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!

[Joins Castle in naughty corner to swig - although suspect she may have left by now and is off being productive somewhere]

Dh and I have had a mahoosive explosive row over dd homework/exams/schooling. We were meant to talk to her together (esp. as I am the one who is actually at home supervising the hwk) and he totally cut me off this morning and was generally over-controlling, making the whole situation worse and pressured (exactly the opposite of what we were trying to achieve). I am FURIOUS [anger]. He on the other hand is convinced he is right of course. Yaaarrrgggh!

On the positive side, I am finding that housework done angrily is finished quicker!!

Engels ditto here re: it being high time for 2013 to get started following illness, bereavement, general CBA-ness! Got to get cracking!! (Have sent e-mail to deputy head re: faalangst today btw - dank u wel!)

Arf at WhereChaos

Good to see you back SpecialCircs sorry about chicken pox though!

Silvery sorry ds2 poorly too. (I'm in Belgium btw)

I definitely name change to try and cover my tracks a bit although easy to track really. It's mainly because I live in quite a small expat community where people tend to know everyone else. I'm certain quite a few people know who I am but am relying on the fact that if they do, they have the good grace to keep it to themselves and vice versa!!

Am now thinking of a name change....hhmmmm....anything to procrastinate actually doing something

Glad to be of help SC Teaching in the UK I never came across 'fear of failure' as any kind of officially recognised special need, but then there wasn'the same relentless testing that exists over here. In NL faalangst is taken really seriously.

Good afternoon,
Just recovering from a chronic bout of CBA-itis, brought on by the unseasonably and relentlessly cold weather, bringing about the urge to hibernate under the duvet as soon as the DCs are asleep, rather than push on through into the evening and actually GET STUFF DONE!

and so, tonight, layers up and cosy slipper clad, I shall....

do filing
sew badges on
meal plan
dust
and then retreat to the duvet!

Happy Monday x

No SC I'm still here in the naughty corner! Have brought a cosy duvet as the oil is gone again in our house and we won't be filling it again before next week, and it is cold, very cold...and as your house is cold too, I think we need duvets in here! Really, flying and everything else but especially piano practice goes out the window when you're cold.
Must make a list for today.
Hate when I'm struck by CBA-ness...

Ponders the Bitchy conundrum....
Only Chaos has lists that resemble Bitchy's..... Hmmmm.

Minimal To-Do list: dinner (beef stew), wash up, drop in to dMiL, post letter, attend a meeting, rescue long-abandoned knitting project which I actually enjoy immensely when I manage to pull it out and 30 mins DECLUTTER (bedroom home/gardens/interiors magazine pile....)
Enjoy the garden Engels

Oh yes ditto x 10 to Castle and Jdub re: cold and general CBA-ness

[Proffers fingerless gloves, scarves and to those in need]

Every task turns in to a "steel yourself" challenge in this house ...particularly going down to basement to do laundry and look after rabbits (although once in their quarters - rabbits have a heater and thick winter fur and cosy indoor hutch with lots of hay - so warmer than us at the moment!!) Even have to "steel oneself" to visit downstairs loo!!

On the positive side, it's too cold to sit down for long either at computer or anywhere else so had better get moving!

No response from school as yet but am hoping faalangst will do the trick Engels (if it exists over here that is) thanks again!

How do I stop receiving emails from Flylady?

see here [scroll down] Consils how to unsubscribe

Hello.
I wrote out a long post earlier, but then pressed the wrong button on my phone and lost it
I've been at home with ds2 today as he got up this morning all teary saying he was poorly.
Little git, left him here with dp (who went to work at 1pm) while I took ds1 to scool nd popped to post office and when I got back, ds2 said he wasn't poorly.

I did 15mins detail cleaning today. I got a cloth and a tub of water and wiped down the frames and wall around the doors to out juliet balcony and also the skirting, walls and floor edge under the dining table. The water was black I never pull the table out

Dp has been looking at houses to buy today. Not sure we'll be able to afford anything. We are currently in a shared ownership place (worst thing we ever did I think), we've been here for 4 years. Now he is on more money than when we got the current mortgage and now I am in permanent employment and have been for a year, they should also take my salary into account.
He is hopeful, I am not. He told me that I am always so negative and such a defeatist, but I think I'm just being realistic.
Would be nice though to get a place with a garden and an extra bedroom so the boys can have one each.

Ds1's teacher came out of class to tell me she is pleased in the change in his attitude, that since I've been doing more work with him at home he has started to try things out of his comfort zone.

Back later. Hope everyone's ok (haven't caught up yet.

hi all, I have caught dd's stinky cold. we have spent the day in bed, watching cartoons. I am drinking honey and lemon and she is bfing constantly. no housework today, my aim is to keep dd fed and clean till dp gets home.

Had a overtired baby most of the day. A toddler full of bad cold. Oil ran out so no heating. half way through dinner discovered no tins tomato. have done no cleaning. no flying. just generally fed up. can i climb into bed right now and just wake up in another lifetime? sorry - needed to rant

rant over...tomorrow is a new day and WILL be better

Massively productive day here

Tada
Showered, S&S and dressed
Changed dd's bedding
Washing x2
Tumble drying x2
Hang washing on line
Lots of cuddles for poorly dd1
Dust
Hoover
Wipe kitchen and bathroom floors
Made topping for millionaire shortbread and sampled two slices
Cleaned hob
Cleared and wiped 2 fridge shelves
Cleaned the loo
Made and ate dinner
Washed up
Bathed girls and put to bed (early night here)

To do
Get dd2 to sleep easier said than done!
Make sure flat is tidyish for friends coming round at 8pm.
Eat copious amounts of pudding and cake
Shine sink

to those of you with colds, or tending babies/toddlers/dc with colds - it's a really miserable time of year!

Silvery If it's any consolation I had the wool pulled over my eyes tonight. DD came home protesting forcefully (almost crying) that she had two hours of homework to do and as a result couldn't possibly go to ballet. Like a twonk, I believed her (even felt sorry for her!) and let her off (which is a big deal because she has a performance in May). Agreed to text her ballet teacher to explain. 10 mins later she came running along chirpy as anything asking me if I would sign her hwk book because she was all finished (I checked - it was all done perfectly) ...oh and could she go on the computer? I was livid! So tonight she has had to empty dishwasher, carry laundry basket downstairs, fold towels and has been signed up to two days ballet workshop during the Easter holidays. Hopefully she will see that lying doesn't pay .... but I feel really really horrible for having to be so strict. Don't you just hate parenting sometimes?

Top marks to Ellesababe for completing mahoosive list!

Right, that?s the boys in bed. Now to catch up with you lovely lot
Impressive list from yesterday Goth and Chaos although shit about the lack of bed and the leaking roof, hope not too much damage done and you were able to contain the leak.
Mrsb I?m a Ms too now. Year before last I changed my surname by deed pole to be the same as dp and ds?s. Wasn?t expecting the question about my title and was tempted to tick the ?Mrs? box, but already felt a huge fraud taking the name but didn?t want to be a ?Miss? so settled on ?Ms?. I do still feel a fraud whenever I have to say my full name. I did ask dp before I did it and he made me ask my parents, so I had permission from everyone, but still feel like I just took something that?s not mine, you know? Would feel much better if we were to marry, but he is reluctant.
Sorry to hear you?ve caught dd?s cold.
Anyhoo??.
Castle bitchy is around. If you haven?t got the hint that was given, let us know, I can pm you. Ah, can see you?ve got it . Hope you can sort the oil problem out soon.
to snow and Jdub
Special came back. Is pleased that the house is looking ok after a month back at work, and she has been sticking to her routines. That?s what it?s all about, routine routine routine.
Sorry to hear your ds has chicken pox, hope he?s coping ok with it
Engels feels prepared for her moderation on Thursday. Good good. Sure it?ll be fine.
sc sorry to hear your dh rushed in with the school/exam chat with your dd. Men can be such fuckwits. Hope you are all ok and have managed to talk together.
sc?s tip of the day - do your housework angry, gets done quicker Maybe you could write a testimonial the fat fairy would love it, or rather I would love to read something honest and angry and day to day rather than the slushy overly vomit inducing stuff I?ve come across on the site in the past
Yes, these dc?s certainly know how to get around us don?t they! I should have taken ds2 straight to school when he did that, but I?d already called into work, and didn?t want the nursery to call me at work if he?d complained of being poorly for them to say that I?d stayed at home with him iyswim. He knows I am very cross and we had the ?boy who cried wolf? talk, so hopefully he will think before next time. Although doubtful. He is a man in training after all
enough talk about name changes if everyone does it at the same time my head will explode
Louise Hope your dc is feeling a bit better.
elles has been showing off her very impressive tada list

Cheers SC don't mind if I do Dh has generously passed on his lurgy, hope everyone & their DCs feel better soon

Done
Beds
Packed lunches for DD & me
Washing up - just in time as water main burst down the road!
Windows
Induction at work, start day now Thursday not Tuesday
Collect Dd from school
Supervised homework
Dinner
Ironing
Washing up & SS
Litter tray

LINKS FOR TUESDAY 26th MARCH
babystep 26 hopefully one we can all ignore. Something about looking at the first sentance at the end of the e-mails and incorporating it into our days. My advice, do something else instead
mission dust all the decorative items in your living room
daily mission link will update automatically. I can't remember what Tuesday is. Day off?
flight plan for our daily routine.

Evening all. Been lurking but feeling too CBA to post.

Silvery - Tuesday is "plan and play day" I think, but I can't remember what that signifies!

Sympathies to all the poorly folks. Boys are still not 100%. DS2 is OK in the mornings, so has been to nursery today, but flopping in the afternoon and put himself to bed at 6pm today!

Computer is runnign like treacle this evening so will attempt to post this and then close it down for a little rest I think. Sorry for no more personals. Night!

Sympathies from me too, there seems to be so much illness about.

I'm sat in the naughty corner again. DH did a really good job of tidying the house yesterday while I took the DCs to swimming lessons, so I'm determined to keep it that way. However not had much time for cleaning and it is pretty dusty everywhere.

Silvery - thank you for the roundup - I was considering an Easter namechange but now worried about making your head explode! If I change I promise to keep it obvious.

Managed to cross quite a few things off my list, but not many were Flying related.

Pilates class
Menu planning/shopping list
Enrol for new OU module (need to phone back to pay as computer was down)
Complete and post some paperwork
Finalise holiday and jury service childcare with school, parents and holiday club
Clean kitchen and bathroom floors
Wash towels
Wash one lot of clothes
Parents eve for both DCs. Hmm. More about that later.
Dparents to visit
Supermarket shopping with DS - the DCs are much keener since we registered for the zappers on your trolley at Waitrose.
Unpack shopping
Feed DCs
Treat entire family for head lice .

Well, parents evening. DS - nothing unexpected. DD (Yr 2) however has made greater progress so far this year than she is expected to make in the whole year in maths and reading, well done DD. However she has made very little progress on writing, her content, punctuation etc is great but most of the time you cannot read it. And yet, just occasionally it is quite clear (her fine motor skills are very good too). Her teacher says she has never seen such a big discrepancy between reading and writing and she has tried every tactic in the book to persuade DD to produce clearer work as she has shown she is capable but to no avail. This teacher is considered by just about everyone to be the best in the school. Needless to say there has been quite a lot of discussion with DD tonight. Grrr.

testing namechange.....

Nice one Whoknows!! Sympathies over parents' evening stress. Sorry to be a dunce but how old is yr 2 (get confused with UK system)?. Could it be she is v. bright (as evidenced by progress in maths and reading) and because her mind works quickly she is bored taking the time to write it down? There are many fledglings much more qualified than me who will be able to advise though.

Sorry your boys are still ailing Blue - it must be getting you down

And sorry to hear you have succumbed too Goth [refills ]

Silvery arf at "slushy overly vomit inducing" Flylady rhetoric and double arf at "man in training"!! Speaking of which, yes, dh and I are just about managing to be civil to each other tonight! Oh and as for "crying wolf" have read dd "Matilda" from Hilaire Belloc - not remotely politically correct - but hope point is made.

Wing flaps to all ...

She's just 7 SC, Yr 2 is the third year (!). She is bright, but I think she doesn't see the value in writing yet. She was the same in reading and maths for a long time though, then both have just clicked. Her progress in reading this year has been astonishing (she was struggling at the end of Yr 1). So, we will be talking about why it is important and what it will mean if it cannot be read. I will also be having more regular talks with the teacher.

If she reads well then that is the main thing Whoknows ... personally, I think all the rest follows from that ... writing, comprehension, grammar etc etc. And writing starts v. early in UK remember (they only start to write formally here aged 6) so there is plenty of time for her to catch up.

Dd1 has woken up this morning with her eyes stuck closed and her hair stuck in the crusty snot that is caked on her cheeks. I feel really sorry for her but eeeeewwwwww it's gross!