September Fledglings gather here, let's banish clutter at the start of a new school year!

[CallingAllEngels]

Here we go again- a new month to whip our houses into shape!

If you're suffering from CHAOS (can't have anyone over syndrome) and STUFF (something that undermines family fun) then you need Flylady.

Don't sign up for emails on the Flylady website as you'll be inundated. Everything you need to know will be posted in the thread on a daily basis.

Depending on the stage you're at with FL you'll be:

1. Starting or repeating FL's babysteps.

1. Repeating babysteps + decluttering for 15 minutes per day in current zone.

1. Reinforce babysteps + daily missions if you'vefinished decluttering.

4.Number 3 and detailed cleaning anyone here yet??!

Bear in mind:

1. You're never behind!

1. No perfectionism allowed.

1. Your house did not get into a mess overnight, it won't get tidy overnight.

Some of the fledglings have been chatting and flying on MN for 10 years. I still think of myself as a newbie sometimes (even though I've been here for 2+ years!). Everyone's welcome! Old timers, newbies and lurkers alike, come and share your ta das, to dos and a whole lot more

Sorry for lack of OP links - am posting on the laptop that time forgot and am just keeping my fx that the OP posts!

Will be back on August 31st (pretty late probably!) with links for the 1st September.

Blaaargh! Rather a stressful day. Fil, office, school, ballet... everything really! I feel ridiculously tired given that we had such a relaxing weekend!

Also have had big fail re: dd and chores/responsibilities. Cut her some slack initially as first week back always tough, but now trying to encourage good habits again over next fortnight...

Focusing on perfecting a few basic habits which I am frustrated to say, we still haven't got on top of despite dd being 11 yrs ...

-carrying used breakfast things through to kitchen after use,
-putting out uniform and prepping school bag night before,
-doing hwk the day it is given out and not procrastinating/doing it conscientiously and not just the minimum
-bathing and hair washing/teeth brushing as agreed without complaints and protests,
-getting to bed at a decent hour (and actually sleeping!)

• putting ALL dirty clothes in laundry basket and not leaving them scattered around house

-all hair bobbles/elastics/clips to be returned to bedroom drawer (ditto above)

• emptying dishwasher twice a week
• help clean out ruddy hamster once a week
• help with family bed-making every Sat

Do you think that is reasonable/OK for an eleven-year-old with reasonably heavy school/extra curric schedule? Too much? Too little? I never have much of a clue really! Any advice much appreciated.

Sorry, posted too soon ...

Toffee so pleased there is finally a plan of action in place for your ds1; but ditto what Swan said about lack of early intervention. Here's hoping that he gets the support he needs this time.

Bitchy hope you can kick the symptoms in to touch; so that condition becomes more manageable. Can't be easy though; esp with all the support you actively give your ds.

Swan so impressed with your five-hr home edding expedition!

Also with taking all those dc camping Pushme - no wonder you are tired today!!

Well done re: your huge list Engels! Don't over do it!

Very impressed by everyone else's lists to inc Vivacia and Mercury and with how busy everyone is!

I'm with you re: the books Alice I would have bookshelves on every wall if I could!

Big waves to anyone I've missed. Must get supper on ... .

SC Okay, here's my opinion (from when my dd was 11yo)....

The following things should be "built into" her schedule as daily anyway:

• doing a certain amount of homework every day
• bathing/hair washing/teeth brushing
• bed at decent hour

The chores are not unreasonable, perhaps some consequences are in order.

• any hair items not put away will be confiscated. (she'll notice when she runs out! maybe make her pay to get them back with part of her allowance)
• putting out uniform/prepping school bag night before; these have kind of natural consequences. If she doesn't get it ready, and doesn't have time to get them together, she goes to school with mucky uniform or without prepped school bag, possibly getting in trouble at school. once or twice should clear that up.
• dirty clothes that are not in the laundry basket do not get washed. (at some point, she'll notice and out of necessity either learn to wash them herself or put them in the basket win-win)
• hamster; help with his care or he's rehomed (I'm not a "hamster person" so I'd be hoping that was a fail lol)
• bedmaking and dishwasher duties are non-negotiable. If not done, then allowance money will be forfeit as someone else has to do them. If there are siblings, and they cover the task when she hasn't, that money goes to the sibling that did the chore. (couldn't do that with dd as she was only child - although I withheld money to help pay the "cleaner" who had to do the tasks - ME!)

Sorry, missed Blue Jemima Soot and Threeislovely and probably more [big waves]

Alice thank you so much for that v. helpful advice! Must cook supper now (dd hungry as horse post ballet) so will be back later to reply properly - but suffice to say - gosh- I can see why your house is really organised!! Really impressive tips - thx!!

Oh goodness, I missed a bunch of posts from earlier. Must catch up when dcs are in bed! Sorry!

Just incase anyone is in need... i started a ranty get if off your chest thread

Links for Tuesday:

Babystep number 9 is to add a 5 minute room rescue to your morning routine. Good luck Flybabies . I certainly don’t have time to do this on a work day. A perfect example of why I think everyone should tailor FL to suit themselves!

Tuesday is Plan and Play Day.

Today’s mission for the day is to declutter your plastic containers/tupperware. Here are the missions for the week.

Here is Tuesday’s flight plan.

Well, today has been remarkably productive.

Ta Das:

Under sink cupboard
Polish lounge
Hoover
Washing on / dried / upstairs - DH to put away
School Launchpad loaded
Dishwasher salt etc re-filled/ filters cleaned

Marking all done before 7pm!
Gardening done at school don't ask!
School routine actually done and finished smug feeling

Really happy because I got to come home and do a jigsaw with DD because the house looked amazing!

To Do's

The seven bags of junk from the kids room that are in the hall need to vanish. I have no idea how this is going to happen crosses fingers and hopes for some fairies to appear

Poor ds has just dropped his desk lid on his face. Nope i have no idea how or why either. But i have just enforced temporary repairs on his glasses and located his old pair as a temporary spare pair. He is going to have some cracking bruise.

Oh god threeis you have reminded me I have a load of bags to get rid of too. Arses ah well once it is gone it is not cluttering the house.

Ta Da
Post-showers bathroom routine.
Post-tea kitchen routine and dishwasher on.
Two loads of laundry done.
Hoovered downstairs and turned cushions on settee etc.
Cleaned out cupboard under the sink.

To do
Check that laundry has been put away by occupiers.

Day one of sugar free diet - tick
Day two of new household management plan - tick
Full day of work - tick
Home to cooked dinner, children ready for bed and house tidy - in my dreams lol

SC my 12 year old does these things

wash herself
gets ready in morning herself, and goes to school herself on two buses
organise her school clothes and puts them in wash, and hangs them out
put breakfast in dw or sink if dw not unloaded
do her homework without supervision (much) but it isn't of a particularily high standard tbh...sometimes she asks for last minute help but not too often - and she takes consequences of not doing it, ie detention
pack her bag
buy ingredients for her own packed lunch if she wants one
gets PE kit ready

however
her room is always a tip except on a whim (then she tidies it rather beautifully) I spend a lot of time asking her to tidy it. I think I may give up soon and leave her face consequences of the horror of it all
she strews clothes and laundry around and sweet wrappers
she leaves homework till 6 or 7pm in evening
and I would not say she is mother's little helper, no not by any means [sigh]
and she lives for shopping

slightly deviant to this she also does a lot of cooking with dh but only when it is fun stuff

oh yes and spends a long time arranging and grooming her own hair, nails, appearance. Quite unlike me in this.

I need a to do list:
put laundry on - essential as I appear to have no clean clothes
sort out ds' new sport stuff
ring GP have been meaning to do this for 2 wks
tidy my floor
send important emails
ds to get glasses fixed
remind ds to do his homework
write ds letters for school - after school club, walking home alone, swimming permissions
make ds' lunch
Try not to have a nervous breakdown whilst waiting for ds to appear at home after school - very important this one

Sorry to have been AWOL, I just can't keep up with the thread (or the housework) at the moment. However tomorrow I have a day at home while the DCs are at school, first time for a good couple of months, so I will have no excuses not to tackle the clutter.

Toffee - so pleased that at last DS1 is being offered some proper help that is actually what he needs, not just an attempt to fob you off, what a relief. As for DCs and chores, well Nicknacks is the true guru in that department, I achieve it by consistency, nagging and bribery/threats. I also do a lot of letting them deal with the consequences of for example not getting their laundry into the basket then finding they have no clean socks, but that doesn't seem very effective with DS, he just goes into a bit of a meltdown, and DD who just shrugs and puts on a dirty pair. I'm sticking with it though.

My morning routine is improved though, I am getting up earlier and sitting down to breakfast with the DCs instead of dashing round the kitchen and shoving toast in my mouth at the same time.

I'm going ip to bed with the tablet now and will read through the rest of the thread to try and catch up with everyone's news, night all.

An exceptionally hectic weekend - today was a catching up day before work tomorrow.

Ta Das

• 15 ebay parcels posted
• Kitchen cleaned and sink sparkly
• new school polos shirts purchased
• dentist check up done (me)
• recycling put out ready for bin men in morning
• 2015 diary purchased
• Cuppa with friend, and later with MIL done
• query to passport office done, and new form picked up
• hall cleared, lounge tidied
• 3 loads of washing
• Loom bands all in ONE storage box
• Forms and payments for school trips handed in
• a couple of bills paid

To Dos (today/tomorrow daytime)

• survive a day back at work
• make pack lunches
• order swimming hat for DS1
• Sew on badges onto Beaver uniform (find badges....)
• lay out clothes for the morning

That will do for now. Love reading everyones progress

I have been awake since 5 and unable to get back to sleep so I have been catching up on the thread. Bitchy I am sorry to hear about your diagnosis.

Morning all!

DH and I were both gettingready for work when we heard an almighty crash this morning. The shelf DH put up in the attic above our desk collapsed spewing paper, stationery, the printer and scanner (ouch) onto the floor so dh is off to work I n a cheery mood (not!).

Feeling well-prepped this morning as all ags packed, lunch made. Hectic day at work today though. Mostly teaching till half four but have a bag full of files and box files to help me organise my work area (a shelf for everyday plus I have a storgae cupboard or two ).

Decided to paint nails last night instead of reading thread, so I have read it just now, but too late to post much as it's time to get up.

Bitchy - hope DS's face is ok and that you've had another decent night's sleep.

Engels - how annoying!

Our DC are expected to chip in around the house, with the explanation that the more they can help the more time there is for fun stuff.

DS1 will be 12 next week, he has just gone into Y7. He does all of the following on a regular basis:
Tidies his room
Puts the washing machine on
Hangs washing out on the line
Puts clothes away
Puts the dinner on (I'll have prepared it and left it in the fridge with instructions, he'll put it in the oven at the right temp at the right time)
Cleans his football boots
Packs his school bag
Runs the hoover round
Washes dishes

He sorts out his own homework most of the time, although I do have to remind him sometimes to practice his instruments.

He is learning to iron.

DS2 and DD are 10 and 8 and do less that DS1 as they are younger, but they are still expected to put their dishes in the sink, put their clothes away, keep their rooms tidy etc. DS2 sets and clears the dinner table every night and helps to wash dishes. He has a go at hovering but isn't very good yet. DD is a champion sock pairer

hoovering. Given his Harry Potter obsession, DS2 would probably be better at hovering ! Bloody autocorrect.

Sorry to hear about the shelf Engels. Bitchy I hope that DS's face is OK today. My DS always breaks his glasses at the most busy times, making it nigh-on impossible to get a new pair.

Ta Das
Morning routine
All DCs up and bedrooms remarkably are still tidy I nearly fainted when I went in
All washing is folded and on my bed ready to be put away by clothes-hiding offenders after school
Cats are done and litter tray cleaned
Plastic Tupperware has been culled
Tidy hot spot in lounge

To Dos
Put the washing mountain away
Ironing
Clean fridges I am refusing to buy more food until this is done
Put beach stuff away
Declutter study

Morning all,

Thank you Alice Swan Whoknows and Jemima for info re: dc and chores!

Very impressed by all that your dc do - I can see that I really, really need to get on top of this. DD was very helpful between the ages of four to six/seven - but it's got harder as she has got older - we always start off well at the beginning of term, but start to flounder towards the middle/end. I do constantly tell dd that it takes too long to get to the fun stuff simply because we spend so long battling/not doing the necessary chores, but I think she quite enjoys the battling tbh! Also, she doesn't seem remotely bothered by natural consequences. She would prefer to put on dirty clothes which are softer/less scratchy than clean ones. Given a choice (which she isn't!) she would prefer to not wash than have to get wet or expose herself to even the slightest draft getting in or out of the bath! To be fair, she does keep her bedroom fairly tidy!

Most important, I suspect that your dc have better role models in all of you than dd does in me! I can be a terrible procrastinator at times and dc of course always pay far more attention to what you do than what you say!

Swan your dd is impressively grown up/independent I think (and sounds like a great character!! ) particularly if she manages items on first list without being nagged/reminded. I think I need to start doing less and less for dd; ie she could certainly make her own sandwich in the morning if she -wasn't constantly short of time--

Whoknows I have already announced that I will no longer be washing anything that doesn't find it's way in to laundry basket! We'll see ... ! Glad the breakfast routine is going better!

Jemima I'm going to add 'helping to set and clear away table' to the list! Your ds1 is going to make a great partner one day! I'm very impressed that he does his own washing and all of those chores (again will show dd the list). I need to get over my own control-freak-ness and start letting dd do more!

Alice thanks - I will let dd get in to trouble over school bag/forgetting things - and see if that makes any difference - and I'm already trying to introduce hwk every night, whether she has been set it or not (usually has!) We need to be firmer about bedtimes, and as you say, personal cleanliness is non-negotiable!! She is an only, so will think about pocket money in relation to chores! Not sure I could bring myself to re-home the hamster though and she knows it!

Soot you sound impressively motivated/organised!

Bitchy hope your ds did not wake up with too much of a bruise!

Oh no about the shelf Engels take it steady at work!

Congrats on your lists Threeislovely and Standing!

Big waves to everyone I have missed!

Yesterday ta da:
morning routine inc packed lunch, dw, wm, rabbits, s&s
quick tidy up of ground floor and shined sink/cleaned kitchen surfaces and stove
2.5 hrs work
lunch with dh/discussion about finances etc
e-mail to school
dyed Barnet Fair
ordinary rubbish plus plastic & foil recycling
quick cup of tea with friend
hwk supervision
ballet prep
ballet run
cooked supper: healthy one-pan chicken with blé, broccoli, courgettes, red peppers and stock etc
dd bed
watched University Challenge with dh
hung up white wash to dry/another one in
evening routine/bed

So much to do today that I feel stressed thinking about it, so just going to get on and report back when it's over!

Have a good day everyone!

Alice

Sorry - don't know why Alice's name appears at end of post there!