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!

[mrsbugsywugsy]

I am in bed bfing dd and looking around at a messy bedroom. we are going out in an hour and a half so before then I will attempt to

get up and dressed (to shoes )
do last night's dishes
make bed
wrap presents and write card for friend we are visiting
write shopping list

will stop at the supermarket on the way back.

later when we get home I need to
put shopping away
do laundry
shine sink

[ToffeeWhirl]

Silvery - so sorry you are going through this .

Like Silvery, I will be catching up on the housework today in direct contravention of Flylady rules. However, DS1 is out at his best friend's house and DS2 is going out with his friend for the day, so I will have a child-free house for once and need to make the most of it. Also, it's DH's birthday tomorrow and we have invited MIL for a birthday lunch, which means we need a tidy dining room to sit in .

Am not even dressed yet, but have spent a nice snuggly morning with DS2, playing Monopoly and chatting. He says he is so excited about his outing with his friend that he might 'explode with happiness' .

Hope you all have a good weekend.

[LillethTheCat]

Morning

tada

• Parkrun (knocked 30 secs off my PB )
  
• Turn on Washing Machine
  
• 2nd Load (now have an empty wash basket )
  
• Make beds
  
• receive Oil delivery
  

to do

• Dry Laundry
  
• put laundry away
  
• Wash up 2X
  
• Shine Sink
  
• Sort out homework for DS
  
• jigsaw with DD1
  

Silvery sorry you are having problems with DH. I think mine would be the same.
Toffee Aww bless your DS exploding with happiness
Nicknacks Good luck with the middle school letter. Hope you get the school you want.
Peas and elles Ive not uttered the words Flylady to DH, I just get on with stuff.
driving Good luck with getting your home ready for the landlady. Also moving is a good motivator to sort things out. When we moved we hardly took anything with us to the new house and skipped a lot of stuff after we moved before we handed the keys back. Now Im determined not to let this house get as bad as the last one, although its not far off

Im semi annoyed with DH. I want to be frugal and try to save as much money as possible. Not for anything exciting, but just so I have a bit of money put aside for whatever. Both me and DH are very much of the spend frame of mind which I want to change. DH isn't that keen. Everytime I mention that I would like to go to Aldi instead of Tesco or Morrisons he just moans. Im feeling the only way I can be frugal is to lie about how much money I have, but that's not right is it?

Anyway been looking at jobs and there's a couple I want to apply for. Just need to get my CV better. Im not sure its that good just yet. I need to blow any possibly future employers away. They are all 45 mins drive away, but that's doable even though Ive never travelled for longer than 30 mins to work before (and it was only that long as I walked), but that was before we moved to the middle of nowhere. Really hope I get somewhere with one of them.

[Jamillalliamilli]

Quick hello to Elles and Driving

(New people should ignore my lists. I ?FLY? in a completely different way at the moment due to circumstances.)

Good luck to NickNacks

Silvery sorry it?s all miserable right now. Might be worth trying to take a step back and think things through carefully.

And again apologies to all for not managing more personals, but must keep it together here..

Still to do
Run out for fab conditioner
Washing
Launderette
Repair boots
Exhaust manifold properly onto car
Pay bill
Insurance unit
Dinner
Listen to friend
Sleep

[NickNacks]

Dreadful day.

Not only did we not get the school we put first or second but bit even the third choice either! We've been given the forth (and only four to choose from!!). It's just not suitable for him.

Ds (and we) are really really gutted. Lots of tears in the NickNacks house today. :(

[LillethTheCat]

Oh no NickNacks can you appeal? What happens next then? 4th is a long way down to get I think (could be wrong there though)

tada

• Parkrun (knocked 30 secs off my PB )
  
• Turn on Washing Machine
  
• 2nd Load (now have an empty wash basket well did earlier, now have things in there - boooo )
  
• Make beds
  
• receive Oil delivery
  
• Dry Laundry
  
• put laundry away
  
• Wash up 2X
  
• Shine Sink
  
• jigsaw with DD1
  

tomorrows list

• Strip beds
  
• Wash bedding
  
• Dry bedding
  
• remake beds
  
• Wash up 3X
  
• Shine Sink
  
• Sort out homework for DS (totally forgot all about it )
  
• Coursework
  
• Revision
  

[NickNacks]

I don't know tbh lilleth. I think we'll go on the waiting list and will be quite high in the 2 nd choice one which was DS favourite. We only have four in our LA and three choices given. This was the only one we really didn't want. It's massive and he's currently at the smallest first school in the LA. All his friends have got into the 2nd choice one so really do have our hopes pinned on that. :(

[mrsbugsywugsy]

well I have done everything off this morning's list, except make the bed, and that was because the cat was sleeping on it and I am too soft to move her.

just got in from shopping, dp is putting shopping away, I am feeding dd, and the washing is on.

I will shine the sink again later although presumably I don't need to repeat the whole process again?

[ellesabe]

That sounds tough nicknacks :( You might be pleasantly surprised at how quickly the waiting list goes down for choice #2 though.

Today's ta-das
Make beds
Swish and swipe
Laundry washed, tumbled and ironed
Vacuumed
Kitchen floor wiped down
Bag of stuff assembled for charity shop
Trip to the beach and Starbucks with dh and dds

Still to-do
Shine sink
Pack tomorrow's bag
Plan tomorrow's leadership training
Check emails
Mend dd's tshirt

Tomorrow
Church
Leadership training for toddler group
Clean bathroom floor

Quick question - I have been looking at the fly-lady website and a few times it mentions a '27 fling boogie' but I can't find any explanation as to what it is! What is it? I'm thinking it probably sounds more fun that it really is :)

[LillethTheCat]

Good luck with getting a place at choice no 2 NickNacks Hope it gets resolved really quickly for you

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

Elle - I think it is where you get a binbag and go round one room throwing out 27 things. I'll have a little look on the website in a minute.

Oh no Nick, fingers crossed that the waiting list route proves fruitful. My two are at primary so we haven't had to do this for middle school, but there was a fair bit of movement of children between the various schools in our area in Yr 3, hopefully this will be the case for you.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

Here it is 27 fling boogie

[SilveryMoon]

Good evening fledglings. Hope everyone?s had a good day.
I?m in a really fucking foul mood. I?m am literally at breaking point. I have to get away from children. Thank God Monday is INSET, I?m on the brink of snapping.

So, today I have:
Got up and made beds
Got breakfast
Swished and swiped
Showered and dressed
Cleared breakfast away
Went into town for some shopping
Cooked dinner
Laid out clothes
Laundry
Fed cats
Stray items away
Cleared out bag
Wiped down fridge
Menu plan for next week and wrote shopping list

Tomorrow I have to :
Morning routine
Clean litter trays
Hoover
Mop
Dust/polish
Mirrors and glass shelves
Change sheets
Make and freeze sandwiches for weeks lunches
Clear out car
Polish shoes
Get bags ready for school
Ironing
Evening routine

Sorted that issue out with dp about seeing my friend.
Now I?m pissed off because he can see that atm I do not possess the skills to effectively parent the boys, but does he take over? No. He just lets me stand here screaming at everyone, even though I have told him that if I have a moment where it is clear I am at the end of my tether, I expect him to jump in and try to help the boys with their behaviour and take over from me so that I can calm the hell down.
But, he just sits there like some sort of fucking arse.
I sent ds1 to his room in floods of tears because I?d shouted at him, so told dp to go in and offer some emotional support and calm him down, explain that I am just in a bad mood and don?t mean to take it out on him etc, but he goes off, comes back 2 mins later and ds1 is still in bits, so I have to go and calm him down myself.
I know I shouldn?t take my work stuff out on people at home but I really am fucking fed up of havin g to do everything everywhere.
I had to cover my teacher for half the week with little or no planning, the he asked me to re-do behaviour plans and annual reviews which I don?t think are my job, then asks me to get the pupils books for book week from waterstones and generally takes the fucking piss and I have to come home and do everything here myself as well.
The universe is having a fucking laugh!
Rant over. For now.

[GoingGoingGoth]

Silvery

Nick hope it works out, hopefully a short waiting list.

Maybe useless at doing my lists this week, but did a good Family Fun Day

Done
Beds
Windows
Wash up
Litter tray
Bins
Washing hung out
Cinema
Soft play area with go-carts &climbing wall
Washing in
Dinner

To do
Washing up & SS
Ironing
Laundry in

[SilveryMoon]

Right, what have you lot been up to today?
drivingmisspotty has made a great start with a nice list.
NickNacks has been waiting for school allocation info to arrive but unfortunately it was not the news they were hoping for - so sorry Nicks. Can you appeal? My parents had to appeal for my place at my secondary school.
issimma had a moment of focusing on what wasn?t done (sink shine) rather than what was done (you all got dressed). - FWIW, I think we need to celebrate our achievements more, no matter how small.
Toffee was having a child-free house today so catching up on her main housework. Toffee?s ds2 was so excited about going out with his friend that he said he might explode with happiness - that is just too cute! Hope he had a good day and you got all your bits done.
Lilleth wants herself and her dh to start putting away for a rainy day. - I too am a spender. I never save. Should really but we?ve been skint for so long, I?m going to spend for a bit longer
Lilleth has also spotted some jobs she wants to apply for but wants to brush up her CV a bit. - I had some CV advice from the next steps people, they told me to have my personal statement at the top, include all relevant info first and def don?t have it anymore than 2 pages long, but 1 page is better.
Just came to say hello and tell the newbies to ignore her lists as she?s FLYing a slightly different way right now. - Good to see you Just.
mrsb Had a great day and got her whole list for today ticked off! Well done you, that?s great! And no you don?t need to repeat the whole bleach process again. Now that that bit is done, you know it is hygienically clean, so now when you use it, you?ll dry it off when finished and before bed every night, you?ll squirt a bit of window cleaner on it and buff with a micro-fibre cloth.
ellesabe wants to know what a 27 fling boogie is. I love this one. You get a black bag, go into whichever room you are working on and put 27 things in the bag and throw it away! Love it. Thinking about it, I?m actually thinking I?m sure there?s the option to throw away or take to charity shop/give away but I love to get things in the bin.
here is a link to the FAQ page where there is info on 27 fling boogie.

[SilveryMoon]

**
LINKS FOR SUNDAY 3RD MARCH
***
babystep 3 - take some time to look around the FLYlady website
No mission for Sunday but daily focus is to renew your spirit. Do something for you.
flight plan for anyone who wants a quick reminder of what we're doing.

[ellesabe]

Thanks whoknows and silvery :)

[ToffeeWhirl]

So sorry your DS didn't get any of his school choices, Nicknacks . That's just awful. I hope he gets second choice, especially as it is where his friends are going and the school he wants - but what a stressful time for you all whilst you wait to hear.

And sorry for you too, Silvery. You really are having a tough time.

The good news here is that DS2 had a wonderful day out and came back all happy and chatty.

On the other hand, DS1 clearly found staying over at a friend's house last night just that bit too stressful and took it all out on me. He really lost it with me this evening when I wouldn't let him watch a late film because I said he needed to catch up on sleep. Ended up with him following me round the house, shouting at me and arguing and later wrestling with me over the XBox control lead (which I was trying to remove). He then threatened to break a mug, but I managed to take the mug and walk out.

The good thing is that he is obviously learning some modicum of self control as he matures because, whereas once he would have lost it completely (he used to hit me, but doesn't do that now), he did manage to stop himself from breaking the mug and decided to take it out on old Simpsons comics instead, tearing them all up. DH went up later and quietly picked all the pieces up and DS actually helped him. Then he calmed himself down by strumming on his guitar.

On the bright side, I suppose at least DS1 did some decluttering, even if it was unintentional!

I feel miserable now though. We don't have many of these episodes these days - and far fewer than when he was at school and constantly anxious - but when it happens it's exhausting and harrowing. DH was very sympathetic, but I just want to be on my own now.

Family day tomorrow as it's DH's birthday and MIL is coming for lunch. Will try to cheer up by then.

[SilveryMoon]

Toffee Sorry to heaar about ds1's melt-down (and that h used to hit you, must have been a very hard time), but fab that he managed to control himself enough not to break the mug (I am trying to celebrate and focus on positives, hope you don't mind)
If you don't mind me asking, how old is ds1?
I don't blame you for feeling miserable, sounds like an emotionally draining evening.
FWIW, I like to be on my own to deal with my emotions etc when shit hots fan.
Hope tomorrow goes well for your dh birthday.

[ToffeeWhirl]

Thanks, Silvery. DS1 is 13. We had help from CAMHS with the hitting stuff and he never does that now. It wasn't his fault; he was struggling with being a square peg in a round hole at school (he had undiagnosed SNs at that time) and I was a safe place for him to take out his anxieties. I suspect he was overtired tonight and had also found being at his friend's house more stressful than he would admit. Plus, the teen hormones are kicking in and he doesn't like us telling him what to do. Hopefully, he will be in a better mood tomorrow. You are right to focus on the positives, by the way. His self-control is improving as he grows up and he is also becoming more articulate so that we can discuss these issues (once he's calmed down, that is).

I do feel better now, thanks. It's nice to have sympathy and browsing through MN threads has relaxed me and taken my mind off things.

Sorry to use the Flying thread to offload, but it helps.

[SilveryMoon]

Hey. I was told this is a safe place to off-load. We are all here for each other. I didn't mean to imply that any behaviour challenges are his fault, of course i know there are many factors that come into play, was just being nosey I suppose.
Sounds like you guys are handling it perfectly and is great he is maturing and understand appropriate ways to let off steam.
Glad you're feeling a little better.
We all need a place to rant and off-load, we all have things that challenge us, i'd like to think this thread is a safe, non judgemental place

[SilveryMoon]

My ds1 is 5. I know this is cmpletely different, but a couple of years ago he went through a violent phase. I gave him an 'angry pillow' to help him channel his aggression without hurting anyone else.
It worked at the time, think I may need to re-introduce it, although his aggression is more verbal atm

[SilveryMoon]

shit. Just reading posts back and I meant to say in my post to you toffee, he used to. Not 'h'. I wouldn't want anyone skim-reading to pick up my typo and misunderstand.
Apologies for typos, I have new nails on that are a little longer than I am used to.

Goodnight, see you all on the other side

[ToffeeWhirl]

You didn't imply anything negative, Silvery - please don't worry. The angry pillow is an excellent idea, although DS1 used to prefer me or the wall, unfortunately. Sorry your DS1 is aggressive at the moment - DC can say such hurtful things, then they breeze off and you are left smarting.

I understood the 'h' as 'he', not a reference to MrToffee. Am sure others will read it as I did.

Should go to bed now otherwise I will not be up to cooking a decent birthday lunch.

Night.