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!

Today is a new day :)
Dd1 was quite difficult at toddler group again this morning but I felt much more able to deal with all the pushing/snatching/screaming so don't feel quite as disheartened by it as I did yesterday.

Tada
Beds made
Shower and S&S
Wash on
Eat and clear up breakfast
Toddler group

To do
A mountain of stuff before tomorrow's valuation!
Hoover
Clear up from lunch
Declutter
Clean hob
Prepare meatballs

Luckily dh has the afternoon and because of the significant financial incentive, he is mucking in for once!

Issimma it is mad that as parents we consider that a lie in, prior to dcs nothing before 9 would have been considered a lie in!

List complete with the exception of swimming lessons and dinner.

I hope everybody is having happy productive days.

Quick update

Done
Bed
Windows
Dd to school
Post office
Grocers
Litter tray
Play with cat-he looks bored
Finish kitchen cupboards & drawers inside & out
Cleaned outside of oven, wiped down fridge freezer & washing machine

to do
Buy some oven pride & clean inside of oven
Do some 'work'! Researching mainly today
Collect DD
Dinner
Wash up & SS

Am having 15 minute break before collecting DD. phew

Hi, am new to this whole FLYing thing - I like the idea of it, but really don't like the new format of e-mail from them (can't see it on my phone). I notice lots of you seem to have babies/toddlers - when do you do the de-cluttering etc?? My baby is 6 weeks, and toddler nearly 3, am struggling to find the time to do the extra's (even 15 mins)...currently have someone in once a week to help (we have a massive house that I hate!!)...but would like to be more on top so we cld save that money rather...do you all post your tada/todo lists - does that help?? Sorry for all the questions - I just need to get my head organised :-)

Louise85 - from personal experience I would say forget decluttering until your babies and toddlers have grown up a bit. You have enough to do already.

DS1 and I watched 'Freaky Friday' the other night (the Disney film where the mum and daughter swap bodies and have to live each other's lives for one day) and he has suggested that we do our own Freaky Friday. So, for tomorrow only, he will do all my jobs and I will do all his. I have just handed him a two-page list, starting with 'Wake up DS2' and ending with 'Bedtime routine' . I don't think he's going to know what's hit him!

Anyway, if a Flyboy adds a 'ta da' list tomorrow, that might be my DS1.

Have a good evening all.

Evening. Not long been in from work (parents evening) so will post links now and try to muster up the energy to catch up and do some personals/roundup.

LINKS FOR FRIDAY 8th
babystep 8 the first step in creating your control journal. I like having a control journal, so I think this one is worth it.
mission wiping down the cabinets
daily focus this link should update itself. Clearing out bags and purse. Also car IIRC.
flight plan

lilleth the job email sounds promising, good luck. My brother could read, but refused to do so out loud until he was 6 or 7. My poor mum tore her hair out over it, but even now he will admit he just didn?t want to read aloud, and it was quite the battle of wills. It doesn?t mean you are a bad parent just boys are awkward

louise I have a 3 month old, we moved house 5 days before she was born (5 weeks early) so there was a lot of decluttering to be done. I have literally done 5 minutes a day, whilst she?s on her playmate or asleep, and we?re getting there. Enjoy spending time with your lovely little baby though, the clutter can wait!

LO has had a streaming cold for 2 days now, hence the lack of sleep and general grumpiness earlier in the week. Despite this, I managed to clean the patio doors, and the oven, on Tuesday and Wednesday. The house is passable, and I?m up to date with laundry. DH is going to do the hoovering tomorrow, so I feel less bad about spending an awful lot of time on the sofa watching Greys anatomy and eating chocolate.

Fingers crossed for a better week next week, am getting quite embarrassed reading everybodys tada lists, I just have a very long to do list

It has been quiet on here today..................hope all the MIA's are ok.

Mercury Glad you got a better sleep last night.
Snow Hope you?re ok. Having a baby is tough, I got immonia (sp?) when ds1 was about 8 weeks old. We get run-down and our immune systems aren?t as effective. Remember the mummy-mantra ?this is a phase, it too shall pass?
Mercury Before dc?s, I?d get up at 11 am on a work day! Now, even a lay in is up before 9.
Louise Welcome to the thread and congrats on the arrival of new baby
I have lists on paper in a folder and I find ticking jobs off really helps me. I don?t always post to do/at da lists personally but is encouraging to see what everyone gets done.
Do you need to declutter? FLYlady is all about baby steps, so can you break the 15 mins into 3 5 mins sections?
Or just start off with basic routines for the morning and evening. This system is made for tweaking, not 1 person here does it 100% to the letter, we have all made adjustments to fit our own homes/families.
Just do whatever you can, and celebrate your achievements, no matter how small.

Final post for today

Ta-dah!
Bed
Windows
Dd to school
Post office
Grocers
Litter tray
Play with cat-he was bored
Finish kitchen cupboards & drawers inside & out
Cleaned outside of oven, wiped down fridge freezer & washing machine
Collect DD
Buy Oven Pride
Dinner
Wash up & SS
Put oven trays into soak & start oven clean
Do some 'work'
Write 3 letters and Mother's Day card, already for posting tomorrow

Evening!

Ta da!
Mothering Sunday cards posted and flowers ordered
Laundry done & clean stuff put away
Few hotspots
S&S
Zumba!
Dinner
Cleaned up kitchen
And a bit of work and admin as well.

Hi to Louise. Most of us have unsubscribed/never subscribed in the first place for the emails although I think a couple of people like them. The links you need everyday will be on the thread.

Toffee - hope your "Freaky Friday" goes well!

Snowgirl - hope you feel better soon.

evening all

I've done everything on today's list but only got part way through my eBay pile. I'll carry on with it tomorrow.

I haven't shined the sink yet either. our current routine is that dp washes up after dinner, but he never does it until really late by which time I am in bed giving dd her late night feed. I really can't be bothered to get back up out of bed to shine the sink. but there is no point doing it before he does the washing up because he leaves the sink a mess. so I might start doing it in the morning instead.

louise I just do little bits when dd is sleeping, and don't worry if she has a bad day and I don't get anything done at all. there have been days where I haven't even made it out of my pyjamas...I do find the decluttering helpful as I need to chuck stuff out to make space for dd's things.

big pig dd was also 5 weeks early. I blame the state of the house on her, cos my plan was to totally sort out the house when I went on maternity leave . how is your lo doing now?

Bit lapsed over the past 6 weeks, but popping back on for a catch up and because to be fair I am in need of an entire house rescue. Big house bleurgh planned for the morning as it is DS's birthday (how is he 2 already ) and then his part on Saturday so a proper clean is definitely required.

My routines are pretty much, erm, routine now after all this time, but I've lapsed on the detail cleaning and missions since Christmas so really need to get back into it a bit.

Happy Birthday to Mini PMPY I remember when he was born Oh how it has changed around here

Need to hit ground running tomo. Be afraid be very afraid. You have been warned!!!!!

Hope you both have a good and productive day All and push

Happy flying people

Hello lovely fledglings! Hope you are all OK. [Waves from amidst pile of suitcases/dirty laundry/general chaos.]

Funeral went as well as these things can (although lots of rather long tense delays at funeral home and crematorium where the official/bureaucratic machinations of the French State were much in evidence in much contrast to how things were organised with regard to my late ma in UK).

Just dropping in to say hello. No time for proper catch-up/personals etc because cleaner is coming this morning and the house was chaotic before we left - have to getg on and clear some paths for her to navigate!!

Great to see you Pushme!! A very happy birthday to mini PMPY!!! Can't believe he is two!! I remember when he was born too [sniff] [sniff] xxx

A warm welcome to all newcomers too!

Big wing flaps to everyone else! Will be hopefully back and functioning a bit more normally from Sun/Mon if not before!!

Hi Tits and SC. Thanks for the birthday wishes for DS. He is in the middle of the living room surrounded by a big pile of presents and paper.

So sorry to hear about your MIL SC

I too will be back shortly with a big big list!

Hi SC, good to have you back.

Right then

I have 30 hours before DS's party. Ideally I should sleep for at least 6 of them and we're off to The Deep today for a birthday treat so I have maybe 12 hours to clean and tidy before tomorrow.

My list (which will span both days) by room as as follows

To do

Master bedroom/ ensuite
Clutter clear/fling
Make bed
Clothes away
Quick clean of bathroom floor
Clean basin
Toys downstairs
Washing downstairs

Main bathroom
Clutter clear/fling
Clean floor
Scrub loo
Clean glass
Clean bath
Clean basin
Wash bathmat

DC bedrooms
Make beds
tidy toys away
Washing downstairs
Clean clothes away
Tidy books
Hoover

Halls, stairs and landing
clutter clear
all stacked items to their correct places
Coat rack cleared of extraneous stuff
Ditto shoe rack
Hoover
Dust

Living room
Clutter clear/fling
All wrapping paper away
Clear under sofas
Cups downstairs
Find new homes for new toys
Trampoline outside!
Possibly clean carpets (covered in pen and general grub)
Wash sofa cover
Get stickers unstuck from floor
Bleach radiator (don't ask!)
Dust everywhere

Kitchen
Sweep floor
Mop floor
Clean hob
Dishwasher lots
washing lots
Clean out fridge
Clean and oil worktops
Polish table
Clean large applicances
Clean cooker hood

Ta Da
Write list.....

Sorry Tits

Well I was going to post my to do list, but now I think I'll go for a lie down after seeing that list

Holy shit. Dude that list is like stupid proportions!!!!!

ta da
get up
do all online stuff (mn/twitter/email accounts/news/fb) etc
Play hunt the glasses
Threaten ds with calling police to get him to school
Find out further the extent of the bullying that he is suffering
Get sworn at by random parent at school because i dare shout at ds in school playground and she got startled
Speak to teacher
1 load washing on
find number for opticians and play the wait for them to open game

yeah, but I have to actually do it now. And it is a 2 day list. And does reflect the rubbish state of my flying of late. I think I need a lie down just thinking about it

Sorry to hear about DS tits Hope the teacher was suitably helpful, do they have a good bullying policy?

Oh my goodness! pushme that is EPIC! AND a party to prepare for! You rock!!! Hope it all goes well and you all have fun!

I can't believe it's Friday already (and I still feel full of energy!) There is nothing worse than lack of sleep (my eldest never entertained the idea of sleep or rest until he was 3) but when 'normal' sleep returns, you NEVER take it for granted, and you really feel SO much livelier!

Hope everyone has a good day and a lovely weekend.

My list
done
up, beds made, fed and out
s&s bathroom
washing done and hung up

to do
change all beds
filing
dust
hoover
washing
sort out some clothes that are too small now

have a lovely day x