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!

LINKS FOR SATURDAY 23rd MARCH
babystep 23 is to add an 'afternoon routine' to your day and control journal.
No mission because it's saturday!
daily focus is family fun day.
flight plan for routines

have a good weekend, and don't forget to spoil yurselves and your family

Problem is that gossip spread like wild fire. It is better for them to know the truth rather then letting the imagination of children run riot. One of the mum's in ds' class has cancer the kids were all told and they have just accepted it as fact.

In my personal opinion children are protected from death too much at a young age, it makes it a big deal when it happens. People die, fact. people die from illness, fact. They will be greatly missed, fact. Life goes on, fact. They need to learn this otherwise when they suddenly experience death when they are much older then the whole world stops. Ds has known about death from a young age and it worries him little and has helped with several family deaths over the years.

Personally i think the school where right to tell them, and right to inform you they had been told. But i have a very different view to death then a lot of modern people. So others might have a different opinion.

hahaha at Goth's c&p error!

Thanks Choas Is good to get ither people's opinions. I see what you mean, I do.

It's hard though. And no one likes to think about death. So i can understand your concern. I think the fact that ds1 has just accepted it as fact is good. if and when he has questions he will ask them. In the mean time he will be ok. Reckon the concept of death still probably doesn't mean much to him atm. Will be harder for your ds if it is someone he is very close to. School are still a little out of sight out of mind at that age. If you feel bad give him an extra hug and a pray for the lady's family. You can't undo what has been done, only deal with the consequences. Which hopefully will be none.

True. Thanks for that Chaos

No worries. :)

I have been procrastinating on the computer tonight waiting for someone to go out. only to realise the time and the fact they decided they couldn't be arsed to go out or communicate this fact. I would be irrationally grumpy if i had the energy to be. instead i have to deal with the bread machine in an hour and half cos i forgot to put it on and as this recipie contains an egg it has to be done tonight Considering taking a nap whilst i wait. Feeling very old and grumpy atm.

Silvery I think Chaos is right, although I can understand why you'd rather be the one to discuss death with your DS, but if the school had written to parents first, some children may have found out before others, and mis-information been passed on. At least this way they all have the full story.

I am always amazed at how resilient DD is re death, although we're lucky in that we've not lost anyone since my DGM when she was 2.

Silvery - I can see why you would want to be the one to talk to DS, but I really think it is best to do it the way school has, so that everyone gets the same information at the same time. A child who used to be in DS's class (moved away last year) lost their father in an accident recently, from chatting amongst the other mums it was clear that some didn't want to tell their DCs and some though it best to tell them but felt awkward in case their children then told others in the playground who hadn't been told by parents etc. It wasn't the school's place to deal with this as they were no longer a pupil there, but if they had been I would have expected the school to have told all the pupils together, at least the ones in that class (assuming the family were OK with that).

Silvery - I agree with the others. I don't think the school had any other choice really, as gossip would soon have spread. My DS1 became very interested in death at around four and I read him 'Goodbye, Mog' to help him comprehend it (as far as a child of that age can). Imagine my horror when he told me that he wanted to take that book in to 'show and tell' at nursery, so he could tell all the other children about death too!

I'm afraid I have taken up permanent residence in the naughty corner recently. I have lost any drive to keep up my Flylady routines, although we have friends visiting on Sunday, so a crisis clean is in order.

DS1's OCD has gone haywire and we have a hospital appointment for him next week - not for his OCD, but for the damage he has inflicted on himself . Housework is the last thing on my mind. But I am still lurking and hope to post when things at home calm down.

Helllooooooeeeeee to anyone who remembers me!

Sorry for going awol for a few months, just popping in now to say hello to everyone, especially Toffee and SC

No flying to report here today.

Dinner was cooked but dishes yet to wash.

Bank visit went okay...but apparently no banks are lending to people who have their house half built. Apparently banks are sticking to very rigid rules at the moment, but the conditions should improve in the coming months . Why didn't we just get a mortgage initially? It would have made life so much more pleasant .
Anyway we also need to come up with a bigger lump sum/deposit so it looks like we will have to stay put a while longer...

I will volunteer myself to run the thread in May or July if somebody explains how to do 'links' - no idea!

Hi PA! Lovely to see you here! Always like to hear about your life abroad! Are you going to stay there for many more years, or have you thought that far ahead?

Toffee Oh dear, hugs

Silvery I really don't know what to say. I'm sure the school told the children as a community in the most gentle way, but I imagine it is only natural to want to protect your little ds. At least it gives you an opportunity to chat about it with him now x

PA - lovely to see you! I'm sorry you're finding it tough out there. You are doing a wonderful thing, though, and need to hang onto why you are out there. Hope the next three months pass quickly!

Sorry you are struggling with finance to buy a house of your own, Castle. Thanks for the hugs and cuddly bear .

Ok, thanks everyone. I do understand the gossip side and that it's better everyone gets the same story I am just annoyed with the school in general I think and understand they couldn't tell the big ones without the little ones. Just some prior warning about this would have been nice.
Incredibly sad.

Huge hello to pa imagine my disappointment when I came back to the thread and my stalkee wasn't here

Just woken up on the sofa so about to climb into bed.

Castle we have are here until June 2014, so it is not that long really and this year has gone so quickly, anyway. I shouldn't moan......

Toffee Sorry to read that DDs are not too good at the moment.

SM Perhaps my stalking skills have become better and you just don't notice me any more!

PA You're not another name changer are you?
You still on the other thread?

I"ve committed the cardinal sin - I've come down stairs without getting dressed, so I"m in the naughty corner without even trying!

Morning everyone

Sorry to hear everyone's struggling at the moment. Me too a bit tbh - I think we need spring (except PA who would probably appreciate the 18 inches of snow we've got this morning )

I'm on my phone at the moment so will be back with proper personals later. Hoping to use the opportunity of being snowed in to do some detail cleaning and general decluttering, wish me luck!

To do (whole weekend)
Washing *5
Sock drawer
Hoover house inc bedroom
Possibly declutter/rearrange DD's room
Detail clean kitchen
Detail clean bedroom
House bleurgh
Mop 3 floors
Declutter entrance
Living room hotspots
Put second coat of paint on cupboard of doom

Probably more but I've got a hangover run out of inspiration

Done
Up and made beds
Laundry
Breakfast
De cluttered loft

We got all the old clothes down and bagged up properly and dp is taking it all to one of those places that but 1.5 kilos for £5.
I'll let you know how much we get......
Now to have a nice hot bath before the rest of this weekends jobs.

He got £48 for the old clothes. Not bad

Erm afternoon, (not a good start)

Silvery that's brilliant, £48! Nice bonus for the weekend. There must have been a lot of clothes, the fat fairy would be proud!

Slow start here, sorry to hear of so many troubles this weekend, hopefully things ŵill start looking up soon.

Done
Beds
Windows
Litter tray
Got Dd to clear out her junk pile in the living room

to do
Library
Shopping
Laundry
Ironing

I'm sure other stuff will crop up.

Yes, every item of clothing all of us have grown out of over the last 5 years

I have a bit of a poorly ds2. He says he feels very very poorly and is making the feeling sorry for yourself noises
Fear I won't get anything else done today other than snuggles on the sofa.
We are watching wall-e at the moment.

to do
polish and dust
Change beds
Litter tray
Hoover
Mop
Menu plan and shopping list
Food shopping
Ironing
Make sandwiches for next week
Bag and purse clear out
Glass shelves and mirrors
Make dinner
Clean kitchen
Homework
Hotspot
Study (have to resubmit an assignment I emailed the other day)

Think it'll all have to wait and be rushed through tomorrow. As well as ds2 feeing poorly I am suffering a massive case of CBAness, got out the bathh and staright back into pj's and could do with taking ds2 and getting back into bed!

Hello lovely fledglings! Hope those of you in the northern half of the country aren't snow-bound and are keeping warm.

Yay!! PA is that really you???? Great to "see" you!! [champagne] Thread not the same without you! Sorry the going is tough atm though, was hoping your new house would make life a bit easier for you (I must check all my e-mail accounts properly some time soon btw. Sorry if I have missed one from you!!) If it's any consolation, I think it is a classic thing that happens when you move to a new country ie great when you first arrive, exciting new language, diet, culture and then the novelty starts to wear off as reality and daily life sets in. It happened to me here about 18 months to 2 years in (on a much more minor scale 'cos culturally not as challenging as you are experiencing) but it does get better. You have, and are, doing brilliantly well. Sending loads of courage and prayers and positive thoughts your way. Any decent pigeon sticking going on over there btw?

Great to see you back on here too Trazzles!!! No wonder you can't wait to get back home. Hats off to your resilience!! Sending prayers and courage and positive thoughts to you all too, plus a case or two of through the ether!

Sorry your ds2 is poorly Silvery the microbes just seem to keep on accumulating in this weather don't they? And sorry to hear about your deputy head Well done re: clothes decluttering (and for profit too!) (Oh and thanks for yr kind words about running thread. I don't mind taking my turn fairly frequently, have more time available than a lot of people on here.)

Late start here too Goth and Cuddledup ¨it's just so grey and cold and well ....grey and cold ....

Hands paracetemol and bacon sandwich over to Pushme

Toffee sorry to hear you are going through tough times with ds1 again, which must be a blow after all the strides he has made. He's still made/is making brilliant progress overall though. Hope you can get him the support he needs x And good luck with crisis clean today. I should be doing one but CBA!

Castle sorry about bank meeting - it's tough out there. Hope you and your dp can find a way around it. [A totally trivial question..;where do you get your 'bears' from btw!!] Tries here .... you never know... it might work!

Hope you survived your busy week Whoknows

Sorry to hear about your dh's eye Ellesababe thank heavens he got it checked out - must be worrying for you both. Glad you recovered in time for some retail therapy though!

Hope bread proved [geddit] tasty Wherechaos and that you have a better day today

Just if you are lurking (you probably don't have time atm though) hope you have managed to get everything done in time for your deadline. Thinking of you

Big encouraging wing flaps to Engels Louise Blue Honu¨Snowgirl Feetheart Lauren Madwoman Ellie MrsBugsy Jdub Issima Xbenedict Nettie and eveyrone else I have missed.

Nowt much to report here. Was meant to be an upbeat celebratory fun weekend post-exams and owing to the weather, two things have already been cancelled and we are all feeling a bit flat. This house is so cold that DD is currently sitting drawing in the sitting room wearing her hat and coat!

My trip to the UK next week is also in doubt because I had forgotten we were going to visit sil in France and dh and I have miscommunicated. Really understand importance of visiting sil atm (she is still in a lot of distress following her dm's death and is caring for v. poorly fil so needs lots of support) but feeling very homesick atm and am desperate to get "home". All the rest of my family will be gathering for Easter and I won't be there again ...heigh ho ....c'est la vie and all that. There are worse things so musn't whinge.

Not just the North SC - travel warnings and snow in Hampshire this morning too, we've had enough for DS to build a snowman. Sorry to hear about your travel plans clash, hope you manage a visit home soon.

Silvery - I have never heard of clothes for cash places, although our school runs a collection for the PTA twice a year that works the same way. WEll done, £48 must have been a lot of stuff. Hope DS2 feels better soon.

Busy week is nearly over, DD's production last night was, well, fine really, it didn't go too well to be honest, because the term was so short they weren't as well rehearsed as usual and quite a lot of prompting needed (DD was OK but she is just about the oldest). Also lots of noisy toddlers and babies in the audiences which rendered it impossible to hear most of it. Just the ballet exam to go now. Although next week is shaping up to be fairly busy as well.