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?

You really are not mercury

Evening. Hope you have a better night Bitchy and that the darts goes well.

I conned DCs into a mad 15 min dash putting clothes away in return for a blowy walk by the sea, which was lovely.

Ta Das

Ordered tablet and phone case
Put lamp up
Organised DSs clothes - no need for extra rail = result :)
Take decs down
Bought few bits for takeaway-esque dinner

To Dos

(Probably the list for tomorrow!)

Find boxes for craft area
Clean lounge after decs came down
Organise photo album unit
Take rubbish to tip
Finish putting clothes away

Hope everyone has a nice evening.

Looks like we have all been really busy today

I'm with you, Mercury, have never watched darts and have no real intention to!

So...
Ta da:
Morning routine
Swept/hoovered hallway
Mopped hallway
Sorted shoes (this is a bone of contention, how can one grown man have so many shoes?!?! The shoe rack is rammed, I have 1 pair of shoes on there The DC have only school shoes, normal shoes and wellies on there so it isn't them taking up the space either )
Most of afternoon and evening routines
Sorted out a tonne of Playmobil, I just thought it would take half an hour to sort it out a little bit so it fitted back in the box, but of course the DC caught wind of it and before I knew it, the entire living room was covered All sorted out now though and they have a set each all set up to play with on their chests of drawers in their respective bedrooms

Didn't manage to sort car (it was raining ) or Hoover stairs or landing, they will wait until tomorrow all I have left to do in the hall way is wash the front door and wash the little window, so they are on the list for tomorrow too

Hope everyone has a lovely evening

A quiet day here!
I kept shape on the kitchen, rebooted laundry, produced a dinner, baked bread (some for the freezer, some for now) and did a lot of lounging...

There is a lot of productivity going on on the thread!!! Take it steady you lot or you'll burn yourselves out before we 're halfway through the month!

I promise you castle there is genuinely no danger whatsoever of flying burnout here.

Lazy day here. DPs took DS off to garden centre/soft play for a couple of hours while I put my feet up.

ta da
hoovered lounge and stairs
short stroll to corner shop with DM
wash x1 (in td now)

No chance of burnout here Castle just hoping now the house is tidier we will be more likely to stay in control of it.

Two and a half hours and three bin bags later, kitchen is completely tidy and all cupboards, fridge and freezer decluttered - pretty sure that's not the Flylady way, but I got a bit carried away thanks for motivating me to get started on it...

Going to bed now, hope everyone sleeps well

Wow, saturn, that sounds fantastic. You will enjoying coming down to your kitchen tomorrow morning.

How are you enjoying being a granny, PA? (Please assure me it's easier than being a mum).

Day 3 of Dry January completed. This means I have been exceptionally clear headed tonight, so I have sorted out the washing and put the first load into the machine to switch on first thing tomorrow morning. Also did all the washing up and weighed out the cat food for tomorrow. Boys settled into bed in good time, following hot chocolate and bedtime snacks.

Am now about to start planning timetables for home ed next week. I know what we are studying and which resources we're using, I just need to sort it out into some sort of daily plan.

Will try not to go to bed too late.

Pretty quiet here today so now much of a list completed

• Up late!
• Took DD clothes shopping (she had vouchers to spend)
• Week's menu planned
• Shopping bought and put away
• D/W unloaded
• Christmas cards taken down and put in recycling

Tomorrow I am going to see if I can persuade DH to come ice skating as DD loved doing it earlier in the holidays

Evening / morning all. Struggling to sleep due to dh's horrendously loud snoring so updating here. Was planning on a lazy day except from an hour tidying main bedroom which I have been trying to get around to all holiday. One you however turned into about 5 hours as once I started I couldn't stop. Emptied and refilled drawers and wardrobe. Removed a black bag of rubbish and 3 black bags of old, disliked or non fitting clothes to take to recycling. Still more to do but happy that no longer have piles of clothes or clothes hanging on doors. Need to further try on more to see if they fit and declutter further but a fantastic job done unintentionally today. (helped by a soap opera marathon whilst doing it).

Tomorrow will be less productive on house front as lots of school work to do before return to school on Monday. Do want to get tree down though if possible and do some laundry.

Best try and get some sleep.

Hmm, not done too well at the early-to-bed babystep, but at least I have organised what DS2 and I are doing for home ed next week.

Sitting room now covered in books and papers.

Hope, dizzy and making, that you are now sleeping soundly.

Seven pages already! Everyone seems to have been very productive so far.

We finally arrived home just before midnight last night (we set off just before 9 am) and my main task today is to unpack. We took one suitcase over and came back with four (one of them borrowed from my parents).

Hope you got some sleep in the end, Toffee and Making.

Hi Linzer.

Toffee Nanny-hood is brilliant and well worth the steps of motherhood you have to take to get there!!! All the nice bits without sleepless nights, poo-ey nappies (unless I want to) no whingies. Just cuddles and giggles and fun. He is now 10.5 months old and is becoming a real little character, beginning to walk a few steps and is just the most adorable boy that has been on the planet since DS was that age. (not biased at all, you understand!!!!)
How is the home-edd-ing going?

All of you who have not been educated in the art of darts are seriously missing out. Friend came round last night and watched. Very good games. Final tonight, I think Son-iL will be joining me for the excitement.

Soooooo, the reason for the chat thread.....housework......plan for today....... I don't know.....whatever!!!! Feeling disorganised and lazy today. Might feel differently after church and lunch.......although I doubt it. Maybe a trip to Aldi this afternoon, but then I could procrastinate and do that tomorrow after work...hmmmmmmm

Last day of the holidays - boo!

Lovely day here but quite a lot to do to get the house de-Christmassed before we can go out and enjoy it.

To do
Wash bed linen
Clean laundry away
Christmas tree down
Christmas secs down in DC room
Cut DH's hair
Hoover living room
Find homes for the millions of toys in the living room
Go out for end of holiday tea
Try and thing of something else nice to do!
Clothes out for the morning
Clear out handbag for work
Poss declutter car (a bit!)

So really I should get out of bed!

Good morning All,

I've started my day reading the thread and I'm really enjoying catching up and reading about different rates of progress.Special wave to Rufus.

I work full time and I'm returning tomorrow . I don't know how I'm going to be able to continue getting on top of the house once I'm back to work because I'm really tired in the evenings.
I was very impressed with your bedroom Makingchanges !

Today's todos

Morning Routine =
Up, make bed , washed and dressed to slippers
Vac main room and kitchen
Shine sink

15 mins vac car
Tidy one clothes rail
Tidying away things on kitchen table and floor
Go for walk with dogs
Prepare things for return to work , including getting out clothes.

Read

Evening Routine
This I don't have and don't know what to include.

What do others have for their evening routine ?

Ugh, very slow morning here, I actually fell asleep on my lie in, so now feel more tired than I did when I first woke up at 7
Haven't managed to have a shower and get dressed yet, but I have stripped all our beds and put a wash on

To do:
Morning routine
Hoover stairs and landing
Sort car
Afternoon and evening routines

Hope everyone has a lovely day

Morning all.

Why do they call sleepovers sleepovers? They are the most misnamed event in the history of the universe. Had to bollock DS at 3am. They weren't making a huge amount of noise but the noise was just there iyswim. They are still dead now. I am tired.

saymwa (not sure i spelt that right but am on phone so can't scroll back). I too work full time in a demanding job (teacher in management role). It is possible to keep on top of the housework using the fly system when it is fully established. As we go through the babysteps the evening routine will become clear. Mine usually is dinner, clear up from dinner, shine sink, prep for morning (bags packed, clothes laid out etc) mission (if it gets done) gets done in the evening. And life is much easier if I achieve these things. As bitchy said in her OP, it is about finding what works for you. I promise you it works if you stick to it (forgetting the fact I have been on this thread for 5 years and still haven't quite mastered it).

pa grandparenthood sounds lovely.

Sorry Ellie had to laugh at the misnamed sleepover.

It was lovely getting up to a clear kitchen I really need to keep up with flying as it does make a difference.

Ta da
Beds made
Breakfast
Washing up done
Washing hung out
Wash load sorted for when there is room to put it in
Kitchen wiped
Tuesdays planning done

To do
Get washed and dressed
Walk dog with dd and dm
Delutter car
Ironing
Make the most of the last day of the holidays

PA - that's good to hear about being a granny . Home ed is going really well, thanks, although there are times (like now) when I panic that I'm not doing enough or not doing the right stuff. DS2 is very happy at home, though, which makes me happy. Did you know the LEA have agreed to fund DS1 at a specialist school at last? We just have to persuade him to go there now!

ellie - you are so right about the misnomer!

Mercury - lovely that you could enjoy your clean kitchen this morning . It makes such a difference to the day.

Linzer - glad you're home safe. Very funny that you brought back so many suitcases. Is one full of Marmite? (I seem to remember you miss that from the UK, but might have got that wrong).

Feeling groggy today, thanks to lack of sleep. Am determined to go to bed early tonight so that I start next week on top of things.

Have put the first wash on. Intending to battle the laundry monster today. Woke up this morning and thought that on my deathbed I will look back on my life and think I spent most of it tidying up...

To do list for today:
Empty fridge freezer
Take it to drive for collection on Tuesday
De-Christmas
Take DS to soft play party (and stay)
DS' homework
Finish thank you letters
Email DH's aunt about meet up
Iron DS' school clothes

Takeaway tea tonight as neither DH nor I will be able to focus on cooking so that's something!

Oh and re-clean kitchen

Morning all.

I did nothing on my to do list yesterday

To dos:
Get dressed
Shine sink
Call mum
Call grandad
Start coursework
Do floors
Walk dog
At least one load of washing
Catch up on the last episodes of Broadchurch

That isn't too bad.