Remember, remember to Fly through November, but Fledglings will chatter a lot

[BlueEyeshadow]

If you are strugging with C.H.A.O.S. (can't have anyone over syndrome) and S.T.U.F.F. (something that undermines family fun) then this is the thread where we (loosely) follow the step-by-step Flylady housekeeping system (in our own, unique, relaxed style) with lots of chat, support and and along the way.

This little-and-often system is designed so that you can follow a series of steps and routines each day (which gradually become second nature) in zones of the house which are designated weekly; defining and minimising housework - which in theory should leave you with loads more time to do someting more interesting instead!

At the same time it is intended to reduce that panicky "rabbit in headlights" feeling when you are overwhelmed and everything needs doing all at once. No problem if you miss a day or two; just jump right back in and it will all come around next month again!

We advise not signing up to receive the Flylady e-mails as you will be inundated! All the information you need will be linked here on a daily basis.

From the first of the month, we will be 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.]

More info here on getting started and Flying lessons. Here's the launch pad for more experienced fledglings. Don't be put off by the barf-tastic language of the site - the underlying system is sound!

Humungous thanks to SlimChance for leading us through October and such a copy-and-pasteable OP....

All welcome!!

done
filled a Christmas shoebox the dreaded Operation Xmas Child ones for ds1 (three line whip from school to bring it in) Ds showed no interest
made rice pudding
reconfigured computer - dd reloaded everything - she is truly amazing
what else? washing

very very pleased with myself for putting all the Xmas stuff in a large hamper in my room in January, so I can rifle in it for lists and odd rolls of paper at my leisure

No...nothing else at all to report except a apricot teacake which has been eaten by greedy people. Boys went to a football match with their Dad. Dd made another cake. Lots of washing up - um..

Noooo! You can't put Christmas decorations up in the first week of November!!

Hope the party goes well, Toffee and thanks for the support.

Swan All I know is academy status wouldn't be right for our school right now. Feel so powerless, but blog post is heading for 900 views already!

Well done Iam - sounds like top flying!

Hope you enjoyed your quiet morning, Ellie.

Lovely news, NickNacks.

**
No missions again. Sunday is renew your spirit day.

Babystep 10 is the power of 15 minutes - really vital one.

**

Big waves all round. Night.

I've had enough! I am sitting here crying over something that, I feel, was not caused by me. Oh no wait. It was. I reminded DH that he's been a bit lax at doing the washing up one night a week like he promised!!!! He stormed upstairs at @7pm in a strop and I haven't seen him since. I obviously have got above my station and need to put my maid's apron back on permanently! Also need to remember that when HE washes up after HE bakes I should be grateful.

Anyway back to my Ta-Das

• Washing load on and hung to dry
• 10mins ironing
• Played scrabble with DD
• Swept kitchen floor
• Hung out upstairs window to see some fireworks up the road!
• Put a box of meccano away
• Washed pots and shined sink
• Gathered all the bits we need tomorrow as DD has her second swimming gala

Toffee - I am sure the party will go wonderfully
Alice - Happy Birthday
Blue - read your open letter but no nothing about Academies either but hope you all get listened too

Dizzy . Housework and the division thereof seems to be a universal problem .

Toffee - good luck for tomorrow. DD's sniffles / coughing are gradually getting better, I took her to the Dr in the end about a week ago (she had come out in eczema too, although we were sure that wasn't cat related but a sweat rash from wearing a nylon dress to a sweaty school disco). Dr agreed that it was unlikely to be cat related and more likely just a persistent cold, her lungs were clear and she has definitely improved this week. Cats are very settled now and have started going outdoors the last few days.

Alice - Happy Birthday!

I went up to the loft today to see how much wrapping paper and cards were left from last year, need to do the same with stamps, I always buy far too many. Other than that and two loads of washing it was a pretty lazy day. Oh and I made the DCs come and do the weekly food shop with me.

for Dizzy and some to face the day. I agree with WhoKnows that this is a universal problem. I hope you and DH manage to have an amicable talk about it today (and he says sorry

But triangle sandwiches taste SOOOO much better, Toffee !!!! Good luck with the party.

for yesterday's birthday girl! Sorry, I wasn't around yesterday.

DD2's birthday today! It must be the season for them.

Only flapping through......busy, busy, busy. Have a good weekend everyone.......

Blue Dh has explained a bit about academies to me. I now understand why dd's curriculum is so unlike dses - they do this thing called Integrated Learning which is cross curricular as well as the core subjects[eureka moment] I feel like there is a secret code to the way these schools are run and have not yet cracked it. Admittedly dd enjoys her curriculum atm.
[surveys ds2's more traditional 8 pieces of homework from now until Friday with despair All very interesting but will be accompanied with wails and banging of heads.

We were just about to start the homework today when I suddenly remembered ds2 had Drama class I must say he was delighted to escape from the kitchen table. Dh has taken him.
Dd has gone off to Mass by herself to altar serve, and ds2 after a lot of grunting and hiding his scowl under his matted fringe had escaped from duties by going off on a walk to nearest park dvd shop

It is the most beautiful day, at least with my glasses off, just don't feel at all organised - what should I do first?? and I don't think things are going to improve by lunchtime...

Dizzy I asked dh if we could sit down with children and discuss "helping" as he was getting very agitated by their refusal to muck in ad hoc, things like laying table, laundry etc - very much dependent on their being in a good or bad mood rather than just a habit or expectation - leading to loads of rows. He just screamed he was too tired to discuss it and why were they so unhelpful...aargh, vicious circle. I think the problem is they are quite tired from school and feel like they are being hassled from all sides, so we need to change their approach to "helping" - needs to be less chore, more involvement.
nicknacks you put me to shame on this one I know, as you have already cracked it. and whoknows

Just popping in quick catch up moan

Have been feeling fairly crap all week, been able to a manage meals etc, but tending to fall asleep in the afternoon. And snore all night Ha! Revenge is sweet DH
Anyway DD, gets home from school, and after about an hour tells me it hurts when she goes for a wee. When I ask how long she's felt like that, she said "since the day before yesterday" So I ring the surgery and they say wiring her straight down, which was great, but poor little mite was in years by the time we got there. She had to give a sample, luckily they gave her a pot. Slight digression, when she was about 7 she had to give a sample at a previous doctors and they only gave her a tube, I got a very wet hand!
So she's got a bad urine infection, but has antibiotics, and is picking up So yesterday we make sure she is drinking regularly (can be an issue) and everything is going well. We're forecast good weather for today, so I wash 2 loads laundry, so I'm already to go.
At get woken at 6:30 this morning by DD who has wet the bed. She's apologetic, and has dragged her quilt, pillows off etc. I told her not to worry and get her in clean night clothes. Thank god I checked the mattress, IT'S SOAKED, so there I am at 6:30 loading the washer.

I've done another 2 loads, and DH is trying to dry her mattress.

I've also managed to do Sunday dinner (with braised red cabbage) which went down really well. DH came to dry up like a lamb, no grumbling at all which makes a change

Time for my nap now I think. Thanks for letting me ramble.

swan I grew up watching my mum doing everything, especially with regard to us kids. It dawned on me one day as I watched my mum make my 12yr old brother his breakfast and he moaned that she hadn't put enough milk in..... I vowed never to be that woman. And although dh isnt naturally tidy (neither am I) he does do his fair share of 'wife work '.

So much of it has been gradually added since they were toddlers and I taught them to tidy the toys into the correct boxes, they are now 9 and 7 and have regular plus extras they can earn screen time for.

Each morning they empty the dishwasher (they have they're own rack to do).

On a wed after school they take dustbins out (one each) and Thursday bring them back in.

On a Sunday evening they put their clean clothes away, pack kits for the week and lay out uniforms.

Ds1 has to peel veg for dinner and DS 2 dustpans under the dinner table after eating. They also have 'dinner jobs' which we shout them to do just before dishing up. Dd is 3 so she lays the mats out, ds2 the cutlery and ds1 makes the drinks.

They can have half hour of iPad/laptop time or 'earn' more time by doing little chores which will be whatever I need doing at the time.

Their bedrooms must be tidy on a Tuesday evening ready for the cleaner on a Wednesday.

I realise I sound like a tyrant but it keeps the cogs of the household running and my sons are very domesticated. I know some people don't believe in children doing chores but I'm not one of them :)

Sorry their not they're.

Not like a tyrant at all, very reasonable and sensible!!

I remember being very helpful at Ds1's age, but a bit downtrodden! I think I used to make the supper most nights but was v untidy! And also had an OCD obsession about washing my own clothes as I thought the washing machine didn't rinse properly

Dd is tidying her room atm, after being given a 5 point list to tick off. I've had enough of tidying her room. She needs to keep on top of it or ELSE [bares teeth]

Now I need to tackle the boys; quite frankly they are better off doing proper chores as tidying means Zilch to them.

Evening all.

Feeling too tired and dispirited for chatting tonight so will dump links and run...

Babystep 11 is all about inspirational quotes.

The mission is to clean up high in the bathroom and do a 5 min room rescue in the spare room.

We try and do similar to Nick, but have a bad habit of letting it all slip as soon as something like a school holiday messes up the routine. One of them is supposed to unlaod the DW every day, but some days it goes on during the day and sometimes in the evening so it is not easy to make it a regular time. The other one does the handwashing up in the evening, the next week they swap round. They put their clean clothes away on a Sunday too but I am always having to nag about putting dirty ones in the basket. They also get it out the night before for the next day, and unpack their swimming bags / sports kits for washing. Oh and they feed the cats. I am still making their breakfast as it is so much easier to do it and call them through than have the two of them underfoot in a small kitchen in the morning, DS does do his sometimes but DD tends to only emerge from her bed when it's on the table.

Blue - sorry you are feeling down,

Goth - hope DD gets better quickly
Toffee - hope the party went well.

We survived Remembrance Parade, it was a real battle getting everyone out of the house on time, but the weather was beautiful and the service moving, the DCs made me proud marching along with the Cubs and Brownies. Then home for lunch and sweeping leaves from the garden and an afternoon of mooching around. Watched one of the cats having her first encounter with next doors cats over territory, which was quite tense, a lot of staring and prowling and chasing and screeching. Hope they can all rub along together eventually. Cleared the ironing pile this afternoon while watching The Indian Doctor, recorded during the week, did anyone else watch it?

I'm slowly cracking it with the children. I have always tried to get them to help me do things so I show them rather than giving them vague instructions like tidy your room ill tell them to make sure their floor is clear (ready for hoovering) or the desk/dressing table only has on it what should be.

I started by laying the kitchen table the night before with cereal bowls etc then having the breakfast cereals in canisters on the worktoo. 12 months on they are completely capable if getting their own breakfast. They also have to out all their own dirty dishes in the dishwasher but they never have to wash up or clear anyone else's places.

Ds is suspected aspergers so a strict routine really helps him

My big big problem is ds hiding dirty clothes instead if putting them in the wash basket.

Pictures - my DS is Aspergers too, that's why we are struggling with the DW needing emptying at different times on different days. It's supposed to go on every evening but some days I do baking or cooking during the day and fill it up / put it on before the evening meal and we get all out of synch for a few days afterwards.

Sorry for my emotional outburst. I think I'm at that hormonal time of the month!

After virtually not talking all day at the gala we had a bit of a discussion when we got home. It seems the strop was not about the washing up, but because I called him selfish for making me wait to watch Strictly whilst the football was on! (He had already watched rugby all day). It didn't seem to matter that it's only 1 of 2 programmes (the other being GBBO) that I like to see in "real time". As it is I have to sit through his programmes every evening whilst mine get Sky+ed

I told him that I am envious of my sister's whose OH's both seem to have no trouble in helping out in the house. His response was that we are different from them as they all work full time and I am home all day!! He then promised that he would do the washing up as promised (he washed few bits tonight), and try and pick up after himself, and he even let me watch a few TV things tonight instead of mindless flicking of things he isn't interested in! As it's been in the past, I predict he will do bits and pieces for the next few weeks and then it will all peter out.

DD likes to wash the kitchen floor - which I let her do - but she doesn't really have regular chores. I think it's time to get some in place especially as when asked why she was just brushing cake crumbs onto the carpet (and not putting them back on her plate) she replied with "Mum is blitzing the house tomorrow". I did have to giggle as it is true that that's my Monday job!

On a brighter front she won both her heats at the gala and even knocked 4 seconds off her time in the 100m IM . Makes all that sitting around on poolside worth it.

Goth - my DD regularly complains of "sore bits", and it is due to a combination of not drinking enough (a sin I am guilty of too) and then not wiping properly. A few days of Sudocrem and extra drinks usually brings it under control but we have had an episode of seeing the emergency doctor over Xmas as she had developed cystitis. Hope she feels better soon.

Will be back tomorrow with my Apres-Blitz list. Night all x

Blue and Dizzy sorry you feel so dispirited. I bet he just doesn't realise these things matter to you, even when you say they do. The old story
toffee hope party is now OVER and you are sleeping the peace of the just (or whatever the phrase is)

Whoknows lots of territory clashes here - I think they all settle down eventually. Our cats are so sweet atm. The most neurotic (and bravest incidentally when outside) has taken to curling on dd's bed hopefully at 9pm(we always put her in the kitchen at night though) - I think it might the electric blanket!

We've all been watching Downton, after a not very successful "family meeting" to discuss chores. Children said they wanted a chart, as they didn't like being asked to do things "all the time" with no warning! Dh was very unhelpful and critical - I must say he has reacted very badly to Family Therapy, and that would be a charitable way of putting it... as he now as an allergy to all well meaning "therapeutic" conversations... Oh well, Downton has cured all ills and everyone is happily asleep after much laughter.

I was sitting watching Downton, and then saw my row of "enormous" children on the sofa and felt very proud.

I've been reading the Downton thread on Telly Addicts, and if you are downspirited it is hilarious

done
enormous amounts of laundry
simple supper
washing up
Geography homework
picked up ds2 from drama
argued over tidying quite productively!

Dizzy and you should be proud of the swimming success! Wow!

Hey y'all
Been gone too l

And she does
It again !! Fat fingers !!
Sorry for the absence hope y'all are well
My house is a tip for a change
Trying to do little by little this morning
Wish me luck !!
Hugs everyone

hate paperwork. that is all.

Nothing like getting half way round the supermarket and then realising you've left your cards at home and have no cash!

Luckily DH was at home (and probably won't let me forget it in a hurry! )

Thanks for the birthday wishes. I had a lovely day and didn't do any extraordinary cleaning. Just what I could get by with. DD and SIL took us out for a lovely meal - it was so nice not to have to cook and clean up afterwards.

I've gotten right back into things today - although after much mental debate, I cancelled the appointment for this morning for fixing DS2's glasses. He has to go in to get his eyes checked in two weeks anyway, and he actually can see okay without them. The eye clinic initially said he could go without them for a couple weeks without a problem anyway when I first talked to them, so I figure why stress myself out over this?? He's in reception, not doing a bunch of book work or anything. (god, that just sounds horrible on my part, but honestly, he's fine for a short time)

ta da
-usual morning routine, school runs
-strip beds, bring laundry down from upstairs
-fold and put away clothing from last night's laundry
-two loads of laundry washed and dried
-washing up
-tidy up kitchen, wipe down cabinet fronts
-bake cookies
-put together information to post to DS's paediatrician that was requested
-tidy up bedroom
-vacuum living room and hallway
-take all toys upstairs to DCs rooms
-check bank
-go over budget
-check gas and electric meters (still getting used to prepay and want to keep track of how much we're using, so checking them daily for awhile)
-update Christmas list

to do
-sweep kitchen
-move reading chair upstairs to bedroom to make room in living room for Christmas tree (eeeek )
-check mealplan for week
-organise my mother's Christmas present (needs to be ordered online and still haven't completely chosen it)
-work on handmade Christmas cards/envelopes
-look up Nigella chocolate Christmas cake recipe (really want to try this)

At the moment, I'm having a short break, drinking a coffee and listening to Christmas carols with a lovely candle wafting Christmas-sy scents all over the house. I love Christmas.

I'm going to add "look up new cookie recipes" or "dig out Christmas cookie recipes" to my list of "to do" stuff. The boys would be happy if I only ever made oatmeal raisin cookies, as they are their favourites. But I would like a bit of variety, especially before Christmas.

Feeling a bit green around the gills this morning. Either it's the porridge,lemsip,orange juice I had for breakfast, or the fact I got up at 6am to try and get on top the housework/paperwork that I have to do today.

Ta Da.
Morning routine
4 packed lunches
4 boys to school
Deliver 1 packed lunch that was forgotten.
Mission - bathroom vents. Main bathroom and en suite.
Finished tonight programme.
General tidy up 15 minute.
Cleaned Kitchen.

To do
Book Rock Climbing for 28 Cubs, write up risk assessment.
Starbucks
Shoot to shops for essentials (and not get side tracked by goodies)
Dinner
Cubs
Ironing
Sort Rugby kits for 2 of my boys representing their school in an inter-school match!!

The swimming party yesterday wasn't half as bad as I thought, as the birthday boy mum, arranged to give most of the boys a lift so there was not many parents I knew