Flying into September - a new term for the Fledglings

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

Welcome to the September Fledgling Flylady Thread.

This thread is for people with CHAOS (can't have anyone over syndrome). We follow Flylady, the website with a mission!

All are welcome on this thread, experienced flyers and newcomers alike.

We try to follow the commandments of Flylady as we run our homes, loosely anyway. In between there's lots of chat and support as we go through our daily lives. We have coffee, cake, and a naughty corner for those who want to chat but CBA with their house some days. However you follow it, this thread is designed to make your life a little easier and more fun.

For those who are new to the system (and those needing a refresher), there are several aspects to the system:

1. Babysteps. These build a routine. Some are really useful, some are downright odd and some are, quite frankly, there to be ignored. They build a good foundation though.

1. Decluttering. Flylade is evangelical about clutter. In order to feel good about our homes we need to ditch the clutter. Flylady divides the home into zones, week by week and repeating monthly. As well as babysteps, we have to declutter in the relevant zone. Once that is achieved we move on to...

1. Missions. Also in the current zone, these are targetted tasks to tackle one particular aspect. One a day, they vary month to month.

1. Deep Cleaning. Once we have completely decluttered (some of us seem to be stuck permanently on that stage) there are deep cleaning lists for each zone. Achieve that and your house will be spotless!

One last thing - the Flylady website encourages us to subscribe to her emails - one word - DON"T! You will be overwhelmed by them. Instead come to this thread every morning and the relevant links for the day will be there waiting for you except when the thread leader has been on the

A big thank you to Bitchy for last month, and also for doing this Sunday's links as I am off camping.

Steamed just wanted to send sympathy over stroppy strung out daughter syndrome, although luckily my dd's school (French convent origin) seems to be much more low key than the sons' one. I think it just the weight of expectation which wears them out; telling them all the time what model students they are meant to be, to be responsible, hardworking all of that. Very tiring. And the being sociable all day. Sons at least suffer less from needing to be sociable

Whoknows I bow down before you, as someone who still can hardly get the ds2 bike out of the shed without getting tangled up in it and banging my shins. However I did use to bicycle to school everyday so I must have had some sympathy with the machine at one stage. It does make you feel very free...

Just good luck

Toffee well done on kitchen

Tomorrow I am meeting some friends with newbie secondary school children for coffee, I am looking forward to seeing someone...I feel like I've spent years of my life just trudging up and down stairs or up and down pavements being earnest these last two weeks. Desperate for laughter and gossip!

Swan - I'm a bit the same, I spent my student years cycling round a big city and heavy traffic, but it is so long since I've cycled regularly that I'm not at all confident, and am quite wobbly, especially at junctions etc. I'm definitely safest on the pavements with the DCs right now.

Morning all. Struggling to get movig this morning and the house is in CHAOS due to 3 days of leaving at 8 and not getting back until late.

Last night We went to Open Evening with DS to the school I went to and where DF taught for 25 years right up until his death 13 years ago. It was a bittersweet evening. Quite a few of my old teachers/DF's colleagues were still there and it was a real trip down memory lane. Lots of lovely people caught up with, saying how much DC's looked like DF and what a great man he was and got a little emotional stood in DF's science lab. Nearly blubbed when one lovely science teacher who worked with Dad for years introduced DS to someone (who I couldn't remember but clearly knew me....awkward) as DF's grandson as that has never happened before as he died before DC's were born ( bastard cancer). It really threw me and spent the evening blubbing about what could have been. Lovely school and people.

Tonight, the madness doesn't end as I have parents evening until half 6. And tomorrow is DH's birthday and family meal out with his family. It is one of those made crazy weeks.

I have just had the funniest conversation about puberty with ds

Sorry you had such an emotional evening Ellie

I am stupid tired today. last night was too late. I am shattered. Which is a problem as tonight is ds' late training night. Not sure what state ds is in either tbh so will have to see what happens. It might be early nights all around.

Good morning everyone!

Managing to sleep quite a bit better now, so am going to take dd to a group this morning. It's a cm only group so I can sit and do nothing whilst she plays for a couple of hours. :)

Dd also starts preschool tomorrow so a bit worried about that. She's fine but it's me who will fret. :(

I am trying to keep on top of tidying and leaving the cleaning to the cleaner but I must admit even the tidying is leaving me pooped. I am resting though I promise. :)

Happy Thursdays everyone!

Sorry I hadn't refreshed from reading upon waking- Hope you're feeling ok this morning Ellie. I'm sure your father would have been so proud to introduce his grandson too. :)

for your DS Whoknows. DS2 has always been a bit like that, but it is because he is in a permanent daydream rather than ASD. He is slowly getting better, but DS1 who has always been pretty organised seems to be getting worse to make up for it!

Am feeling better this morning, my temperature has gone down and I slept much better. I have completely lost my voice though.

Had a meeting last night about a community project that went on far longer than I expeced, and I ended up missing my Next VIP sale slot Never mind, this means I might have to brave the store on Saturday.

Today's to do list involves catching up with the ironing and cleaning that hasn't been done while I've been ill. But first I have to go to work.

I am afraid today i am drinking bitchy's special brew. There is plenty on the naughty corner bar if you feel the need to join me.

ta da
school run
empty sink into dw
Load sink with stuff to soak before being loaded
ds' duvet into washing machine
folding
pair socks

I am about to deal with the lego on the lounge floor and carry all the trays up to ds' room.

I just want to say good luck with your Flying, but I'll be off as I found that I don't really stick with this

so I'm decluttering instead which means hiding this thread.

but I'm not flouncing so see you around!

xxx

Sorry to hear you had such a bittersweet evening, ellie. How lovely that your Dad's colleagues remember him with such affection.

Bitchy - am longing to know what the conversation about puberty entailed.

NickNacks - I felt excessively tired for ages after having pneumonia, so I'm not surprised the tidying is leaving you feeling so tired. Actually, tidying up exhausts me even when I'm well - it's all that running up and down stairs, putting things back in their proper places that could be avoided if only other family members did it habitually. Glad you are sleeping better.

Jemima - hopefully, your lost voice will inspire lots of sympathy. Hope you feel even better soon. Was your VIP slot on the Next sale? I missed mine too, but at least I saved money by not looking at it.

I have a 'ta da' already:

4am - up with DS1 who had a sore throat, lost his voice and couldn't sleep. He wanted a Strepsil and to go on the computer. Yes to the Strepsil and, er, no to the computer.
Back to bed
Breakfasts
Washing on
Ironing for an hour
Washing up
Tumbledryer on

MIL is coming round this morning, then the cleaner is coming round at 1. Am planning to continue tidying the house and also complete a budget plan for our poorly finances.

Good luck with the decluttering, Zing. There will always be a cushion in the naughty corner for you .

Morning all.

Surrounded by crashing and drilling and banging: construction site two doors down, separate group of workmen digging up the pavement and I have Bob the Roof here plus mate (who is a dead ringer for Dougal from Fr Ted) so I'm hiding Mumsnetting doing office admin.

How disappointing for your ds Nicknacks when he was all geared up for it . I hope his teachers can give him another opportunity for him to prove himself soon.

I'm interested to hear that this is an ASD trait because dd has exactly the same difficulty. She finds it almost impossible to separate out one item from a sea of similar items or find something if it isn't in it's regular place (and a teacher many moons ago did suggest that she might be tested for Aspergers when she was having difficulty over transitions, but it was never pursued because none of her other traits seem to fit ifyswim).

Glad you are catching up on sleep Nicknacks but take it steady won't you? [stern looks over pince nez]

You too Jemima Glad you are feeling better!

Ellie how fab for your ds (albeit bittersweet for you) to experience what a much loved teacher your df was. Good luck with the rest of your crazy wk.

Swan yes, think you are right about the weight of expectations, esp on girls. I'm trying to be as undemanding as possible on dd atm ... . She's going on an overnight school trip next wk so hopefully that will help things 'gel' with the new class + teachers etc. Your earnest trudging is obviously paying rich dividends because your 3 are always doing such interesting things! And top marks to your dd for doing so well with the early starts etc.

So glad everything went well for your ds at the the after-school club Bitchy

Welcome back Saturn!

Not an epic fail at all Stillwearing, you did loads!

Goth what fab Christmas presents!!

Toffee what an amazing ta da list! Can see your kitchen gleaming from here!

Good luck with the panel Just [hides all sharp implements]

Hope you are not too sore this week and recovering well Feetheart

Waves to Blue Engels Blueandwhite Pushme OopsIforgot Jess Zing Trazzles Castle Honu and everyone else!

Body clutter: must go and do something to distract myself from hunger pangs. (Had breakfast at 5.30 am). Have lost 6kg but am a bit unsure about how to keep the scales going in the right direction simply because I've cut my food intake down to such an extent (admittedly from quite a generous starting point!) that I don't see how I can cut it (realistically) much more ifsywim.

PS dh is starting to drive me nuts again now that he has recovered!!

x posts Good luck with the decluttering Zing see you around!

Have just been enveloped in cloud of dust in office billowing out from office chimney which Bob the Roof is cleaning while he is up there (well he's meant to be clearing main flue but someone has forgotten to block off adjoining stacks [anger]]

Bloody hell I can't see the screen!

They don't like it up 'em you know

MIL has just left. That's two hours of my life I will never get back.

Now have just half an hour to tidy up for the cleaner.

SC's to do list - dust!

Done
Morning routines
Dd to school
Check up with nurse
Shopping
Reorgainise baking cupboard
Got home to find Dh working (stuff EVERYWHERE), but have got him to organise some of his stuff,

Plant to slob/MN until he goes to the Post Office
Dd going to friend's after school

I'm trying my best to get back into the flying. Having epilepsy and dyspraxia (which is on the autism spectrum) I really need the structure and routine that flylady provides.

Done:
Washing done and on the line - closely watching the weather!
Finances - trying to reduce the overdraft.
brought some cheap shares - thanks to Dad's money
Changed ds's bedding and remade the bed.
Cleared up the kitchen
Tided main bedroom. Including throwing out old baby towels dd9 and ds7 haven't used for ages. Still have the muslin clothes though really useful if the kids are feeling sick.

Sorry my brain can't remember all the posts but Steamedcabbage hope the dust clears soon.

To do
Starting a new 'women in history' course. Luckily held right next to the school as it finishes at same time as school finishes.
PTA meeting hopefully lots of new mums joining.

Had better get moving as need to leave soon.
Have a good day everyone

ta da
school run
empty sink into dw
Load sink with stuff to soak before being loaded
ds' duvet into washing machine
folding
pair socks
internet stuff
Dentist
sort out stuff with ex
letter for school
chuck water over floor and have to clear it up
get lost in mn/fb
transport all lego out of lounge
finish loading dw and put on to run
ds' bedding on to wash
prep tea
To lists for tomo and weekend
Sort out calendar for next month.
find pictures for ds for him as promised.

I am feeling really cold today. Not great really. guess the only solution is to get cracking and keep going. Lunch break is over.

Bugger. Did a long reply to everyone, then lost it . Can't do it all over again, so will just feebly wave at you all and welcome Shannara.

Spent the afternoon tidying up each room while the cleaner cleaned. She is lovely, so we had a good chat whilst we worked. Also did another load of washing and traipsed up and downstairs in response to plaintive cries from the invalids. Am exhausted. About to spend some time going through our finances now, as this involves sitting down .

Poor you Toffee [proffers Bitchy's extra strong brew] Hope you can rest and avoid going down with it yourself

Ha Goth! Guess I can't avoid it any longer

Bitchy surprisingly fresh here today too

Welcome Shannaratiger! History course sounds fab

Dusty wing flaps to everyone else

Managed a slightly feeble Ta Da list today:

Washed dishes
2 loads of washing washed, dried, ironed and put away
Wiped around kitchen
Swept kitchen floor
Wiped around bathroom and toilets
Tidied up living room

But at least I got stuff done. And am starting to feel almost human again. Also got the application form for a promotion at work .

Getting an early night tonight as have to leave the house at 7:15am tomorrow to go on a course.

Evening all,

Well, feel like I have just been running on the spot today, busy at work and at home. Done quite a bit of tidying but the DCs make a mess as fast as I can tidy it. The DCs are driving me a bit mad at the moment, they seem to break into a massive argument every 5 minutes (or whenever they enter the same room) it is very wearing. DS dropped a bowl on DD's foot while unloading the DW today, he was rushing to do it as fast as he could and I had told him about three times to slow down, would he listen? Grrr.

Anyway, they are off to bed now, so I can tackle the massive ironing pile and catch up with a bit of telly.

Shannara - welcome to the thread. I'mnot aware of any of th other adults on her having ASD or similar, but quite a lot of us have ASD DCs, or those with traits (including my DS) and the routine that Flylady provides certainly helps in providing family life with some much needed structure. The course sounds interesting, you'll have to let us know more about that.

SC - I'm not sure the thing with not being able to find things unless they are where they were left is totally an ASD thing (or just a 9 year old thing, according to one of my friends), this is a problem I do find with DS, whether some of his behaviours are directly part of the ASD, or co-morbid with it (he also has a diagnosis of coordination difficulties), or just odd things that 9 year olds do anyway, as he is my oldest I don't have direct experience. He definitely has a few problems with spatial awareness and organisation.

toffee, bitchy, SC, whoknows and all - thanks you guys! ?