Bitchy takes on the January Fledgling Thread. Buckle in and enjoy the ride...

[BitchyTakesOnManagement]

Ok. Welcome to the January Fledglings thread. Before we get started we have Some important notices

1. The fledglings are a long running thread, We are might seem clicky but that is what happens when some of us have been on the same thread for up to 5 years
2. We are rather partial to new blood Pull up a seat in the naughty corner
3. Don't assume you can march in and impose your way. We follow the fly lady way and we adapt it to suit our lives and needs. You are welcome to come join us for support and chat, don't assume you know best.
4. There is more to us than cleaning. If you want to be obsessive about cleaning you will find us and and our interpretation of fly lady frustrating. You might be happier else where.

Right, as harsh as it might seem, it is important to get that out of the way as we expect this January thread to be busier with newbies and there has been problems in the past.

So the fly lady system there are rules and we have adaptations.

1. NO perfectionism!!!
2. Something is better than nothing and sometimes good enough really is good enough.

3.This is not about the housework, it is about having more time to do fun stuff. Don't ever feel guilty about doing stuff with the kids over doing the housework. The kids are more important.

And the practical adaptations. We have discussed the Marie Kondo book and the approaches within on previous threads. We are all agree two things: the author does not have kids and that the principles are very good for decluttering and that they can be used to in conjunction with the fly lady system (Marie Kondo to get in control, and fly lady to stay in control). As for the fly lady system there are some of the babysteps and things that are advised that are either "huh, why?" or just don't fit in with the household. We advise a pinch of salt and discretion with a dash of reality thrown in. E.g. if you are a no shoes household then clearly the wearing shoes in the house part of babystep 2 is going to make you go This is where adaptations come in and if past threads are to be gone on this will be discussed and there are various takes on it as and when they arise.

Also for the over enthusiastic newbies to the fly lady site and system everything you need will be posted here in the form of links. There are 3 levels:
Newbie: babysteps - get into these habbit
student: Missions and babysteps once the habits are habit the missions are a piece of cake.
Expert: deep cleaning, missions and babysteps - forget this if you have clutter, seriously.
Oh and for the love of all sanity do not subscribe to the email alerts. Seriously. Just don't.

Jump on board, buckle in and lets kick the butt of January.
Bitchy special brew on the naughty corner bar, natch
do we warn the newbies about the special brew or let them find out for themselves?

bitchy talking to professionals is exhausting. Hope they had something to offer.

Meanwhile I managed to
do
sweep hall floor
put all the shoes in a sack and completely clear all surfaces and then rearrange everything properly after mud had been removed and old bits of gunge from the skirtings
go to shops for groceries, hoover bags and dd's tracksuit bottoms (really on errand for the last but fitted in some groceries etc whilst out)
exercise x 2
phonics
watch Mr Selfridge x 2 with ds2
talked to friend on phone
groceries away
made chilli con carne from old tomato sauce
baked potatoes in the oven to go with chilli
made ds1 a step by step list of instructions to tidy his room (not much hope but at least I tried) I am NOT TIDYING IT ANYMORE
ditto dd except I didn't even bother to give her a list just threw her clothes in her room

really quite tired now but all that exercise has made me feel quite relaxed

Well done for getting through it, Bitchy. You must be relieved it's over. Hope it went ok.

ta da

Woke DS2 earlier again in my mission to get him back to a normal sleep routine
Fed cats
Quick b/fasts
Swimming
Picked up lunch from Caffe Nero on way home (££££££!)
DS1's lesson at home
Hoovered DS1's bedroom
Home ed: maths (Times Tables); geography (Japan); origami; handwriting (thank-you cards)
Walked up to school to collect DS2's friend
Cleared out and cleaned kitchen spice cupboard
Unloaded d/w
Wiped down kitchen cupboards
Cleaned cooker hob
Five-minute room rescue in our bedroom
Dinner for DS2 and friend
Checked emails

Ooh, have inadvertently covered a couple of this week's missions without realising.

Still here. Shit day at work. Am consoling myself mainly with eating anything that is bad for me.

I have skim read thread but need to go and get dinner so no time for personals.

Back later.

ta da
1 x wash
washing up
hoovered lounge
sent a few emails and chatted with DM

feeling physically and emotionally drained. Hospital appt tomorrow for monitoring and to set induction appt.

((hugs)) for ellie

More ((hugs)) for Engels (and best of luck tomorrow at /w appt).

ta da

Tidied up home ed clutter
Three different sittings for dinner (DS2 and friend; DS1; DH and me)
Drank lots of elderflower
Unloaded and reloaded d/w
Waved off Ds2's friend
Tidied up kitchen again
Wiped down cooker top again
Unloaded d/w again
Seemed to go up and down stairs a lot
Brief uninterrupted conversation with DH
Arranged babysitting with MIL
Bedtime routine for DS2

About to watch a new series with DH, then aiming for an early night. I say this every night, then go to bed after 1am, but I really want to do it tonight. Was shocked at the dark bags under my eyes when I caught sight of myself in a shop window today .

Hi all. Hope everyone is ok and doing as best as can be expected (under varying circumstances).

Tada
Sink shined
Kitchen floor swept
Kitchen surfaces wiped down (cheers dh)
Sitting room dusted and vac'd (cheers dh)
Dishwasher unloaded / loaded / on
Dining room dusted (cheers dh)
Litter tray sorted (cheers dh)
Dinner cooked (cheers dh)
Homework supervised
Bath had
Bathroom swish (following bath)
Day's work done
Car filled with petrol
Accounts updated (cheers dh)

To do
Pamper dh a bit with crisps and whisky for being a trooper!
1 x load of washing in to be ready to dry in the morning before work.
School bag sorting to supervise

Gosh - I sound lazy looking at that lot!

Careful "Crickey" you are heading into the zone of perfectionism! Tis not allowed.

AND you have achieved far more than me as my ta da list consists of 2 different hospital appointments and 1 trip to the bank plus making 1 cake.

May I suggest a list like that is a Good list

I did warn you that not slinking into perfectionism was very hard, much harder than most would think. Try and avoid it and you will be happier.

that list is quite modest compared to some of yours Bitchy!

True true whoknows

Although I have got better at not beating myself up on a small list day. It is a hard lesson to learn. Bloody mindfulness

I think perfectionism is fine in small doses, but it is easy to burn out. Unless you are naturally obsessively tidy, in which case you would probably not have ventured onto this thread .

Anyway. I booted myself up the bum this morning and swept and mopped the kitchen floor on top of the normal routines. Other than that, no chance of perfection today. I have spent a lot of time just tidying the little bits of crap that still seem to be everywhere after Christmas. And given blood. And been to work. So, not too bad really.

I was suggesting I was the lazy git and dh was more saintly than I'd ever be arsed to be

Can't see him keeping it up mind (fnar).

Cake baking is impressive though. Wish I'd baked a cake. I want cake.

Definitely no perfectionism here today. Didn't even manage to anti-procrastinate, but went out shopping instead...

for all in need.

Off for a soothing bath in a bit. Night all!

I'm trying to low carb, virtual cake only for me

After a slow start,I'm had quite a productive day in the end :)
Still need to finish a few detailed cleaning bits in the kitchen, but got a lot done. Might get them done tomorrow, if not, on Friday :)

Good lesson there on perfectionism, also WhoKnows is right, if any of us were perfect and motivated every day, we wouldn't be on this thread! I really do have to force myself, sometimes that is as much of an achievement as the things that I actually manage to tick off. That's what I need this thread for, the motivation and solidarity with others who do not have naturally pristine homes and who understand the need for the mental boot up the arse sometimes :)

Thank you for the links Bitchy :)

I am supposed to be Low Carbing Whoknows it suits me well, but someone had a birthday and put in a request for a recipe that is rarely made. A piece was thus needed to recover.

I appologise Crickey I clearly have my tired eyes in and I had not spotted the achievement by DH. Although in my eyes it still counts as you are clearly the overseer

Counts as you not being lazy not as you being a perfectionist.

No offence taken Bitchy and that a mighty fine hole you've digged there!

We'll turn it into an indoor water feature. Naughty corner bar needed a theme. Nothing will beat PA's(?) beach and hammocks though. that was pretty fab. there was even warm and sun.

My only extra Ta-da that was on my to-do list at lunchtime is that I did do a meal plan for the rest of the week and weekend -and it's amazing how much better I feel for knowing what we're going to eat.

However I did get DD2 to sort out her Barbie collection and in fact she has decided to get rid of all but one (she is 10 now and clearly far too Grown Up for Barbies any more). Anyway that cleared out a basket so I rearranged her clothes drawers. I put tights and vests into the basket and then had a spare (small) drawer for pants, leaving the formerly-stuffed-to-the-brim pants and socks drawer just for socks. I then sorted her T-shirts and tops drawer, chucking out a load that were too small (she has grown 7cm in 5 months). As a result, I will no longer have to leave piles of clean clothes on the floor because there just isn't enough room in the drawers, and her room should stay tidier! Yay!

We could line the big hole and fill with wine! Naughty corner inhabitants could just lie on cushions (un-plumped obviously) and dip glasses into the big hole when they needed a drink!

I like a person with a good cunning plan

Evening all, not been a productive day again, oops, just done the minimum.

Sorry about your fil SC and well done Bitchy for getting through camhs.

Hope poorly people are feeling better, babies are on the move and plumbing issues have been resolved.

Ta das
Dinner
Unloaded and reloaded d/w
Bags repacked for tomorrow and outfit sorted
Hour long phone call with dm
Ordered DS outfit for dress up day later this month

We have a wine fountain Secret have a

tomorrow is a new day

Well I've done bugger all! today