s daughter is having some trouble in maths and French. She is bright in lessons but the thought is she gets anxious in exams and makes silly mistakes. I don?t have any advice or tips, but hope something gives soon.
Huge to Trazzles who popped by to say hello. She?s still in hospital but is looking forward to getting back home. Hope ds is ok, have been thinking of you.

I need some opinions please. Just for my own piece of mind. Honest responss please
There was a letter in ds1?s school bag saying that sadly, the deputy head died yesterday but as a way of making this a positive all pupils have been told that she died of cancer yesterday.
I am fucking furious that they told my 5 year old this without my knowledge or consent. That they feel it ok to delve into these subjects without my permission. Shouldn?t my child?s first experience of this be controlled by me, his mother, the person who knows whether or not he should hear this sort of thing? He doesn?t seem too affected, he came home and told me he has some sad news to tell me, but wasn?t upset or confused, he had no questions when I asked him if he wanted to talk about it, but ffs, he is 5! Did he really need to know this? I am furious at the school, but aibu? (not brave enough to ask that seriously on mn)
Obviously, very sad for her and her family. She was a very nice lady ( she showed me around the school when I was first interested, and she interviewed me when I applied for a job at the school), relatively young too and this, from what I can gather was very sudden.

Opphs started putting SC and then changed it to Silvery (not a good omen)

Ta dah

Silvery no I don't feel at all press ganged

Leg is fine now and I may as well do something productive as I spend far too much time online.

Done
Beds
Windows
Wash up
Dd to school
Shops - emergency cat food purchase
Fed ravenous beast on return home
Thaw out
Dry laundry away
Washing on
Clean out purse - ridiculously full today
Wash up again
5 min room rescue in DD's room
Knitting
Collect DD from school
Supervise home work - went remarkably smoothly
Dinner
Wash up & SS
Freeze leftovers - was an enormous batch of chilli
2nd load of washing, now draped around house drying