Feisty Fledgling Flyers flutter through Feb with flair, finesse, flaws, failures, fortitude, feedback, fiascos, fabulousness, friendship and fun!

[sanschocolat]

[The fiascos are all mine btw !!]

And just for Just, February is the new January that was the new January before

If you are struggling 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 wine and cake 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 something 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!

It’s up to you, but 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!

Points to keep in mind:
(1)No perfectionism allowed - this is harder than you would imagine
(2)You are never behind just start where you are and anything you do is progress.
(3) It didn't get into a mess overnight, it won't get tidy over night - accept it will take time to get on top of things and you will be happier.

Humungous thanks to Bitchy for steering us through the hectic January thread and for the wise three-line mantra above.

All regulars, lurkers and newcomers welcome!!

"Today I have achieved a lot, I had to check myself that i wasnt actually pregnant and that this was nesting hmm. But it's never enough is it the house just takes and takes."

This has made me cackle 101things a lot!!! Keep going!! You are doing fantastically well!!!

Blimey Silly that all sound rather scary and precarious! Poor you! Just what you don't need atm. Hope you can get it reinforced quickly. [Proffers calming ]

101things???? - sorry - meant thinking101

[you see, I have decluttering on the brain ]

This weather is a fucking nightmare. I have discovered tonight that not only do i need an emergency set of supplies in the car for snow, but also a list of hotels and supplies for wind.

On a plus note we made it home safely and whilst ds is just chilling out after the traumas of having to drive past a car that had been flattened by a lorry lucky people here. cars have been flattened, roofs are off, houses damaged, and a large no of people have no electricity. tbh I am counting myself lucky. The house is ok and we have heat and light. And whilst sharing a blow up matress with ds is not my idea of fun, we are ok. Do not expect much flying tomo. The first of the house is up at 6am and ds in his get up stupid amounts during the night thing.

All i want is a good night's sleep. Is that possible? pretty please?

Ta Da

• Food bought for the next few days
• Did all DD's ironing whilst watching Mr Selfridge
• Dry washing and ironing put away
• DD to swim training
• Quiet evening with DD (as DH out at works thing)
• D/W emptied
• Pots washed and sink shined

Sorry to hear all people's weather worries. It's been wet and windy here - with some localised flooding in a couple of the villages - but as long as we choose the right road getting out is still doable

Regardless of the state of houses, glad that everyone is safe this morning. Hope you managed some sleep Bitchy

done
three children in school
drove dd
drove ds1 to Running Club for 7.45. cue disaster over wrong shoes, and he said we hadn't woken him up early enough! Oh dear

situation with ds2 at school is not so good; ds2 has started singing loudly in the corridors and this is causing problems for ds1 (and of course ds2, as he is a target when he does this) However I think it is related to feeling a bit at a loose end, so I've emailed teacher to ask if there is any buddying system. I slightly doubt it, there are so many clubs that that is supposed to tackle the socialising problem. Ds2 is learning touchtyping and he is finding it difficult, and I think he is beginning to yearn for more interaction at break times (rather than always touchtyping or literacy activities), hence the singing as he wanders around

I used to sing in the corridors hopefully not as loudly and tunelessly as ds2,

today
need to read bookclub book by Zweig
worktops
recycling
get warm after driving, my hands are frozen
lie down
go to sleep
shake out carpet
keep on top of utility which is horrid again
tidy my clothes up
go to sleep, go to sleep, feel so tired after not so earlyish start of 7.00am

ta da
usual morning routine, one school run
split morning start today, so another school run to go. (very annoying too, as I really can't get to work on something I really needed to get done today, as I have to leave in an hour or so to take another DC to school late)

to do
washing up
laundry
sweep and mop floor (tonight after DCs in bed)
finish up decluttering kitchen and dining room - have made a lot of progress, don't want to stop until it's all done

oh, and coffee.... lots of coffee

Morning

Sorry for those having weather problems. It all seems a bit helpless when you see it on tv as they say how little has been done and it will be weeks before it recedes.

perhaps he is happy Swan ds sings when he is happy and is oblivous to the fact he is doing it.

Didn't wake up until gone 11am. but does me i currently have ds home from school.

Bitchy yes, ds2 sings when he is happy, and so do I, but it is a form of stimming when he does it in public.

School have kindly emailed me to say they are sending ds2 to Nurture Group to play boardgames/chat and cutting down on the touchtyping!!!

done
tidied kitchen
dw
rubbish
wiped table
friend for coffee
exercise
laundry upstairs

now Book Club book. Desire to sleep has receded.

Very glad everyone's ok after yesterdays battering and sympathies to those with damage.

Am sitting in out patients trying to plan what I need to do for the rest of the day, but have developed total brain freeze.

Hi everyone

You will find I dip in now and again and will post useful info if I can. Please forgive me if I dont do personals all the time - I find it a bit difficult to keep up.

I am too tired to do housework.

Eustacia, don't worry most of us struggle to keep up. I always worry that someone will take it wrongly that I've done a few personals but not them. It's all misplaced trained guilt.

SC I have to walk away from ds frequently, for the sanity of both of us.
I quite often have to walk away from friend too.

Last night my buttons got over pushed by all and I snapped at the failure to consider my needs at all, while demanding hers were fully met yet again, then I saw just how large and bright the moon was, even though it isn't full yet and thought hmm...

Hope today's meeting went OK, and tbh I'm biting my tongue over your dd's school and the pressure placed on all, but I doubt there's a parenting fail at the bottom of it all. Really.

Just doing a mini up date to keep myself going:

Done
Laundry 1 in.
DC's and washed dressed, ears and nails done too.
Brkfats/School run
Phonecall to DM
Tesco shop away
Laundry 1 hung, Laundry 2 in (DD's bedding)
Lunch

Bit of a slow start really, need to crack on and go turbo

Kitchen To do:-I'm challennging myself to do this in an hour as they are small jobs

Huge pile of clutter to sort through
Put box in garage
Tidy DD's toys in (boxes to buy?)
Clean patio doors/kitchen window
Wipe down and polish table/chairs
Wipe over all door fronts/splashback/tiles
Declutter window sill/top of fridge
Mop floor

Eustacia - don't worry, although there a lot of regulars on here I think every single one of us dips in and out to some extent, sometimes just too busy, sometimes other stuff on your mind and don't feel like chatting, it's fine. I have spells of doing lots of personals, then, like recently, hardly any, but I do try and scan through and keep up.

Just - hope your brain unfreezes soon.

I have just done a thorough clean of the DCs bedroom, it was very untidy, so most of the time was spent clearing rather than cleaning, and I now have a big box of stuff to redistribute round the house. It is rather depressing how much time one spends simply moving stuff round and around the house. Off to get my hair cut in a minute.

Just a quick dash in to see what everyone is up to. Very little Flying to report here . Kitchen sorted. Swished and swiped in bathroom. One load of washing on. That's it.

I like the idea that you and DS2 may have a genetic predisposition to singing in school corridors, Swan .

And also smiled at the reference to the full moon, Just. It has a lot to answer for.

No time for any more personals, as have to read and run really, but well done on the Flying and all of those coping with the dreadful weather.

Managed to get DS2 to school for his last day before half term. He was very unhappy about going, so I will be relieved when the holidays start.

DS1 said he'd go in because they were doing something fun at the learning centre this morning. When it came to the moment to go, he just couldn't.

They will be sending work home for him to do from after half term. No teaching provided though. So guess who's going to be supervising the work...

Just off to meet a friend for tea, then picking up DS2 and friend. Will try to fit in my OU homework whilst they are busy playing Lego .

A list of issues that dd has is not a criticism of parenting (although it can feel that way) it is the issues that the school are seeing that they think she needs supporting in. It is hard because we want our kids to be perfect because we have done everything we can. But it doesn't work like that and if i looked at it that way i would drive myself crazy. Someone asked me recently how i coped with what i cope with from ds when he has a melt down. i am sure Just will give you a similar answer, this is just normal for my life, i don't know anything else and if i tried to live another way it wouldn't be possible to function. We do the best we can and sometimes children need extra support from outside agencies despite this. Kids a re tricky beasts SC rest assured this is not the school criticising your parenting but trying to support you to helping DD get the issues that need resolving through the councillor sorted.

I have no ability to give a shit to function.

ta da
deep condition hair
patch test ready for dying at weekend
make a list of stuff that needs doing before mon eve

Sufficating in clutter form my mini update list I have only sorted through piles and assigned it a box for charity. storage, garage or rubbish.

1.5 hours so much for doing the whole list in 1 hour [foolish] - i think DD's stiner of a nappy has gone to brain. Ive had to put it outside and open the window.

thought of people commng tomorrow is still scary.

Waves to all!

Just diving in and out in between school run, snack, tennis, supper prep after a day of dashing about to errands and appts. Need to help dh with admin work later too.

Bitchy thanks for your support Probably am being mahoosively defensive over these issues and am very happy to admit that there is room for improvement in my parenting (am not very patient, can be too negative/anxious myself, never entirely sure if I am being too strict or too lenient for example lets face it don't know what the- heck I am doing half the time ) so very open to advice/change. But with respect, tis not as simple as 'school is right' end of. (And I speak as one whose default position is normally to wholeheartedly support teachers/school and head.) There are lots of other (mainly cultural) factors involved such as rigorous, pressured, dry, educational style with constant testing and observation/coaching; being educated in two langs other than native lang, very small classes (which limit friendship opps) etc. So just trying to get school to see that there may be causal link; but they refuse to even entertain that idea atm! Which is frustrating!

Glimmer of hope at school has indeed been (hopefully temporarily) snuffed out. Too angry for flying. Trying to lobby the world and his wife but the boys are fighting.

For more see my blog here

Bitchy - goodness, I can relate to all that. Wise words indeed.

thinking - DH said DS1 once emptied the queue at the supermarket checkout because the smell from his nappy was so bad . Sorry you are drowning in clutter. I always end up slinging everything into bin bags and hiding them in cupboards before visitors arrive.

SC - hope all went well today.

Am so relieved it's now half term. Had an interesting talk with a friend today. She said DS2's teacher is very stressy and her DD used to be in tears every day before lessons with her. I think that is why DS2 is so unhappy. Will have a discussion with his teacher next term (as in "DS2 is unhappy at school. Can you think of any ways school could help him?" your early retirement might be a good idea ).

Have come out in a cold sore to add to my spots. Am not a pretty sight. Thank goodness for the wonders of make up.

Feeling really, really bored at the prospect of tackling the kitchen yet again. I cleaned and tidied it this morning, but now it's covered in dirty plates. DH is 'off duty' because he's still suffering from having a tooth taken out yesterday, so washing up is down to me, it seems. Will just have to grit my teeth and at least I still have a full set, mwahaha and get down to it.

SC ime school is rarely right and rarely sees the connections and issues. The fact that they have highlighted a few areas which they see is an issue means only that they are not entirely head in sand about the situation only. It just means that you are not some over protective mum when you see the councillor ie issues in more then one environment. Admittedly they are probably different issues but still there is nothing worse then speaking to a specialist going we have major problems and everyone else oh they are the perfect child

I have hit my bedroom majorly and have the olympics on killing time until i have to go face the teachers at ds' school

Other cat has thrown up now. We're not having a good cat week.

done
dropped ds2 at Speech night
shopped for groceries
waited a long cold time at the Tube for ds2, but unfortunately got the time wrong and missed him, and dd had my phone in her school bag by accident so no-one could ring me - a cold is developing!!

babysitter is about to turn up and I don't want her to see the feathers all over the utility floor (cat?) or in fact any part of this hovel house. But I must be brave. Really it is not so serious, being embarrassesd to have a 17 year old in my house because it is untidy..

dh seems to have developed that vertigo thingy which makes you feel sick and dizzy but has heroically gone to Speech Night, because ds2 is ACTUALLY getting a prize for Performance/Arts.

I have read Stephan Zweig The Postmistress. Brilliant but depressing. Very depressing.

Ds2 won't answer any questions about school, so I have no idea how it went today, but he seems chipper, as usual until there is a disaster I asked him if he liked Nurture Group and he said in a fake Texan accent that he did whatever that means.

Ds1 and I were singing loudly in the car on the way to school, and I pointed out to Ds1 that he too liked singing loudly, so why was he so cross with ds2 for imititating him?

Toffee thank goodness it is half term. Although I suspect children will be like zombies recovering from virus attack. Pit of anxiety in my stomach is keeping me on Mumsnet...I really have to face up the the dreaded babysitter in a moment.

I did the kitchen. Put R4 on to help me through the boredom threshold.

Ds2 had a friend round after school. When the friend's mum arrived, they were sitting quietly, drawing together, like little angels. Isn't it lovely when things go right? (It was pure luck, I have to say. I didn't play any part in it).

Sorry your DH has the vertigo thing, Swan. My DH gets it when he has a virus and it's miserable. The dr gave him anti-seasickness tablets once - they worked. Hope you have a good night out.

WhoKnows - oh dear. Sorry about the cat. It's like having more children.

Bitchy - sorry you have a meeting at school tonight. Best of luck.