Fledglings polish their pumpkins and do their best, it's time for a Fling Boogie Octoberfest!

[Stewedcoot]

Heartfelt thanks to Engels (and Bitchy!) for leading the thread throughout September (Sept always being a busy one) despite feeling a bit poorly and despite being pregnant. Hope beneficial effects of injections kick in soon!

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.

Flylady link here.

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):

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 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!

Three key 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.

If you are new; then trying to spend 15mins decluttering daily and doing the babysteps is a good way to start. Some of us (mentioning no names!) can have scary looking lists but don't let that worry you! Do what you can, anything is better then nothing, and don't judge yourself against others.

If all else fails, a brew + the power of three technique + a bit of support on here can work wonders!

Oh and don’t let it put you off if we appear a bit cliquey – some of us have been on here for years – but all lurkers, intermittent returnees, oldies and newcomers very, very welcome!

Toffee I've done that .. forgotten the tooth fairy thing. Soooo much a head meets wall moment.

I've read the links!

A few bits didn't make sense to me - various phrases and acronyms - but I'm not going to worry about those. Seeing as stuff repeats regularly anyway I will get to it soon enough and there's plenty to be getting on with.

I'm pleased that my first zone is the bathroom - it's tiny :o and when I was grabbing the clothes to chuck last night, I threw in a few old products too, so I feel like I've had a good start.

ta da
Got DCs to school
Got my breakfast on the go

to do
Iron trousers for work today (DH normally irons everything but he was ill last night)
Take down underwear etc off airer, hang up wet stuff
Put our underwear away (not doing the DCs' - they'll do their own tomorrow!)
5 mins in DCs' bedroom throwing stuff
15 mins in bathroom
15 mins general decluttering
Hang out wet towels
Put another wash on (DCs' stuff that can go on hangers - drying indoors now :()
Hang out said wash
Quick shower before work

I think that's more than enough! Apologies for boring overly detailed post but it helps me :)

Done about half my list now. Was awake at 4.30 today so going to take a nap for an hour :)

not getting much done today. having one of those "meh" days about housework, as I'm irritable. Long story, which I won't bore you with.

But suffice it to say I've had a brownie and tonight there shall be .

Post-lunch pause ... .

OOhhh, Mumsnet have nicked my Witches Fingers recipe!! [Admittedly I nicked it from somewhere else too!]. Must add pic to profile. I have to say the recipe we did last year had the advantage of actually tasting rather nice as well as looking particularly scary.

[Places more comforting in front of Alice]

Fuzzpig don't apologise! Overly-detailed boring posts are my speciality are what this thread is all about! . When you look back at what you have actually done during the day, when it is all written out, it is actually a lot more than you think; therefore more satisfying ifyswim. Also, it kind of makes up for the fact that lots of other people in our families don't actually notice what we do; countering that sense of being 'invisible' ifyswim. Hope you are feeling better and that your dh feels better soon. (Btw re: acronyms etc, don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions.)

Toffee Good luck with your appointment at ds1's new school!! All fingers and toes crossed for you that it goes well!

(See the small furries are keeping you busy too!)

Toffee/Alice another one here who has forgotten the Tooth Fairy visit; on so many occasions in fact that dd has given up asking about it . It was never intentional; it's just not so easy slipping money under an 11 yr old's pillow - especially one like dd who sleeps with one eye open - so had to stay up later and later so then fell asleep myself!!

Welcome back Engels!! Arf at Dutch British-style bacon
So glad you enjoyed the wedding! (I was wondering how bridesmaid dress situation had worked out!) Sounds like you had a lot of much-deserved fun! And great that you were able to get ahead with Christmas given the lo on the way! [I have 2 sisters and brother and their respective entourages staying before Christmas this year which will hopefully force me in to being a bit more organised than usual.]

Wow Swan! I have copied and pasted your post and filed it as a Word document. It entirely (and eloquently) sums up EXACTLY how I feel about my dh and his lack of understanding wrt the house.

Oh yes to >"When he lives here he seems to use all the space in such a way that belies my attempts to change our environment."

And oh yes, yes to >" He really does want me to be happy, just uncomprehending of what gets me down."

I feel exactly the same way.

Very comforting to be understood on here anyway, if not at home !

Still working through my list; worst bit (home bleugh) done at least.

Keep going everybody!

Found them!

Original recipe can be found here if anyone interested.

It's effectively a shortbread mixture with green food-colouring, raspberry jam for nail beds, and almonds for nails.

Good for dc because there is a lot of moulding and sculpting to be done.

What the fuck is with Mondays atm? Seriously. Can we change their name and function or something?!

OMG, SC, that plateful of green fingers gave me such a shock. But good preparation for 'The Walking Dead', which is back on our screens tonight . Also a very useful link for Halloween recipes, thank you.

Had a good meeting at the school. One of the parents came up to us and enthused about the school whilst we were waiting. She said it had changed her son's life. I can only hope...

The head is going to ask the LEA to let DS1 repeat Year 9. That would be absolutely wonderful, as it would give him a whole year to get used to school life and catch up on school work before having to start on his GCSEs. It would also suit him socially, as he is young for his age and feels out of step with older children. But it all depends on what the LEA is willing to pay for.

Managed to fit in a quick visit to a local ASD Parent Support Group on my return, as DH was at home for lunch. Was ambivalent about going, but it turned out to be very helpful to meet other parents in similar situations.

Now have to fit in a bit of home ed with DS2 before taking him round to his friend's house for an after-school playdate.

ta da
ds to school under new rules
work
Adminy stuff
email and internet stuff
Print off book report sheets
sort out a load of extra mathsy type stuff for ds

Loads of other stuff that needs to be done. but it is a monday so am off out and all about tbh. I hate mondays. Not sure why but i hate them atm. Used to like them but not atm. Will have to figure out how to change it.

Waves to everyone and hi to fizzipig.

Feeling particularly bleugh at the moment (for no particular reason) so spent the morning making a photo book of the summer hols instead of doing any housework... Have sorted out three baskets of laundry since then, done cooking and played games with the boys.

Found a set of "vintage" Misfits in a charity shop and bought it out of nostalgia. Just played the game and was at the cultural stereotypes / casual racism though. Now feel very uncertain about it...

today went alright.

lots of ironing put away
made a big pile of dirty saucepans in the garden (will deal with them tomorrow) today was clothes day
went to Lidl and bought some new school trousers for ds1 in Hanwell. 38 in waist and 34 inch length, hopefully they will shrink [gulp]
some groceries from Lidl
saw friend for coffee
ds2 wrote a play script this morning about boarding a plane - his idea not mine - sad to see he cannot spell boarding properly or stewardess

dd has just come home and wailed at me about tickets to a pop concert. I cannot keep up with this...

Toffee I feel that something is happening and you are at last out of limbo. It is a relief always to talk to other parents in similar set ups (although everyone is of course different, whatever diagnosis). Fingers crossed about LA, although I don't see how they can query when ds's attendance still hangs in the balance, if he gets upset and worried.

son one just returned. Better go.

I'm hoping to get ds2 back into Scouts tonight, although he is very resistant. There are only about 3 Scouts left in the group (they tend to drop out at that age due to other commitments whereas there are loads of Beavers and Cubs) so it will be very sotto, and ds2 might not find it offputting (he dropped out of Cubs due to noise and lack of badges I think today has been sufficiently boring that he might consider it. He said he would visit this evening but not go in, and next week he might go in.

lovely biscuits sc !

ta da
tidied away/unpacking
2x washing, done, dried, folded and away
dinner
washing up
made lunch for tomorrow
emptied bathroom and kitchen bins
garden waste bin ready to go out
injection

managed to fall asleep on the sofa earlier. will be heading to bed shortly after a shower ready for work tomorrow.

Argh! Well my day went massively downhill. Feel really crap. Work issues, 5yo DS was sent to HT for the first time this term, may not have childcare for Saturday, DD now refusing to sleep... Oh and I didn't get my nap earlier as the phone rang twice and had to answer the door.

Can't really do any decluttering upstairs as DD is wound up right now (see above/below) and if I'm upstairs she will not sleep. So my two lots of 15 minutes can't be done. However as long as I hang out the washing (must drag arse off sofa while DH finishes ironing) I will have done everything else on my list, so that's excellent!

Aaaargh DD :( I have very strong traits of Aspergers and according to a psychiatrist I also have OCD (boy oh boy does the "OCD = cleaning obsessive" stereotype piss me off!). I thought for such a long time that DD was unaffected. She was so confident and social. But now (7) she's this little ball of anxiety and anger meltdowns :(

What have you all been up to?

Bitchy has been channelling the Boom Town Rats

Swan has been decluttering fish and focusing on clothes and Scouting for ds2 (hope he was persuaded!). She also did a Lidl shopping

Fuzzpig achieved loads, despite having had a very stressful day (here's to a less stressful one tomorrow)

Engels ploughed through her list and then enjoyed a much deserved afternoon nap

Blue was feeling nostalgic about the summer, but less so about vintage card games

Yay! Toffee had a very productive meeting at her ds1's prospective new school! (That's terrific news, so glad it went well!)

SC completed her list in an unenthusiastic 'meh' sort of way

Big feathery waves to everyone else!

Oh and dh has just beaten me again at University Challenge
(he scored 14 and I scored 3 )

**
Baby-step no. 14 for Tues 14th Oct is here and concerns using a calendar (SC desists from making sarcastic comment).

This week, we are in Zone 3: the bathroom and one other room here. Declutter for 15 mins in this zone.

The detailed cleaning list (if you are at that stage) for Zone 3 is here.

Tuedsay's mission can be seen here cleaning the bathroom bin and spending 5 mins in other area collecting up stuff you can donate or give away.

The daily focus for Tuesday is: planning meals, holidays, activities, medical appts etc.

The monthly habit for October is getting rid of paper clutter: www.flylady.net/d/habits-of-the-month/october/ .

For a summary of the above, see the flight plan : www.flylady.net/c/fp.php?tzm=-120 which should update itself daily.

Have a good one everybody!

***

There are ways and means Fuzzpig and many on this thread will relate. Ds and I had a mahoosive falling out in the car. Proper yelling and screaming event that lasted the majority of a 45mins and a further 30mins plus before things were calm enough to get out of the car. Seems things aren't so great at school still and that the reality of having aspergers and hitting the start of hormones and puberty is starting to hit home. Apparently one of the boys at school is getting a noticeable tash. 9yo ffs kids are getting younger and younger when they are hitting puberty. I actually feel really sorry for them!!

Flying is always a nightmare on mondays as in the house so little. Need a massive to do list tomo as there is so much that needs to be done and sorted.

Tuesdays to do list
Lunch box made and ds to school
fill in ds' reading record for him
laundry
upset the printer
make some important phone calls
fill in some very important forms
trip up to next town to pick up some bits and bobs for the car
Food shop
trip over the hills to the town of steel
Tidy my room some
finish edges and sew on poppers
buy birthday cards
plan some stuff with ds

I would love to say that is the end of that but there is still the small matter of having to get some important paperwork sorted and sent tonight. Thankfully I am actually tired and hopefully sleep will come more readily than last night. The whole world is just wrong when you don't get a good night's sleep!

I had to google that SC was a bit before my time I think personally I was channelling Garfield the cat.

Evening all,

SC - I love the witches fingers!!

Swan - my lovely DH is just the same, he just cannot comprehend why a messy house upsets me, he just doesn't think and it would never in a million years occur to him to get the hoover out or put bleach in the loo. He's not nasty at all, he just doesn't bloody think!!

Hi Fuzz and welcome back Mercury - slow and steady with this flying malarkey - I've been terrible this month too!

Roll on Tuesday Bitchy!

Waves to Toffee, Engles and all other fledglings.

Ta da:
Paid work all day [yawn]
Rubbish bins out, paper declutter from kitchen
Online shop ordered for day we get back from holiday next week
Cat food all weighed and measured out into meal portions for their trip to cattery
Dishwasher and hand washing up
One wash load on and now hung up
Dry laundry folded
Beds made
Packed up eBay parcel

DS (22 months) made his proper sentence today which was heart breaking as a) he said it to DH not me so I didn't hear it first hand and b) I'd got so stressed out by his continuous screaming for over an hour at bed time I gave up and DH took over - he said "mummy gone-way" that is "Mummy's gone away" :( I felt terrible!!!

Off to bed to cry myself to sleep....

Ds2 went to Scouts (complaining) but loved it. He was like a champagne cork when he came out at 9.30pm - amazing what a few years has done for his participation. He hasn't lost his touch though as he reminded the Scout Leader about the leaking roof in the Scout Hut..

Ds1 is being very explosive (he hates being nagged) this evening but went off to sleep happily and dd was much the same. Dd tried out various demands on me but seemed relieved when I didn't give in to any of them..pop concert, Timberland Boots, drive her to school tomorrow, and the final one was "black pillowcases" for her to stencil No, no and no again. ds1 only demanded one thing, to watch Gotham, which he did..

Fuzzpig hope everyone settled and you felt a bit better at the end of the evening. My OCD tendency is just to worry about my children; I think that is quite bad enough without needing to worry about germs as well. Although I did find myself behaving quite oddly when I travelled recently, and thinking a lot about contamination and Ebola etc so I suppose it might be there lurking in the background.

Early start again tomorrow, so I had better set the alarm and wind down having left kitchen sink full of plates

Coffee poor you, bedtimes are a trial Hopefully he will start making happy sentences soon. Don't feel terrible.

Oh, fuzz, I'm sorry you had such a horrible ending to your day. Poor DS being sent to the Head (at only five too!). My DS was sent to the Head during his first week at school. What a way to encourage a love of school - not. Agree with you about the OCD stereotype as DS1 suffers from it and is definitely not tidy at all! Hope tomorrow is a better day for you.

Bitchy - sorry to hear your DS had such a massive meltdown in the car. Exhausting and horrible for you .

Thanks for the kind words, SC. Am still in a constant state of disbelief about it all. Can it really be happening?

coffee - Oh, that's so sad - I'm sorry. But I agree with Swan - he'll soon be making much happier sentences for you.

Swan - well done to DS2 on coping with - even enjoying - the Scouts. He sounds like he's thriving as a home-child .

I should be in bed, but am wasting time on MN busy planning my home-ed timetable for this week. Really will go to bed after that.

Oh dear...late crash landing here and very little achieved. Gave myself a dispensation today though, as DH came in at 4am (his brother has now firmly been packed back off to Australia so things may start to settle down here...) from being at the pub with his siblings last night, woke me, then proceeded to snore loudly until it was time for me to get up at 7.

That left me rather grumpy and tired today...and DH was landed with grocery shopping and dinner duty this evening. He also agreed to everything I wanted (including 2 custom built painted sink cabinets for bathroom/ensuite) when the kitchen planner arrived to finalise kitchen plan and measure up, although obviously that will depend on finances when we receive the final quote for kitchen/utility/laundry cubby/sink cabinets.

Anyway the knock-on effect was that I was fast asleep by 9, and awake again now......

But I see others had more frustrating days with difficult dcs, which I am really sorry to read about. Bitchy your morning sounded particularly stressful.

Hope tomorrow goes better for everyone.
Tomorrow I will have to get back on track, declutter and pack up one more black sack, do a charity shop drop-off, reboot laundry, go to pilates, and practise for Thursday's piano lesson and November's second attempt at sitting Grade 5.......(first attempt was completely abandoned, second attempt will require actually sitting down to practise...)