Flylady's fledglings spring clean your nests! March '16

[Greymalkin]

First of all, a big thank you to Fuzzpig for leading us through the February thread, (you can hung up your duster for a bit now!)

If you are struggling 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 support and chat along the way.

The FlyLady link is here Don't be put off by the twee language of the site – we all agree that the underlying system is very effective.

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 swamped with her marketing and testimonial nonsense. 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):

• start or repeat baby steps
• repeat baby steps + do 15 minutes a day decluttering in the current zone
• 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.

There are three key points to keep in mind throughout:

• No perfectionism allowed - this is harder than you would imagine and many of us on this thread struggle with this one.
• You are never behind - just start where you are and anything you do is progress.
• 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.

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 ‘ta-da’ lists but don't let that worry you. Do what you can, anything is better than nothing, and don't judge yourself against others.

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

Here's the launch pad for more experienced fledglings.

Don’t let it put you off if we appear a bit cliquey, we really aren’t. Some of us have been on here for years – but all lurkers, intermittent returnees, oldies and newcomers very, very welcome.

Not sure why I addressed you as DS Needastrongone - it was you I meant. < shakes head>

Waves back at fuzz

No worries Whoknows!

Hope you feel better soon Einstein

Thank you for the welcomes.

I'll get stuck into the 'theme' of the thread tomorrow, today I kind of just completed the chores according to my list I had already. Given it's a working day, I'm actually quite chuffed with completing everything I wanted to, it doesn't happen all that often...

So

vacuum downstairs and mop
cook tea (chilli and nachos) and clear up
sort animals (chickens, dog walk x 2, pony)
wash dog bedding and wipe plastic beds
swap washing over x 2
wipe kitchen surfaces over
general tidy up before the cleaner comes tomorrow
put washing away
various picking up of DC
check internet banking and pay a bill

Up very early tomorrow as our pony has been stabled for the night, given the weather, so having a sneaky glass of wine and then an early night.

Evening everyone,

Welcome to Needs and good to see you again too Rat, hope you are feeling better soon. I completely agree with WhoKnows that we all bend the Flylady system to suit our own homes, so do whatever helps really.

< big wave to Ellie > [a toast to your new home] How exciting!

Seriously impressed with SC's and Einstein's achievements for each of you.

Fuzz tricky feelings around your DH's interview; I totally get what you mean though about really needing our DH's around sometimes. Not in a 'I'm a helpless little woman' way, but rather needing them for some spiritual bolstering and partnership way.

I think I've burnt out a bit too, but I don't mind as I've got some huge jobs done in the last few days.

Ta Da
DS to nursery
Cats fed
Recycling put out for collection
Went to weekly therapy appointment
Cleaner cycle for the washing machine
Cleaned the washing machine detergent drawer
Made beds
Dishwasher
Folded laundry
Prepped 'ironing station' for cleaner for tomorrow
Chucked out junk mail
Then I sat on the sofa for a few hours, t'was lovely

Flight plan for Thursday 10th March

We are continuing in Zone 2: The Kitchen

Today’s mission is to scrub round the sink tap with a toothbrush and gumption

The next baby step is to learn the power of 15 minutes This is one I think we all agree is very effective.

Habit of the month is getting dressed to your shoes. A tad controversial on here, some do, some don’t… (I certainly don't)

Thursday is errand day So make appointments, do tip/charity shop runs etc

Flap Flap and awaaaaaayyyyyy!

Yes definitely agree about the power of 15 minutes! It's really been helpful in the last couple of weeks, as I've felt much more able to just get on and do something knowing that it doesn't have to lead to hours of difficult work.

DH does know the person interviewing him so he's fairly hopeful. We've agreed that even if he does get it he will keep an eye out for a better job anyway, he's got a recruitment agency to book with etc. But it won't be urgent then and he can be selective.

I'll manage of course, if he does start a new job straight away. It's different now to how it was when the DCs were at school. I really struggled every day without him because I'd be taking/picking up two unhappy children on the school run and trying to get them to school/home without killing each other and then spending hours recovering from the uphill walk home (or spending a fortune on taxis) and even then barely being able to stand long enough to cook dinner for them... it was awful, I'd be counting down the minutes until his return and if he had to work late I would cry with frustration. Looking back I don't actually know how I got through it.

It's not like that anymore and I don't feel that desperate need for DH in the same way, because even though I'm still ill and I struggle a lot with household stuff, our home is so much happier and calmer, because the DCs are settled into home ed, and aren't stressed from the overwhelm of school and bullies. Now it's just looking forward to daddy getting home so they can show him what work they've done or have a kickabout outside, or help him with dinner etc. Even though I still need DH to do the practical stuff, and I would really like him around more generally of course (I do rather like spending time with him :o), it's really not as bad as it used to be, and actually it's only writing this that has made me really appreciate how much better things are in that regard. :)

I think now my worry about the possible immediate start is more because of the house - we'd agreed that any time between jobs would be spent on a proper intense declutter and clean, which is much needed. I'm frustrated because we can't do that if he's working - although it may still be vaguely possible as he won't be doing all the unpaid overtime etc and may get early or late shifts which will mean more daylight hours at home. Just not as quickly which would be a shame! And anyway we get next week together no matter what, I am so excited about that as we haven't had that for such a long time.

So in other less soppy we found my wallet, finally . Pretty much turned the living room upside down to do so though . There were a few bags and boxes of random panic-tidied shite, so once the DCs are in bed (I just realised how late it is! Oops ) I'll stick a DVD on and try and siphon off some of it into appropriate places/the bin. I do need to do more on the computer later though, and also do my redeployment form! I've already done DSS' proofreading, wasn't as bad as I thought as a lot of the pages were references etc.

Right, best crack on. :)

Evening all. So...today was my first real attempt to get back on the flying wagon and i actually have a frigging ta-da list which involves some flying like stuff. I delved deep into my flying memory in an effort to prove it is like riding a bike ie you never forget and then i remembered that i was, and always have been, a little shit at it.

Ta da-
Morning routine (sink shined, swish and swipe, dishwasher, washing on)
Washing
Putting away
Uniforms out for morning
Kitchen surfaces cleared and cleaned
Work
Swimming lessons
Dinner
Dc's stuff packed for going to their dad's thurs-sun.

Welcome to need.

Hope poorly people are feeling better and that sad people are feeling happier.

I feel like i have proper achieved today.

Sounds as though some good Flying work has been going on today. We are doing well this week too, despite lurgies. The chore list is working (so far). Each person has a different chore every day, so if you don't do it one day it carries over and you have to do it the next day, swaps are allowed. I'm going to put up a list of extra chores too, all 5 min jobs so the DCs can have more choice, main thing is to do one thing every day each on top of what we were doing already.

Tada!

Breakfast, DW, shine sink etc
School run
Work
Sainsburys
School run
Steam clean the lower half of the kitchen (freezer and DW door seals, oven and grill, cupboards and drawer fronts, all in 15 mins, it's a miracle)
2 lots of washing
Kitchen floor swept and mopped (by DD)
Dinner
DS to trampolining, DD to Guides and me to tap dancing

Holy mother of crazy. WTF is going on with the site of mn atm?

< Hides in the safety of the thread>

Did you see the poo troll just now Einsten? Place has gone to shit I tell you.

I haven't but a certain poster is being worrying again, there is no warning some people. :(

Apparently there have been a lot of trolling wrt inappropriate touching type thing of minors. Thankfully I also missed those. I think I need to wander off back to the safe world of podcasts again.

Also I am NOT cleaning up after poo trolls. If they have turned the place to shit I am hiding in the cupboard until bleach and antibacterial stuff has been applied liberally!!!!

Evening all, this staying away from the laptop lark does work for the house but it's hard to catch up with everything in the evening. With the talk of trolls, I'll stay away from the active button!

ellie good luck in your new home, a fabulous fresh start! There are some awesome ta da's on the thread this month (5 kitchen cupboards grey!) and it's still early.

I've made a list to remind me what I have to do tomorrow morning. DD is great at doing homework and a bit of reading/music practice each night - she wants to take up another activity which would leave her with something on every night. I may give it a go, but don't want her to get too tired or worn out.

Slow cooker tea tonight, so easy clean-up which is always nice. Out and about on errands again tomorrow, and the endless laundry cycle continues ...

Whoa, what did I miss? I've seen a few deletion messages in the last few days but haven't seen anything bizarre today.

Didn't end up doing the decluttering stuff this evening - got other computery errands done instead though which are more pressing currently. I forgot my tablet so sleep ain't happening yet, I came back downstairs and have got some washing and drying on. More editing to do now.

Tomorrow is going to be insanely busy. [steels self]

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/a2588950-YouTuber-who-needs-your-help just for you fuzzpig. < wonders what the fuck that was all about>

Thank you Einstein that was fun :o

Just wtaf! it was a carcrash. and i had to sit on my fingers and delete many posts

I've not read it all. I've copied it to read tomorrow, since I have a feeling it'll be deleted. Bizarre thread!

Anyway I got an hour's work done, and just realised the washing's finished so I could put that in the dryer. And then I should really try and sleep. But before I do, how wrong would it be to dig into the Ben and Jerry's at 3am?

Yep I have a copy too. I suspect it will end up on line as part of her vlog nonsense. Do wish i hadn't posted but was glad none of the posts I wanted to post actually got posted because we all know that when I get ranty I get really ranty I tried to be constructive but slipped slightly with my last post < oopsies>

Sounds like a cunning plan, a very cunning plan. We don't have ben and jerrys but there is ice cream and bananas and strawberry sauce and a banana split could very well happen...

I thought your posts were pretty measured and helpful (if she bothers to read them) TBH! :)

I'm quite looking forward to the deletion message. Also saved the 'not bragging' one as that was, er, interesting from what I skim-read of it.

Ice cream eaten. Tumble dryer refilled and switched on. Still not sleepy. It's only when I don't take the tablet, which is a painkiller but has a sedative effect, that I realise how much I rely on it, which is scary really. But when I tried giving it up the pain was far worse and the headaches crept back in too. Anyway it was too late to take it when I realised (it gives me a 'hangover' in the morning and we need to be up early tomorrow/today) soooo it'll just have to be put up with. I find it hard to sleep at mum's anyway, and we're staying there for the next two nights so I'll probably be tired enough to drop off easily at least. I hope you get some sleep soon too.

Happy Thursday to all.

I actually hope that it stands but with the personal attacks removed so that it can be clear who is out of line when it becomes podcast fodder < cynical> I read the first page and wanted to give the op a good shake so closed it and walked away before it annoyed me and I felt the need to read the whole thing and never sleep.

I drank too much coffee and put my pain killers in a safe place. So I am just chilling out with podcasts and doing physio exercises. Hope you get a good night's sleep the next few nights. I am lucky as I have a day off tomo and can just chill out (sleep) if needed

Good morning all,

Goodness, quite a few shenanigans on MN last night < I'm watching the thread just for the deletion message! >

I was up at 5 this morning with DS < yawn >

Vague plan for the day includes taking DS to playgroup and hopefully dropping in on Grandma for a cuppa. As for FLYing, hmmm. We'll see.

BTW Einstein, I'm just starting to get into podcasts and was wondering what kinds of things you listen to? I've listened to a few Women's Hour ones which have been ok. Where do you begin though?! There are so many!

Don't think I'll be doing much flying either today! I have caffeine to get through it. Trying to arrange sort-of-childcare for the afternoon so I can sort work stuff out. Aaaargh it's madness. Have to leave in 15mins as well.

I'd really like to listen to podcasts, but my auditory processing is shockingly awful. I don't even understand the radio most of the time

Mine are crafting related. I found 1 who meantioned others who mentioned others. I am a youtube girl though as plain audio doesn't do it for me. I need the visual of video for it to make sense.