July 2014: fledglings follow Flylady's tuition (don't forget your pamper mission)

[ToffeeWhirl]

A big thank you to slackcabbage for superb thread leadership throughout June, as well as a great intro which I am going to shamelessly borrow from now.

Struggling with C.H.A.O.S. (can't have anyone over syndrome) and S.T.U.F.F. (something that undermines family fun)? In that case, you need Flylady.

Flylady is a system for managing housework. Starting with babysteps, it builds up into a routine which becomes second nature. In theory, once you are used to the system, you will have a tidy house you are not embarrassed by and plenty of time to get on with more interesting things.

Flylady banishes the panicky "rabbit in headlights" feeling when you are overwhelmed and everything needs doing all at once. If you fall off the Flylady bandwagon, it’s no problem: you just jump back in where you are and carry on.

Don't sign up for the Flylady emails as you will be inundated! All the information you need will be linked here on this thread on a daily basis.

From the first of the month, Flylady's steps and routines will be listed here on this thread.

Flylady uses a three-pronged approach (dependent on the stage everyone is at):

1. start or repeat baby steps

1. repeat baby steps + do 15 mins a day decluttering in the current zone

1. reinforce babysteps and do daily missions if you have finished decluttering.

(And detailed deep cleaning in each zone for those who have made real progress – not sure if anyone has reached this pinnacle yet…? I certainly haven’t).

More info here on getting started (but ignore step one!) and Flying lessons. Here's the launch pad for more experienced fledglings.

Try to ignore Flylady’s purple prose (hard, I know) - the underlying system is sound!

Three key points to keep in mind:

1. No perfectionism allowed - this is harder than you would imagine.

1. You are never behind - just start where you are and anything you do is progress.

1. It didn't get into a mess overnight, it won't get tidy overnight - accept it will take time to get on top of things and you will be happier.

If you are new, then trying to spend 15 mins decluttering and doing the babysteps is the most you should expect of yourself. Lots of us here like posting our ‘to do’ or ‘ta da’ lists and they can look quite scary. Don’t be put off.

If all else fails, try the power of three – just pick three things that most need doing and focus on those.

And if you have visitors coming over this afternoon and need a quick fix NOW, try Flylady's crisis clean.

We all know each other pretty well on this thread and some of us have been around for a long time, but all lurkers, oldies and newcomers are very welcome!

alright, I've scrubbed the bottom of the oven out for the most part, and cleaned part of the filthy glass door. sigh. Too tired to keep going on it for now, but will work again on it later in the week. I think the seal needs to be replaced, and I'm leaning towards buying a new one. hahahaha (we'll see how the budget takes that hit) Maybe this autumn. Then I can pick one that I like, instead of the one stbx chose.

Eyelet - there’s no cure for separation anxiety except time, as far as I know. It will pass. I remember a little DS1 wailing inconsolably when I went to the loo for five minutes and left him with a friend downstairs. Horrible. Good luck with your filing today.

Bitchy - hope you managed some sleep in the end.

SC - amazing how many steps you have done just from household chores. Hope you find the rabbit file ok today.

hyperhops - oh, that’s tough about being on call. Not sure I would get through the day without a nap if I was you. Could you just limit yourself to 20 minutes?

Alice - sorry you are feeling so up and down. Not surprising really, as seeing your STBX must have stirred up a lot of feelings. Hope there are more ups than downs today.

Engels - hope you get a quiet, restful day. Roast lamb sounds delicious.

DS1 slept with me last night and he seems a bit calmer this morning, though far from happy. At least he's not begging to go home or ringing DH up anymore. He shouted at DS2 for playing a noisy game earlier and I told DS2 that he had to be quiet or go upstairs, so he stomped off. It's hard for him to understand why I took DS1's side, but it's not worth triggering anymore anxiety.

DS2 keeps asking to go back to the beach, but it's raining. He doesn't care, but I do. I was actually cold on the beach yesterday. Hopefully, it'll brighten up later. I've been keeping him busy so far today by cutting up newspapers to make collages.

Well done on doing the oven, Alice. That's one job I ignore until the oven starts setting off our smoke alarms .

lost - well done on keeping up with the babysteps so far. Playdough is a wonderful distraction for little ones. In fact, I still get it out for DS2 (8) sometimes if I want to keep him quiet and busy for a bit (should have brought some here with me).

I got about 8hrs, not feeling the most human atm. Contemplating what to do with the day whilst watching the tour. There is loads I should do, some stuff i want to do, and stuff that probably needs doing. But it is currently nice to be quiet and still

Toffee funny you say that about smoke alarms... wanna guess why I had to clean my oven today?

Today's ta da:
All dishes washed, sink is shining.
I must have known next week's missions, as I went on a whirlwind of:
Cleaning the top of the cabinets
Really scrubbed the worktops
Gave the cabinet doors a wipe.

I know it's not all, I'll see what the other two missions are next week.

Friday didn't get a chance to tidy my handbag, I'll do it today.
:)

Sun ta da (cont'd):

paired socks
collected in laundry that had dried on terrace and carried downstairs for ironing
burrowed downstairs [in boxes - sigh] for cake tins
set up food processor (in yet another carton)
made 40 chewy sultana and oat cookies (friend coming tomorrow + some for vet (thank you present) + some for office
bit of hand washing up
tidied home office for 30 mins looking for rabbit file (no luck)
cleared office desk
looked for rabbit file for 20 mins in basement (no luck)
hang up more laundry
re-boot washing machine
supervise dd packing up school file and books, sorting out hwk corner (wip)
supervise dd emptying school bag (not a pretty sight) (wip)
supervise dd cleaning out school fish (wip)
line cake tin
made Nigella's bog standard choc cake
veg market shop
butcher run
threw away old flowers, cleaned vase, replaced with new
tidied up kitchen
emptied dw (and stacked again)
dining room table hot spot
pack up cookies for tomorrow
turn out cake

And all of that has upped my step-count to 11570 so far!

Rabbit file no where to be found . Have lost some other very precious (Can't help thinking I have put it in a "safe place" somewhere.)

Dh and dd are driving me a bit nuts today too ; but perhaps it's because I'm used to baking in splendid isolation! Sent them out for chips (rare treat for lunch) and dd came back in tears having accidentally spilled Coke all over the front seat of (my) car. And dh was shouting and furious for some ridiculous reason. So much for peace and quiet! (Wierd what dh gets upset about - she is 10 yrs - it was an accident fhs - she isn't prone to spilling things normally - and it wasn't even his car!)

And dd is procrastinating horribly over finishing various (takes after her mother ) and I am getting tense about the Hama beads all over the play room rug and the bath /hair washing thing again before 7pm. If she holds up supper again, I hate to think of dh's reaction!

And when not shouting, dh is monosyllabic, either glued to Formula One or football, or tapping on his laptop, or both

Tempted to go out tonight and leave them both to it!

Waves to Kiaora

Glad you are rested Bitchy

Glad ds1 a bit calmer today Toffee

HOpe you have been feeling more cheerful as day goes on Alice

Nowt like visitors to spur us in to action LostPrince!

Engels thanks for commiserations! Congratulations to the Netherlands! I gather it was quite an exciting match (albeit somewhat humiliating for substituted goalie)

Hyperhops glad you survived being on call! Hope you can relax/catch up on sleep now!

Big waves to everyone else!

other very precious files/bits of art work

ergh - various tasks

SC ooooh putting something "somewhere safe" is the kiss of death around here. It means I'll NEVER find it.

Feeling mean- ds1 has homework. I've been reminding him all day to sit and do it, the last time being at 4pm when I warned him that I wouldn't be saying it again. Now I have to follow it through and he's still not started it.

Oh well, tough love and all that :(

evening all
sc sounds a productive day, even with annoying dh and dd. Hope you manage to find the file - it will probably turn up just after appointment when you're not looking for it.
alice hope your day has got better
nick I find it really hard to be tough with the kids and sit back and watch them make mistakes, but sometimes you do have to if they are ever to learn I suppose!
toffee glad ds is a bit more settled today. Hope the rain stopped and you got out for a bit

I have had a very unproductive day!
Ta da
dc up and breakfasted and dressed
despatched dd2 to ice skating with dh
dd2 returned shortly after as skating wasn't on due to tour de france (whoops - missed that bit of info clearly )
had a nice bath
got dressed
hnug out dd1 and 2 washing
had argument with dh
went to summer fair
came home and relented and had a nap ( it is clearly a while since I have had sleepless little babies! - cant cope with a night without sleep any more!)
planted up stocks and snapdragons ( yes very late but hey ho!)assisted by littlies
picked some strawberries
sat on deckchair in garden and read kindle
brought in dd1 and 2 washing
ate dinner
tidied lounge

so basically have achieved very little! Just trying to build up the motivation to finish thoroughly tidying lounge then need to hoover behind sofas as carpet cleaning person is coming tomorrow am...

List for tomorrow:
dc up dressed breakfasted
load in wash
s&s bathrooms
empty lounge of all small furniture and ornaments
tidy kitchen
hang out washing
school run
home in time for carpet cleaner
re-boot laundry
ring gym for ds1
tidy littlies room
plany last few plants
counselling appointment
walk dogs
gather library books
collect littlies from school
library trip
home
reading with ds2
go through packing with dd1 for school trip
re-boot laundry
early night

BBtomorrow

SC I always notice how immune I am to spills and how dh takes them so seriously The sport on telly seems to be making the men of our house very keyed up too..all that adrenaline has nowhere to go perhaps..

Hyper bravo for surviving the oncall weekend and be so productive (although I know you think you weren't)

done
driven to dd's school and back twice
more fete, sitting on grass with a cup of tea, terribly tiring well it was, so there
chatted to more parents whose girls are at school with dd
put chicken in oven
finished Anne Enright Forgotten Waltz
put out recycling
hung out washing

knackered, and dealing with ds2 is like walking through treacle. Various incidents I cannot face mentioning
dh did some homework with him though. (saintly)

have managed to miss Mass though.

I made brownies. Now I'm going to eat one. One dc in bed, another calming down now. Whew. I made it to bedtimes.

Evening all

Very quiet weekend here. DC's stayed with DH on Friday, had scout/beaver camp last night and with DH again tonight. Tis weird without them but I suppose I had better get used to it!

Have done bits and bobs of flying and not a lot else.

Going to catch up with the thread.

Toffee thank you - its hideous, she is teething molars and miserable. Today was a complete failure because I couldn't sleep last night (because I'd taken a two hour nap because I couldn't sleep Friday night) and it seems like the entire weekend has been a washout. I can't even remember what we did yesterday. Seems like we've spent the whol 48 hours tag teaming without getting anything constructive done at all.

hyperhops hope your day relaxed once you stopped being on call,

Alice sounds like you have had a rocky weekend, do you have anything nice planned this week? Well done for making it to bedtime being sent your way!

engels fancy having a guest for dinner? Roast lamb is my absolute favourite!

kiaora thinks for the reminder, I've done my work bag and my everyday bag - just need to sort out the DCs bag for tomorrows trip into the hell that its the local city.

bitshy hope you had a chance to enjoy the sun

sc your dd isn;t going down with something is she? Mine always get tearful when ill.

nicknacks whats the update on the homework? I'm doing a PhD and I still procrastinate something terrible

elliepac I've done less than flying - not even got off the ground, have you friends you can go out with on quiet weekends?

swan that fete does sound extremely tiring ;-)

I have managed abut 4 hours in front of the computer, checked bank account, ordered wedding gift, birthday present and a game to keep dd1 quiet at aforementioned wedding.

DH has done the three bins, put a load of washing on, hung it out and managed to miss all the DCs clothes. SO thats one for tomorrow.

Monday
washing on
dry laundry in AC
AC emptied and clothes put away
Nppies out
Bathroom s&s
Into the city to return various items
Wait in for food shopping
washing out
washing up, floor sweeping

Everywhere I look there is mess - this baby seperation anxiety is really affecting my ability to stay on top of the house.

eyelet He sat down at 7pm. Bear in mind bedtime is 8pm (lights out 8.30) so I wasn't too impressed but let it go. Then at ten to 8 he was done and I told him to hop in he shower and then bed. He. Didn't like that one bit because he thought he could have 'one more go' on the iPad. I sad no and he sulked off to bed. Oh joy!

Eyelet well, nice plans in the idea that hopefully I'll get my wallpaper put up in my living room this week. I've really been looking forward to it. (hopefully I manage to put it up straight!)

Sorry, am exhausted (might be DS1-related), so doing a quick post without a round up and then I'm having an early night. Looks like there are quite a few tired fledglings here who need to do the same.

Tomorrow is Day 7 of the babysteps: pick out your clothes for tomorrow. A good one that. I now do it for myself and both DC.

We are in Zone 2: the kitchen. The mission is to look up and dust the cobwebs.

The flight plan for Monday is here: do what we call the home bleugh (instead of the sickly 'home blessing' as Flylady calls it).

Off to bed now. Night all.

swan fete sounds lovely
ellie it must be hard to adjust to not having dc around. I agree about maybe getting together with friends or similar
alice brownie sounds yummy ....Im craving chocolate sooo badly tonight (damn sugar free diet!)
eyelet that sounds so wearing. DD4 was very like that as a baby. Do you have a sling at all? that helped me with dd4, at least I could potter and get some stuff done with her in a sling. Hope you get a good night's sleep tonight
nick yay for success with bedtime

done a bit more this evening:
hoovered lounge including behind furniture
washed skirting boards and window frame in lounge
hoovered downstairs
steam moppped downstairs

going to have early night with my kindle very sound

BBtomorrow

Xposts toffee thanks for links. Night night!

Ellie it does get easier. Promise. You will end up in term time, focusing on the kids the nights you have them and then focusing on work/chores/things which are just easier without them when you don't.

I am not enjoying the heat, I have a cool 'n' soothe hovering on my head. Turns out it doesn't really want to stick. Ds is being a pain in the ass about going to bed. so I am going to bed and leaving him to it. He is sulking because he is wearing a fleece onsie and i have just refused to tuck him in because apparently he can't get the duvet perfectly parallel to the wall and its failure to allign is a major crisis as there is no way he needs the duvet and onsie on him in this heat!

wrt enjoying the sunshine. We had an almighty rain storm just at the point when i was considering the need to go water the plants. Heavy but quick so it was a nice drive to retrieve ds. Nicer without the over tired headache. So baby step 17 it is. night night!

I hope so bitchy i have really missed them. I picked them up from camp and went to mil's for long planned family do. Obviously DH was there and they asked if they could stay with him tonight. I felt like i had been ditched! I am so pleased that they love their dad and he loves them and they are secure enough in our love as parents to have shared care but I miss them. God forbid, I may need to get a hobby. Not fecking crocheting before bitchy or whoknows suggest it. I do have some very good friends who i can see at weekends but they are often busy with family. I think you may be right about changing weeknight strategies bitchy. One night is fine but 3 nights with them away is horrible.

bitchy I really like the Magicool spray (Boots own brand just as good) and really find it helps in the heat.

to Elle it must be a huge adjustment x

Bitchy yes, it's great gardening weather (with automatic watering!).

Just wish I had made more of it and planted more of my seedlings on - Hyperhops is giving me hope that it's not too late though!

Well done for getting through a difficult weekend Alice

Eyelet really feel for you. I'd ditch the Flying in the circs and sleep when you can. Hopefully dd not incubating a bug but you never know; I think she is just really tired tbh. xxx

Sleep well Toffee!

Nicknacks sympathies re: procrastinating dc. I've got a shocker. Although, owing to some miracle or other, she actually managed to clean out hwk corner and have a bath before supper! (Which dh kindly cooked - Welsh lamb - yum!)

Also managed to miss Mass here too Swan !!

Ta da list con'td/part 3:
helped dd finish off alloted tasks
cleaned out ruddy hamster
another last 15 min search for rabbit file (no luck again!)
supervised dd bath and hair rinsing
made gananche
iced cake
(dipped strawberries in left over ganache)
another wipe down of kitchen plus stacked and ran dw again
another load of washing hung up to dry
and another one on
got dd to write thank you card for vet who is brilliant!
carried laundry upstairs
ate delicious supper cooked by dh and caught up with Masterchef

Shuffling off to bed now ...grand total of steps for today = 15654 ... and in this house (tall and thin) most of them are going up and down stairs .. which explains why my knees are creaking

G'night all!