Remember remember through all of November the Fledglings will flutter and fly!

[fuzzpig]

Halloween’s over, Christmas (sorry) is drawing near, but perhaps you have too much S.T.U.F.F. (Something That Undermines Family Fun) getting in the way. Or maybe you want to rid your house of C.H.A.O.S. (Can’t Have Anyone Over Syndrome)? Have no fear, the Fledglings are here! We are all learning to get into a routine for maintaining the household, so we have more time for that thing called life.

This is where, from the first of the month (seriously, HOW is it November already?!), we follow – loosely – the rules of FlyLady. We ignore the somewhat barftastic language, and also thoroughly recommend NOT signing up to the emails… unless you want your inbox full to bursting.

Here’s some basic info on getting started – but don’t worry, all will be revealed on a daily basis (assuming I get the links right…) so just jump in.

There are 3 basic stages:

• Baby Steps – if you’re new, start here. Or if you’re coming back to us after a break (trust me, we’ve been there!) then these are good way to get back into it.

• Repeat Baby Steps + do 15 mins a day decluttering in the current room or 'zone' - yep, just 15 mins, it makes a difference!

or

• Reinforce Baby Steps + do Daily Missions - if you have finished decluttering (one day I’ll get to that stage… one day…).

There are also detailed cleaning guides if you’re really enthusiastic.

NB
This is a very long-running thread so we may appear cliquey but we really aren't! All newcomers, long-termers, lurkers and intermittent returnees not only welcome to join in but positively encouraged to do so!

Another NB
Start where you are. There is no need to worry about being perfect – perfectionism = paralysis! There is no such thing as ‘falling behind’ with FlyLady, if you miss anything, just move on and continue as normal the next day.

Any questions, don't hesitate to ask!

Good luck!

It is quite amazing though the things that stress us individually I bet you lot would never find anything computery the source of stress. I just start feeling sick and angry the minute I cannot understand something on the screen, almost as if I want to throw up, despair sets in faster than frustration. Yet give me a screaming teenager and I feel quite competent nowadays, or even a large traffic jam..

Nope even when you are a top level computer programmer you will still find computers stressfull and the best tool for bringing out colourful language

Internet has been broken for best part of 20hrs. So I had a screaming teenager here. But would agree that out of the two I prefer technology issues than pre-teen issues.

No time to rest or feel sorry for myself. It's all incredibly busy around here. But taken the time to watch a film with ds tonight. Nearly. Bedtime. sod the child, MINE

Thank you Fledglings I'm just popping back to post tomorrow's links, and to say the Dr appt went ok, she agreed to let me increase my ADs and I have to make an appt with the mental health nurse. Eeeeek but must be done.

I accomplished nothing else other than sticking a wash on.

Links for Tuesday 17th November!

Baby Step No.17: Bedtime! They aren’t just for the DCs…

We are in Zone 3 this week: Bathroom + Another Room (November 15-21).

Declutter for 15 mins in Zone 3 if you want to.

If you are at this stage, here is the detailed cleaning list for Zone 3.

Mission for Tuesday: Clear out your medicine cabinet and clear the bed in the spare room, or the white goods in the laundry room (because we all have laundry rooms obviously :o)

Tuesday's daily focus is: Planning.

The habit for November is: Menu Planning!

A summary of the above (which should update itself daily) can be found here in the Flightplan.

Fuzzpig glad your doctors app. went well
SC sorry dd is ill again. hope they / you work out whats wrong and she's feeling better soon.
Blue hope you got teh Amazon order sorted out. So easy to do, one of Dd's reports got sent to old flat as forgot to let CAHMS know new address!
knitting I hate computers, got a nervous sweat having to set up dc's new tablets!

Ta Da

Cleaned fridge and freezer
Wrote list of what is in freezer so stop rebuying same things - still have 4 boxes of various ice cream lollies that dc's were eating loads and suddenly stopped!
Washing in the T/D
kitchen cleaned.

Thansk for positive comments on Dd's singing. We'er starting to get less stressed and more looking forward to going now to RAH.
That's all as now resting or will be completely exhausted after work. Dyspraxia and epilepsy makes being a dinner lady really tiring as I have to think fast and of more than one thing at a time. most people don't understand nad just think I'm being lazy getting tired after such a short tiem at work. Guess people don't understand teh effects of an unseen illness/ disability if they don't suffer with it. lovley having online friends both on here and on FB groups who know exactly how I'm feeling and we can empathise and moan to each other.

To do

Lunch
work
put clothes away
Nap - only way to survive to evening without a complete stroppy teenage melt down!

Will try and come back on later to catch up on everyones day.

Just remembered got to fill in Dd's form for her autism assessment next thursday - they want it posted ASAP! Aargh!!

Greetings from the centre of Jihadism in Europe!

[I know it is definitely not something to be light-hearted about. Just easier to deal with it that way, knowing this is all happening 20 mins down the road.]

Volunteering tomorrow afternoon should be particularly interesting.

Hats off to all of you battling with chronic illness. Life is hard enough frankly. And hats off to those of you dealing with yet more bureaucracy in relation to sn. What a battle all of it is.

shannara it's great that you are feeling less stressed about forthcoming RAH concert!! If her performance is the same as on the video, your dd will be absolutely brill!!

fuzzpig thanks for linkies, and well done on being so proactive and hope meeting with mh nurse proves helpful.

Knitting I remember when we first had computers installed at work in 1990 or thereabouts (shared by 3 of us, prior to that we had had electronic typewriters, showing my age now!) and the first thing the trainer said to us is "remember, this is a machine, you are always, by definition, in control". Since then, when encountering technological difficulties I have found myself repeating the mantra "I am in control, I really am in control, oh no it's gone wrong, oh no I am not in control at all, this machine hates me, where has that document gone ... ?"

Sorry you are still so under pressure Can'tsee but glad you are back on line!

Thanks for everyone's kind thoughts about dd. Yes, thanks for asking Knitting gf was ruled out last time. We've gone back to the doctor this morning and the latest concern is her appendix (separate to ear/throat symptoms - although it does cause temp apparently) and we're being sent for ultra-sound this afternoon. Trying to get stuff done but can't concentrate!

Big waves to eveyrone else!

Forgot to say Knitting hope your dh is feeling a bit better

Blue hope all stray parcels now safely captured!

PS One of our dog-walkers is a hugely talented techhie person in charge of a huge application (is that the proper term?) in a huge EU-related dept Knitting and she does dog-walking in her spare time to de-stress because she finds it all so tension-inducing!

I've been quite enjoying the computer today - been messing about on Excel making worksheets for the DCs using different formula etc. I don't find that stressful, because it's my choice to do it, but find things like having to download/open files in different formats really stressful and things like filling in forms just send me into a panic! We are indeed all different!

No Flying from me today though, tummy bug, ugh. Was enough of an achievement to get the DCs to read, we've been sooo lazy the last few weeks

Guess what i have been doing?

yep more. washing.

3 black bin bags of stuff removed to go out of the house. Progress. Slow slow progress.

Also i made the mistake of showing the mother figure my cj. I have been asked to tweak the design to make it more her and create her one for her birthday The bonus in this is that I don't have to figure out anything AND can avoid everything except the stationery shop which is always a nice place to visit but can end up being expensive

RIght to do:
hoover cupboard out
clean cupboard
hoover bathroom floor
mop bathroom floor
put laundry bins back in bathroom

watch a film with ds!

Have I ever mentioned that I hate shopping?

Sorry I haven't read thread since I last checked in and I can't remember when that was, Meerkitten still not really sleeping so am just getting by at the moment, strangely I'm feeling fine about it though and I'm enjoying continuing to feel more established in mum and baby groups.

I've also borrowed a new type of sling that is loads better than the stretchy one that I had before which was a faff to put on so I feel like I've got a bit more freedom in terms of walking around compared to the pram and also around the house and DP finds it much easier so he is using it much more. It's also good for getting Meerkitten to sleep, I'm currently making the most of the fact that she is asleep in the sling to post this.

Meerkitten is now five and a half months so I'm gearing up to weaning, just got the highchair that I've borrowed out of the eaves and assembled it (not easy without instructions) and I'm also going to start taking her swimming when I can get hold of a baby swimming costume so I feel like there is lots going on developmentally with Meerkitten.

Still not much flying going on but I do try to make sure that things don't get any worse so I do try and clean and tidy as I go and I'm managing to keep on top of the endless washing so I guess that is good. Paperwork as ever is my enemy and I don't have brain space to keep on top of it at all at the moment.

SC I was forgetting that you are in the vicinity of all the current trouble, I hope it isn't too stressful. A close friend's sister and family live in Paris so it has been good to hear that they are ok. So many people must be impacted by this in so many ways. I'm due to stay in friend's flat in a couple of weeks while she is in Paris so I'm feeling very aware of travel in and out of the area and people's perception of travel at the moment. I'm feeling quite glad that we have no plans to travel anywhere at the moment.

I hope that everyone else is feeling ok, I will try and read some of the thread now while Meerkitten continues to sleep, fingers crossed it lasts a bit longer

Just discovered that an entire black sack of bedding has suffered the fate of survival of the fittest having been accidentally got rid of before it got sorted. Ah well that is one less thing to have to make decisions about but a bit :( too that choice was not possible

Other than that the to do list has been completed. Forgot how much coffee I had and was drinking so completely exhausted yet brain is 100miles/hour so am working on Dmum's cf. Might go do the ironing though if I still can't settle. One less job and all that.

Morning. Hope thing are quiet near your SC despite the chaos in Paris.

All quiet here thank you Can't and Dogsbum although everyone a bit nervy in general. A notable rise in number of sirens and helicopters flying about. Some of the schools (not dd's) have armed guards outside. Let's hope they've caught the assailants + associates in St Denis this morning (sil nowhere near there thankfully).

Hope none of your lovely knitting projects were in any of the black sacks that were thrown out by mistake!!

DD has gone off to school (an hour late) just now having got permission to miss sport this morning, so she will only have to endure four hours in class today. I'm worrying rather as she looks as grey as parchment and still feels ill but the doc said it was OK. (They've ruled out appendicitis thankfully. The stomach pain is higher up in her liver and they've diagnosed a "gastro-intestinal fever" which is stomach flu more or less). Poor dd, she has had everything going this term, we are trying to keep upbeat but it is making the transition to secondaire all the more difficult.

I have been tidying and hoovering the house from 6.30 am for baby-sitter this afternoon so I can fulfil my (new) volunteering slot (but will see how dd is before I depart). Have also recommenced my assault on Mt Washmore.

Can't congrats on finishing to do list! [Hope you were able to sleep eventually last night.]
at your ma asking for a cj for her birthday!

Dogsbum so sorry that Meerkitten is still not sleeping; that must be so very draining. Let's hope that sleep will come more easily to her once she is on solids. Congrats on keeping on top of the basics and the laundry, which is no mean feat with everything you have going on!

Fuzzpig hope you are recovering from your stomach bug and feel better today

Must dash to (old) volunteering slot now. Very happy to get out of the house for a while! Hope everyone has a good day!

Encouraging wing flaps to everyone in the coop!

I haven't read through, but I am TIDYING!!

Dh has finally ordered my greenhouse, not the Swallow one in the end but a berry red one, 4ft3 by 4ft5. A long time to wait till it is delivered and assembled(tg!) but it is our joint Xmas present so both very pleased to have that dealt with.

Was really quite cross with ds2 this morning for not getting ready, and I think he is now going to try harder to have a shower the night before and be sitting at the kitchen table at 8am ON THE DOT...or else lifts will cease.. On the otherhand he outwitted me by telling me it would only take 15 minutes to get there (almost unheard of what with traffic etc) and it DID, despite our leaving so late.

Beautiful stark day, wind is blowing everything into a frenzy outside.

SC get her back!!! surely it will just mean she relapses!!!{shock] Doctors seem to be quite keen to send children off to school with septic sore throats once on antibiotics and various (I remember that with my 6 year old who had only been throwing up two days before and had strep throat doctor saying blithely time to send him back)- do you think they are paid by the government to try and keep the nation moving??

Links for Wednesday 18th November!

Baby Step No.18: Read the 11 Commandments! (link contained within)

We are in Zone 3 this week: Bathroom + Another Room (November 15-21).

Declutter for 15 mins in Zone 3 if you want to.

If you are at this stage, here is the detailed cleaning list for Zone 3.

Mission for Wednesday: Cleaning bathroom mirror/vanity unit, and some decluttering in a bedroom closet.

Wednesday's daily focus is: Anti-procrastination! Do something (or many things!) that you have been putting off.

The habit for November is: Menu Planning!

A summary of the above (which should update itself daily) can be found here in the Flightplan.

Sorry it's so late will try and get back later.

Sorry to hear DD still poorly, SC.

Parcel fiasco still continues. The order was split, with bits coming via different couriers, obviously. One I managed to tell the new address to, but they still tried to take it to our old house, and then phoned our new number (so that part got through!!) to see if the address was right or not... but weren't allowed to bring it here with the wrong address on it!!

The other part, they kept telling me on Monday that they couldn't change the address yet because they didn't have the actual parcel from Amazon - up to 6.30pm. By 9.15 the next morning it had been delivered - to our old house. I haven't been able to get hold of the estate agents, or the new people to find out if I can go and get it!!! All very frustrating.

Had a friend round for coffee this morning, who was admiring the new place, making me feel a bit better as it all still seems utter chaos to me. Work is picking up too, which makes me feel more productive. Have put up some more pictures but also have washing draped all over the place - decided to go for the new tumble drier option as had occasional leaks and lacked total confidence in its heat settings, but now have to wait for yet another delivery!

Big waves to all, esp. Dogs. :)

SC - so sorry to see that your DD is so ill . Really hope she starts to improve soon.

Glad to see you are finally in your new place, Blue, even if it is all a bit chaotic (and very annoying about the parcel fiasco).

fuzz - really sorry to see that you're struggling with MH issues. Hope the ADs help .

knitting - hope your new greenhouse arrives sooner than you expect. I have exactly the same issue with DS1 about getting ready in the morning: he is often still not dressed just minutes before he is meant to leave for school, but acts as if DH and I are the unreasonable ones. Maybe it's a teenage thing. I seem to remember getting very irritated when I was hurried in the morning at that age.

CantSee - I notice you are introducing your DM to the joys of Flylady control journals...!

Sorry to have gone AWOL again. This work thing is really disrupting my Mumsnetting . Am still enjoying going into work every day and DH is still struggling with the demands of running a home and DC.

I do miss keeping up with the fledgings, though .

Links for Thursday 19th November!

Baby Step No.19: More Testimonials! Nah, you’re alright thanks.

We are in Zone 3 this week: Bathroom + Another Room (November 15-21).

Declutter for 15 mins in Zone 3 if you want to.

If you are at this stage, here is the detailed cleaning list for Zone 3.

Mission for Thursday: Inventory of bathroom products needed (seems quite a good plan!) and changing spare bed sheets or doing laundry reboot.

Thursday’s daily focus is: Errand Day.

The habit for November is: Menu Planning!

A summary of the above (which should update itself daily) can be found here in the Flightplan.

We miss you too Toffee!

I have the day to myself today. DH has taken the DCs to their activities. I do not plan on doing much

well, lots of driving round frightening roundabouts today in the rain,

and booked ds2 onto a touchtyping course, last lesson term of course as he refused to go to today's

have put some party clothes in the wash

children are desperately clamouring for me to give a Xmas party...arrrgh, when I look at the other things I need to sort out, that seems the last thing to do, and I really hate being hostess as well as guest Ds2 explained to me in great detail all the ways he would help organise the party, hand out the food, open the door, take people to see his train set This is a mixed age party they want us to have..Very difficult to find a good date before Xmas as people tend to be quite exhausted then and flakey don't turn up and after Christmas it does hang over you that you have to give a party and tidy up...etc

Toffee glad work is going well. It must be very odd commiserating dh for his tiring day running house Hope he starts enjoying the perks soon. Dh finds running a business and doing the children (he does a fair bit with them) very tiring, but at least he doesn't have to do any dropping off or picking up as he cannot drive. This morning he complained bitterly that he had to organise ds as I was driving dd to school; I think it does feel endless when he added it on to organising dd first thing, AND prodding ds1, who leaves alright but still has to be reminded to wake up in the first place and re-reminded to get in the shower.