March of the Fledglings 2015

[Slingclutter]

Heartfelt thanks to Whoknows for running the February thread during such a stressful time for her (and to Toffee for helping out.)

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 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 on Flying lessons. Here's the launch pad for more experienced fledglings.

Don't be put off by the purple prose and 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 might 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 15 mins 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, regulars, oldies and newcomers very, very welcome!

Sling sounds like you find gardening therapeutic too. I feel like maybe I should give it a go some time as so many people seem to get so much from it but to be honest I always feel like I'd be taking something away from DP if I helped as we only have a tiny garden so I don't want to steal away any of the jobs that he loves! Thank you for the sewing machine tip, will check it out too.

I love my sewing machine, mine is an old machanical one I inherited from my mother after I wore out my cheap one. I will say a cheap one is perfectly good for most projects as a beginner. Mine wore out due to over use, and too many layers of denim. Top tip for sewing machines is to do your research into the correct needle for the material -it makes a huge difference to the result and stops you breaking so many oh and keep spare needles in stock (generally I keep 1 multi pack and then a pack of the size I use most varies depending on the projects in progress )

Swan I think it is a confidence and feeling of control with ds. He is better when he feels in control than when he doesn't, equally when he is happy in himself he struggles with heights less. I like your ideas about writing for ds2. As someone who found writing hard at school it can be soul destroying to have work returned covered in corrections (sometimes almost as much as the original written piece) make it about putting the idea on paper rather than the corrections is a good idea. What about focusing on one thing at a time (eg 5 worst spellings/full stops and capital letters) so that there is correction without it being overwhelming? probably trying to teach you to suck eggs so appologies

Whoknows you sound incredibly productive! your walk with the dc sounds lovely. We have had rain all day. I am looking forward to hill stomping weather.

I have been MIA for a few days and have 5 pages to catch up on - will read and update on Monday. DD has had a dance show for the last three days, we have been out of the house for 5 hours a day and I am shattered (and consuming vino).

Hi everyone, just popping back in to say I have been reading the thread but not much time to comment/reply.

I just want to sympathise with Swan about DHs who won't read/inform themselves about things and then make things more difficult. We have tons of parenting books in this house and I have on many occasions put them in front of DH and he is still surprised when he says to a child "Would you like to take all the dishes to the kitchen now?" or "Don't you think it's time to get ready for bed?" and they say no, or ignore him! He cannot get DD1 to bed at a decent time, and as I go upstairs with DD2 early (8.30-9pm) and then get into bed myself to read, I am not around to make things happen as they should. I despair at an adult man who isn't able to get his kids to get off the computer or go to bed. A few weeks ago he was in charge of DD2 all day while I was out, and when I got home she was on Minecraft, where I had left her in the morning. On discovering she had been there all day I immediately chucked her off and made her do something else. "Oh, I asked her 3 times to get off the computer" he said!

Not doing much flying, and now Easter hols are here I know my routines will be all disrupted. Just trying to keep working on my dissertation with both girls at home all day will be hard enough.

Bitchy I am really liking that idea of writing down lists of jobs for kids to do and no computer time till it is done. I might start doing that!

And finally, wrt religion, just want to mention that this is my favourite time of the year. Easter is my favourite Christian festival/event - better than Christmas as far as I am concerned!

I have combined it with confiscation of technology 1 hour prior to bedtime. Tv is allowed but no computers/hand held devices/consoles etc. It has helped with bed time and ds is less likely to be up in the night now too. Took a couple of weeks to introduce the concept to ds and it was done with conversations about what is healthy/the damage of not sleep/eating/eye breaks. Was meet with some resistance to start off with but it was ds who took the initiative about first thing in the morning chores himself and him who found this worked best for him. The aspie side of him needs detailed clear lists so that was already being used. I just rewarded his initiative with adjusting my expectations. (ie he needs down time on his own, being anti social and thus to expect him to be social/interactive is unrealistic)

ta da
make 2 pints of Jelly
work

There is more stuff that needs doing but I really cba tbh. But having drunk 5 cups of coffee today training will be happening so I have a chance in hell of sleep. Also currently considering a name change. Not sure what to yet. But thinking something completely different. You'll know it is me even if I don't tell you. Lets be honest I am too identifiable from posting style Although randomly without my swear buddy on the thread I have been very good this month and barely sworn at all

Evening all!

Reasonably successful day today. Dodged between sunshine and showers to buy new tumble dryer which is coming on Friday. (Didn't want to delay because have 5 visitors staying over Easter who will generate lots of bed linen and towels to wash.) Also picked up new more accurate weighing scale and hair dryer, to replace those that have died recently. Visited friend on way home and dropped off a few Easter presents for their dc, then dropped in on post office and supermarket. Then home. Then out again for school run. Then ballet bun and ballet drop off. (And dh is kindly doing second leg of ballet run so I don't have to hang around.)

Bless you Greymalkin and Dogsbum for volunteering to run thread. It is very kind of you both and very much appreciated . Also happy to help with instructions in any way possible, although I'm sure ¨bitchy would be the much better tutor, being far more technologically savvy than me! Anyway, I know eveyrone will pitch in to help when possible!!

Greymalkin entering you in for May - thank you very much!!

Dogsbum Would perhaps wait until tomorrow to see if Pushme appears, but if not, it would be great if you could take over for April (if you are sure you are feeling up to it, what with late stage pregnancy and fatigue and everything). You musn't overdo it!

Swan good luck packing for Ireland - hope you have a lovely time - and I am sure ds2's writing will be improving naturally anyway with all the reading you have been doing; the two are so inextricably linked. Can see how irritating your dh's input would be though after all your efforts! You did better than me btw getting to church yesterday.

Dogsbum arf at Mary Berry! but your tarte au citron sounds delicious!! And arf at over active imagination; there was a period of time when I went to pick up dd at school when the teacher's kept enquiring after the "rest of our children" who lived in England and Spain[???], and about dd's Irish friend who won running medals, I had to explain that all were products of dd's fertile imagination! I do indeed love gardening btw; could you not just sneak a few pots on the terrace for your own enjoyment - maybe grow some mini-veg or something?

Crikey Whoknows [presents second golden feather duster award] another one who has been beavering away instead of writing about it her like me. Hats off re: all of your reorganising and decluttering! I am very of your "sewing niche" - always wanted one of those! And I've been meaning to ask if the steamer was still going strong and how you rated them now you've had it a while (still dithering over decision to buy or not)!? Anyway, looks like you will be enjoying a very clean and tidy house, devoid of CHAOS, over Easter! Congratulations!! And how you had the energy to go to the park after all of that lot I do not know but well done!!

Jelly Monster Bitchy You have indeed been very restrained this month !! We are doing the same thing now wrt bed-time - all tablets, Ipods, anything with a screen (except telly) has to go on small white table one hour before bed - it definitely helps. Agree about sewing machines and using the correct needles btw - know to my cost how it doesn't pay to 'hope for the best'!

Bless Always look forward to Easter here too! Good luck with your dissertation over the holidays; hope your dh can help a bit more effectively so you can get some proper work done! Dare I say I sometimes think the 'incompetence' of husbands sometimes = convenient avoidance of tasks!!

Big waves to Fizrim and tops up her for later

BBL with last link of the month!

oops - Whoknows that should have read ' here' like me - sorry!

Bless I think the minecraft story would make a rather good "parenting dilemma" cartoon. It would be funny if it wasn't so familiar (actually both me and dh are guilty of that in our house..complaining the children won't do as we ask but not actually asking them to do it with any sense of authority)

done
fiddled around with the dw bailing out dangerous chemicals to no avail and found a cracked wheel thing in the drain which probably means I corroded the drain with dangerous chemicals So I give up now - I think we need a new dw after Easter.

twins screaming I had better go.

Swan - do you think your DS would like to write letters to people? I have just joined this Facebook page and DS2 has just started receiving letters (which he loves - always exciting getting a letter in the post). So far, he is happy to write back. It doesn't seem to have occurred to him that this is a sneaky way for me to get him doing some writing practice.

Flying first thing - swish and swipe, washing on, etc.
Out for a walk with DS2
Practised Times Table rhymes and read about bugs whilst out
Lunch
Watched old TV ads with DS2 (wanted to show him that old Smash advert with the aliens)
Fell asleep on DS2's bed with one of the cats

Oh sorry to hear about the dw Swan I always find my white goods start dying in succession (hopefully not the case here!)

Dogsbum I have pm'd you with some tips on doing links (looks more complicated than it is - honest!!)

Greymalkin will send to you too when I have a mo!

Supper's ready ... got to go!

so... I have succeeded in my evil plan...ds2 has done a page of writing every single day of the last three days Not quite what we thought we were going to get though. I asked him to write about his home ed experiences.

20 minutes later he read out to me a very alarming script of dh and I arguing over how to teach him for home ed. I didn't realise this when he asked me how to spell "Phonics". It ended with me saying to dh "My day was lovely until you came in and you have ruined everything" (this must have been the day he suggested booking Brentford tickets in the middle of phonics. Oh dear

I think I need to go to Ireland.

Big waves to Toffee!!

Can't believe it is the end of the month already! I've been really impressed by how active you've all been! (Wish I could say the same for myself - home office and boudoir still a cluttery mess and I still weigh far too much - but onwards and upwards hopefully.)

**

Baby-step no. 31 for Tues 31st March is here. It's about finding out about the system as you do it ie as the clutter is cleared, you will find that you will have time to do the zone detailed cleaning, the weekly home blessing hour etc. Flylady also wants you to sign up for more e-mails but we advise not doing that.

We are in Zone 5 The Sitting Room for a few days (March 29-31) : here.

If you want to, you can declutter for 15 mins a day in Zone 5!

The detailed cleaning list (if you are at that stage) for Zone 5 is here.

Tuesday's mission is hoovering the living room carpet properly right to the sides this time and under the furniture (not just up the middle as flylady usually suggests!).

The daily focus for Tuesday is: planning : menus, activities, special events, medical appts, haircuts etc.

The monthly habit for March is the controversial one about getting dressed immediately on rising and wearing lace up shoes indoors etc.

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

Tally-hooooo!!!

**

Hello all. Sorry to gatecrash. Tried joining this thread in the past under different username but couldn't keep up spent too much time reading & not actually FLYing

But, wondered if any of you have ordered Flylady products? Did you have to pay any import tax (or whatever it's called) or other extra charges? And how much? Also, how long did delivery take? Was it worth it?

In particular I've got my eye on those office in a bag things. A water bottle. Probably a dryer lint cleaning kit. And quite keen to try the rags in a bag. Or perhaps you can recommend UK based alternatives?

Thanks.

x posts Swan sorry but arf at your ds2 using dispute over his home ed as writing topic!! You obviously have a bright lad there !!

Hi Moonwatching - so sorry but haven't ordered any of the Flylady products (except the book via Amazon UK) so can't help I'm afraid. Perhaps some others on here may be able to advise? Good luck with the Flying and you'd be welcome to come back on here any time!

Thanks Sling for the pm about running the thread. I have printed it off and got all geared up then read the other message about waiting for Pushme until tomorrow.

So I will read up on how to post a thread and compose the intro (have printed off Jan, Feb and March intros to guide me) and then I'll be ready to do baby step one tomorrow of posting my first thread unless Pushme shows up and would like to cover April.

I'm feeling fine about running the thread if Pushme doesn't want to, especially perhaps as DP goes away at the end of April, so in some ways I think it might be quite a nice distraction to have a little job to do outside of my in house DIY jobs, especially as I've just finished the only other outside job that I did of a bit of volunteering in a local school. So don't worry, it wont be taking on too much for me and I'll be happy to speak up if I need any help

Thanks Slingclutter - great name! May give it a try again. Just restarted the babysteps a couple of days ago - properly this time!!!
How does the book compare to the info on website? Don't want to waste £15 if it's largely the same, you know

Well as long as you are sure Dogsbum!! Really kind of you!! (You sound really organised btw!!)

I know Pushme travels a lot for her work (which is v. demanding) so she may (understandably) be otherwise occupied.

[SC proffers sustaining for the month ahead!!]

Thanks Moonwatching if only I could live up to it .

Also it's so long ago that I read the Flylady book that I can't really remember what is in it and my bks are so disorganised that I cant find it to remind myself . Don't think it is substantially different to the site but I think I remember finding it reasonably interesting on first reading. Ditto body clutter book! Again, perhaps others can advise?

Hello all, have just done the catchup reading.

I am also happy to help out with the thread if needed anytime. Put me on the list please!

Greymalkin, fab ebaying! Has work finished now?

Sling having to go through clearing for secondary school - how stressful is that?!

We have been on an Easter Farm Trail today (this farm does trails for Easter and Halloween, really fun and good to get out in the fresh air for a couple of hours). The house is still a bit messier than I'd like as we have been doing some work in the kitchen, which has meant a lot of the stuff from there coming in and out of the living room (the only other room we have downstairs) but the end is in sight. No work at all in our bedroom last week and it really needs it. Must crack on with that one.

I dug the Flylady book out recently - I like to re-read it from time to time even if it did take me a while to find it again I think bits of it appear in her emails/testimonials. I did something on the Flylady Facebook page to get the babysteps (which was a 39 page PDF!) and that put me back on the main emails. I have unsubscribed, I kept getting emails about a book her husband had written! You can probably get most of the info from the book on the website but I like having it in one handy place. Kindle would be even better.

I've got the book and also haven't read it for a while. Two main points from me, one good, one bad. The bad one is that there is a lot of the slushy testimonial type stuff in it. The good one is that it explains Flylady far better than the website IMO, because you read it all through in order. Whereas the website it's very easy to flit from page to page in random order and not really grasp it all. When I first read the book I had been on this thread for a couple of years and it felt as though the most enormous penny dropped. It probably doesn't have anything the website doesn't have if you search hard enough though. You can pick up copies of it cheaper secondhand Abe books. I haven't tried any of the other products, I am loyal to Lakeland generally!

Bitchy will note your sewing machine tips and add to the list that you are all helping me to compile, I didn't know there were so many sewers here, good to know for the future.

Sling love your over active imagination DD story - glad to know it wasn't just me as a kid.

DP would let me join in with the garden but I just see how much pleasure he gets from it and how good it is for him and I don't want to get in the way of that. I do think that doing it on his own, silently without my chatter in his ear is part of what makes it so therapeutic. Not to mention my notorious black thumb of death (as opposed to a green thumb)

Swan loving your DS' script/play to embarrass his parents, brilliant, bless him....

Sling thanks for offer of cake to sustain. DP came in shortly afterwards bearing chips and dips as if on cue, so feeling nicely sustained.

I think wanting to be organised about the thread is wanting to take the responsibility of carrying the baton of the thread seriously (i.e. not feck it up) I can be trusted I promise. Plus it's good to know that people will chip in if I need help or if they notice that I've forgotten something important. Good to know you've got my back

Anyway, today's tada.

Morning routine / school run
Went to allotment briefly to check for wind damage
Home to pay window cleaner, grab packed lunch and send a few emails
Work
Into town for some felt for DD's sewing projects
School run
Supervise DS's homework
Supervise DS baking a cake
Cook dinner and prep packed lunches for tomorrow
Invite friends for coffee tomorrow to spur myself to tidy up more
Take DCs swimming (DS's last ever lesson!)
Home to ice DS's cake
Assist DD with sewing a collage of the eclipse to take to Brownies
DCs to bed
Groom cats and clean litter trays
An hour of tidying - the house is as tidy as it's been n a long time now, so I can do a quick home bleugh in the morning before friends arrive.

Did training, and have answered a really odd pm about a thread that has been zombied for over 5yrs Thankfully MNs fabulous pm system automatically sends the pm from the right username.

Drunk too much coffee again. Will be on bed rest most of this week I expect as have done way too much. Even without the coffee I doubt I would be sleeping though as the window is currently playing bowling with bins that have been put out for collection tomo. Streets are going to be covered in litter, and it is pretty noisey. Didn't really believe ds when he said there was a storm coming through tonight, but I do now

Did training, and have answered a really odd pm about a thread that has been zombied for over 5yrs Thankfully MNs fabulous pm system automatically sends the pm from the right username.

Drunk too much coffee again. Will be on bed rest most of this week I expect as have done way too much. Even without the coffee I doubt I would be sleeping though as the window is currently playing bowling with bins that have been put out for collection tomo. Streets are going to be covered in litter, and it is pretty noisey. Didn't really believe ds when he said there was a storm coming through tonight, but I do now