Combining April showers with Fledgling powers (2016)

[SpareCrust]

Humungous thanks to Greymalkin for leading us so professionally and capably through March!

And thank you in advance to Einstein for covering the first four days of this thread (while I sidle off)!

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.

Flylady link here.

Don't let the somewhat sickly and barftastic language of the site put you off: the underlying system is sound!

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 masses of bumph. 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 brew + the power of three technique + a bit of support on here can work wonders!
  
  Here's the launch pad for more experienced fledglings
  
  Oh and 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 and some of us natter rather a lot – but all lurkers, intermittent returnees, oldies and newcomers are very, very welcome!

[Toffeewhirl]

Thanks for last month's thread, Grey and for taking over the reins this month, SC (and Einstein).

Cagliostro - very sorry to hear about the fibromyalgia diagnosis. I hope you are getting the support you need.

knit - how are you getting on with the SEN-funding stuff? It's a long old road, isn't it?

Saw the dr for a check up on the spectacular bruising I sustained after falling down the stairs a couple of weeks ago. He said I have an 'organised haematoma'! I am so delighted that my haematoma is organised. It must be the Flylady influence.

[YesEinsteinsMumDid]

Okay folks here we go cross fingers and hope for more sense today

Sunday. Renew your spirit / pamper yourself. No idea what or how? Yep no problem the fat fairy has her missions for that too nope not kidding

Baby step 3 - keep doing babysteps 1 and 2

Sneak peek at the missions for next week We change zones on Monday and will be in zone 2: kitchen

Launch pad

[YesEinsteinsMumDid]

Oh bugger. Try that again.

fixed launch pad link

the link for the kitchen zone

[MercuryRising]

I failed to do any real flying today, but dp was a lot more productive. He did a huge pile of ironing and organised the garage with the help of his brother in law. I spent the day making tea and nattering with dp's sister and making drinks and fetching snacks for dc and my niece and nephew.

Tomorrow we are planning a family walk and film afternoon, which will probably mean limited flying again.

Swingball sounds good Cotswold - my siblings and I spent lots of summer afternoons playing it when we were younger.

I hate the cry of I'm bored. Despite having a houseful of friends and family today dd still managed to whinge about being bored

[Lucked]

I am glad next week is the kitchen, mine looks like a bomb has gone off in it. The issue with the kitchen is that it is DHs zone as he's the cook but he's very messy. At night he loads the dishwasher ( I do it wrong apparently) and wipes down his precious induction hob by doesn't clear or wipe the work surfaces. He might give the floor a sweep but never mop. It's difficult to get in after him as its late when he emerges as he takes his time listening to a podcast or watching something on his ipad.

Baby steps done, bed made, one load of laundry put away and I have one in the dryer and one in the washing machne. Today I want to do a couple of 15 mins sessions in our bedroom as its starting to teeter into messy again and keep the bathroom reasonable although DS has set up a fire station I there at the moment.

[BlueEyeshadow]

Ugh, "it's boooring!" is DS1's constant refrain any time he's not being directly stimulated and entertained at the moment. Don't know how to teach him mental reserves...

Have done a bit more gardening and cooked a surprisingly successful lunch that everyone liked, and was reasonably well balanced : pan fried mackerel, tiny roast potatoes and veg, caper butter for grown ups, and lemon. And banana cake and ice cream for pudding.

Need to lure the boys off screens and out into the fresh air and gorgeous sunshine now.

[YesEinsteinsMumDid]

ta da
pop to shop to pick up a few bits but forget what I actually when out for. No cheese :(
Empty a chest of drawers from ds' room
rescue washing up and laundry from ds' room
2nd load of washing in machine
trawl through wardrobe for event appropriate clothes that fit
collect recycling together and put out
start packing
Remove clothes from car
put chest of drawers in loft (nope not crazy it has been converted)
Pick patterns to work on next.
avoid working on project with a deadline of tomo
eat chocolate

[BlueEyeshadow]

Ta Da!

2 loads of laundry
3 loads of drying
Church
Planted forsythia
Cooked lunch
Everyone enjoyed lunch!
Cleaned kitchen
Family bike ride
Decluttered garden by digging up a whole row of ugly conifers planted in the wrong place
Weeding
Fed boys
Encouraged boys to tidy up

[MercuryRising]

Another lazy day here.
Ta da
Washload in
Living room tidied
Bike ride with dc in the sunshine
Afternoon nap
Lots of cuddles with ds2
Played with dd

[Cagliostro]

sod all flying done here but a really lovely couple of days. DD enjoyed dancing and she's been entered for an exam we're staying with mum and we went to Knole today which was amazing and surprisingly educational (considering DD was grumbling about being bored at first). And we got to see deer really close which was awesome! Definitely been a 'family fun' kind of weekend.

[Cagliostro]

Re: boredom, I may have snapped at DD earlier that 'only boring people stay bored' it worked though

[MercuryRising]

Cagliostro my mum always used to tell us "only boring people get bored." I have been known to impart the same pearls of wisdom on my own dc

[BlueEyeshadow]

I have said similar in the last few days. When we're at home and I can point him in the direction of stuff to do it's not so bad. It's the having no mental reserves to cope with a long walk, or sitting through a church service (which frankly is as short and unboring as they get!), or similar that grinds me down!

[CotswoldStrife]

I apologise for triggering the boredom I think my own DD uses it as shorthand for 'play' with me'. I would rather she just said 'play with me, please'.

A lack of cheese is a sadness indeed. I hope this can be rectified ASAP.

A nice day today, made the most of the weather and had lunch out. Bought a bird feeding station (one of the metal pole types) to replace a rotten wooden one, played more swingball and various other games with DD. Do you see anything missing from that list? Oh yes - housework and/or flying. Always tomorrow ...

[YesEinsteinsMumDid]

around here "I'm bored" translates to "I want my computer/technology back and I am going to annoy you until you give in because you know you are depriving me by banning it" Usually resolved by the order to tidy his room which often results in hours worth of lego playing p

Right here is the plan. Will post Tuesday's linkie poos late morning/lunch time. I am off on adventures. Not fun adventures and I need like 16 hours of functioning time before I go. 4 will have to fudge it

In the meantime here are Monday's linkies

Launch pad - useful info and you can get to the linkies from here if I mess up. assuming I get this link right

Monday sees the Home bleurgh and the commencement of zone work and missions. 15mins decluttering in the Kitchen and whatever the mission is. bad thread link poster

And last but not least the babystep. Post it Notes IGNORE the sending the email bit. seriously has she been taking lessons from the Gillian person and her call it in thingy? crazy. completely bonkers

sorry should be impartial in the the link posting.

[MercuryRising]

I have managed to do the grand total of not a lot this morning. I had to go to the dr as I have a recurring infection in my section scar Dd went swimming with my parents and nephew and DS2 and I had a much needed nap. So now it is time to get motivated.

To do
Dry washing
Take washing off the airer and put away.
Clear clutter off of the fridge and microwave
Dry up
Dust living room
Make beds
Wipe down kitchen sides
Clean the bathroom

Back soon to hopefully cross some things off the list

[YesEinsteinsMumDid]

Ah shit. Alarm clock failure. Day has been a nightmare

Linkie poos for Tuesday

Launch pad

babystep

mission

Tuesday is planning day

Right flying out the door and leaving. only 4 and a bit hours later than intended

Have a good week!

[CotswoldStrife]

Infection doesn't sound good Mercury, hope they have given you something to shift it properly this time.

I have not done much either, but have found this (whatddaya mean, avoidance ...) and I love the idea of an Anchor Day when DD is at school (all bets are off during the half-term, obviously).

theartofsimple.net/managingschedule/?utm_content=buffer10592&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

[MercuryRising]

The dr took a swab and will prescribe something later in the week if needed. So fingers crossed it will get sorted.

I have completed my list and am now trying to referee the dc who have decided this afternoon will be spent bickering and being horrid to each other

Thanks for the link Cotswold I like the idea of an anchor day. I have a habit of arranging too many things in a week and stressing myself out. I may try it over the next month and see if it makes a difference.

[Cagliostro]

Hi all :)

Only just read the thread. Welcome to Herd, and Mercury welcome back and congratulations on the arrival of DC3! Knitting I hope your neck is ok! Einstein thanks for the links, I really hope the time away goes ok. [waves] at everyone else! :)

Back home from mum’s this morning, with an annoyingly scratchy sore throat and I seem to have not left the sofa much .

Should do some laundry now. The suitcase is glaring accusingly at me for not having emptied it yet. Sigh. And that also means I need to empty the dryer so that wash can go into it later! And I need to stop procrastinating over a few household admin type things, and figure out when to get a grocery delivery and do a meal plan and and and…

Although I have started sorting out lots of things to keep at mum's. She's cleared some space for us to keep things, as we are staying a lot lately. I already had a little toiletry bag there but now I'm gathering some PJs/underwear for the DCs, and a few toys and activity books. Will mean more things for them to play with, less packing to do when we visit, and helps save space here too :o. I'm going to pack them into the suitcase when I've actually done the laundry from it I mean ready for the next time we go as then it'll all be out of the way. Must remember not to let DCs play with it in the meantime though, they like using it when they play Harry Potter .

I’m also going to sort out our huge mass of pens and pencils. Since we’ve done the recent decluttering we’ve gathered even more than I thought we had. And I’ll be using one of the spare pencil cases to pack some for mum’s along with the toys, so that’s a good excuse to get it done.

And then dinner… DH got some sauce out of the freezer for me so it’s lazy pasta for us (DH is working a late shift) – I am in love with microwaveable bags of frozen veg. And then curling up on the sofa with a book or DVD or more likely MN.

[Lucked]

Well all he tidying that I did last week is for shit - we have been burgled and everything we own is everywhere

[Cagliostro]

Oh shit, Lucked! :( :( :( I'm so sorry, what a horrible experience. Are the police being helpful?

[MercuryRising]

How awful Lucked so sorry to hear that. Absolute scum

[Toffeewhirl]

Lucked - I'm so very sorry. That's awful.

[Lucked]

Police officers were nice but still waiting for the scene of crime officers but that could be tomorrow and it is likely to be at least 1am before the guy coming to secure the house will be here.
Can't tidy up as we aren't meant to touch any flat surfaces so can't really put the clothes back in the drawers.
I am off to sweep up some glass on the kitchen floor I think, can't see it as usable evidence.