Spanking new Flybaby "nursery" thread - learn how to Fly for the month of September only

[Countingthegreyhairs]

Hello. Does anyone want to join/re-join us for a mutual "kick-up-the-bum" motivational thread starting tomorrow 1st September?

[Then we can join the main Flying threads thereafter if we want to.)

We did the same throughout August

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/good_housekeeping/799866-starting-tomorrow-accelerated-flying-for-month-of-Augu st-only

and it has really helped but being confirmed slatterns extreme cases we feel the need to repeat the exercise throughout September too. We need to declutter, organise, tidy and clean and generally get our lives under control.

All newcomers welcome!

[McDreamy]

I think the night before is more useful for me. This morning for instance was lost on me as I didn't check it until after I was up.

[Countingthegreyhairs]

PS Welcome Baron Conker - just cast your eye over the Flylady website (suggest you read Flying Lessons and Q & A and it will give you a feel for what we are doing - ignore all the schmaltzy folksy stuff - the underlying principles are sound)

www.flylady.net/pages/flyinglessons.asp

Sorry if I have ignored anyone or neglected to answer any specific questions - but it is brilliant there are so many of us - we can adminster mutual kicks up the rear motivate one another

[elliepac]

Evening all,

First day back at work today (teacher) so it is a miracle that I have managed to do anything. I must say this shiney sink malarkey is working. Have just prepared shepherds pie and put in oven. Now normally would leave various pots in sink until whenever i could be bothered but have actually washed them up and put away (bloody dishwasher broken!) so there may be hope for me yet.

Today I have:-
Managed to get me and 2 children dressed and out of the door for 8am for the first time in 6 weeks
Bought school shoes for myself
tidied front room after kids gone to bed
done and dried 2 loads of washing (although not that impressive because still in a pile in cupboard )
Prepared dinner
Put kids clothes out for the morning
Sorted what I am wearing tomorrow

Have been in shoes all day
Sink still shiny

I await tomorrow's task with bated breath

[elliepac]

and would prefer night before if possible because can't mnet untill get home from work at 5. Thank you for doing this CTGH.

[Countingthegreyhairs]

My pleasure . OK, will post tomorrow's step the night before and if loads of post following will post again in the morning too.

It IS amazing how just a small step like shining a sink can lead to other quite significant improvements elsewhere ...

[Wonders what Ellie's new shoes are like ...[nosey emoticon]]

[elliepac]

my new shoes are the least sexy things you have ever seen in your life but they are comfy (I hate using that word makes me sound like a granny but tis the only word which will suffice). I even bought them in the school shoes section.

[McDreamy]

It is amazing how motivated you feel by doing something as small as shining your sink!! I would now normally sit here and watch tv all night, but I have jobs I want to get done before the morning ( many of them will be done in front of the tv).

[optimisticmumma]

Agree with you Ellie. Amazing what a constant shiny sink does!!
My 14 year old DD has been hooting with laughter at my shiny sink but I noticed that even she has cleared up after herself!
Now - have just got to get 2 teenage sons to do the same !

Thanks for doing this CTGH - I would also appreciate night before so I can get organised!

Sinks still shiny
Shoes still on

Can we stop when we take them off do you think??

[Bigboots]

Thanks for this CTGH! So far am loving it...DS1 back to school today and DS2 first day. Typical school mornings involve lots of shrieking (me and them), stress, running around frantically trying to remember what I've forgotten. Today all calm! Me up and dressed before them (even time for a peaceful cuppa) everything ready to go and smiles all round. Feeling a bit silly/incompetant that it's taken me this long to get it sorted.

[Countingthegreyhairs]

Sounds like my house BigBoots (the stressed version that is) Brilliant it is working for you!

Thanks much appreciated everyone but really no need - having to post the steps is a much needed discipline for me - house in dire straits!!

Comfy is good Ellie

Optimistic - think it is similar in effect to Giuliani's NY "zero tolerance policy" but applied to dirty mugs and old tea bags ....no-one dare be the first person to ruin the shine!

What a fantastic start everyone!

[SnowWoman]

Oh brilliant - the new thread! I missed this cos I haven't been on NM for a couple of days.

My sink is shiny, or will be when I've finished the washing up. Shoes still on - so far so good, rest of house still in complete CHAOS. No sign of the bottom of the washing basket yet, I think it's like the magic pasta pot that keeps re-filling itself....

Good luck for Day 3 everyone

[blissa]

Ah... dcs are in bed, mine and dps dinner is in the oven, lunches are made and shoes are cleaned. Sink has a few dishes on it but I'll clear them before bed (honest guv!).

Did your dd have a better day today Ctgh?

God knows how I'm going to get 3 kids out of the house by 8.30, how did I used to do it? I've forgotten

[NinjaRain]

Sink shiney, lounge passable. Long list of chores for tomo. We'll see a) what mood ds in b) how bad this cold hits me tomo and c) what unpredicted nonsense get thrown in this direction.

[GoldenSnitch]

Well, I managed everything off my list except vacuuming upstairs and ironing. I could do some now but I've had very busy day and my hips are really aching so I can't bear the thought of ironing and can't vacuum DS's bedroom while he's alseep in it!!

Will try to get it done tomorrow assuming DS is in a 'whatever' mood towards the vacuum and not a 'screaming in fear' one!!

Ironing has to wait till he sleeps as I have a scar from getting an ironing board dropped on my head as a child and am now too paranoid to do it while he's anywhere near!

[elliepac]

I am freaking myself out.....I just washed up at 9.30pm!!?? I think I am being brainwashed

[tibni]

Well i've managed to stay off the laptop till now! .

My sink is not only shiny but I spent longer than I care to admit poking down the little drainage holes in the plug ensuring there was no gunk!

Today I decided to dig out uniform from dc's bedrooms. DD new uniform was stored in a box under her bed but when I ventured under there it was frightening. 3 hours it took me to really sort her room - I know not bite size chunk so not very fly but I am very pleased. Ds was out with his PA so I had to take the chance. Rewarded myself with time at the gym

[walkthedinosaur]

Well sink still shining, I'm up showered and made up and have even talked DS1 into doing piano practice before school.

Yesterday I sorted out DS2's wardrobe and put everything that doesn't fit into bags to pass on. That took pretty much the whole afternoon but it's done now.

Last night I finished the massive pile of ironing that I've been living with for the past 3 months - just got to put it away now.

DC's back to school today and me back to work full time so I'll have to see how I get on.

[optimisticmumma]

Sinks still shining here too and trainers on !!
2 x DC gone to school
1 X Happy Birthday sung and pressies unwrapped!

Am just about to go to work myself (before DS2 who has to make his own way to achool later - why do they stagger the start times??)

Have a great day everyone!!

[Countingthegreyhairs]

Well done everyone

Just to re-iterate:

this is the step for today, Thursday 3rd September

We just have to keep shining our sinks and dressing fully - including shoes if that suits you

Hope your ds1 has a lovely birthday Optimistic.

And thanks Blissa - happy to report dd had a much better day yesterday

Good luck to all of us/you who are going back to work!!

[positiveattitudeonly]

Impressed myself so far today. Woman on a mission - or just gone into panic mode???

Done so far:
Sink Shiny
Slippers feeling cosy!!!!!!!
Sandwiches for dh - supposed to be day off, but has to go in
stripped some beds AND put new lovely smelling clean sheets on.
Sorted out DD2 for first day of 6th form. (DS & DD4 go back Monday)
Unloaded dishwasher.
Loaded dishwasher.
Wiped down kitchen tops.
Cooked meat part of shepherds pie, now in slow cooker. (yum)
Load of washing in - seen the bottom of one washbin - yah

TO DO:
GET SCHOOL TROUSERS FOR DS - major urgency now. Will lose it totally today if we don't manage this!
Hoover stairs.
Sort out some drawers if I get time (and feel inclined to - not very hopeful, then )
ENJOY THE DAY!

Right off for the trouser hunt. Good luck everyone!

[BaronConker]

First day back at school, feel quite smug as despite being hideously ill with chest infection, managed to do lunches last night and set out DS1's uniform. Everyone out the door in plenty of time this morning even though it was pouring and we had to add raincoats, wellies and buggy raincover into the equation which adds at least 10min to the getting ready process!

My sink is a belfast one, so I can't really shine it, but have put in a weak bleach solution to de-stain it and dug out old toothbrush to scrub round the plughole. I reckon that's equivalent of shining!!

[snorkie]

Hi there, I'm a lapsed flier, but would like to join.

Have shined the sink, but am a bit unclear on what else I'm supposed to do (resolutely NOT doing the shoe thing). Are we supposed to stick postits around the place with 2 minute tasks on? Has anyone done this? If so, what is on them?

Just off out now, but will read replies on return.

[Countingthegreyhairs]

Hope you start feeling a bit better soon BaronConker

Tbh honest Snorkie, I haven't ever actually done the post-it reminder thing but just gone straight to the House Control journal bit thingy (where your routines are listed once formed)

Perhaps more professional flyers can help me out with this question please?

The reason I'm a bit unsure is because (like most of us on here) I am trying to avoid the onslaught of e-mails sent by the Flylady site when you subscribe. Instead of the reminders, what I suggest everyone does is just have a look at the Flylady website for 5 mins and read some snippets.

All will become clear in the end I promise.

First of all we do the baby-steps (it takes 27 consecutive days to establish a habit apparently). This involves establishing certain routines (before bed, morning and afternoon, laundry, meal planning, sleeping)

Then we de-clutter (the principle being that you can't really organise or clean clutter properly)and start zone cleaning

Have a look at this:

this gives you some idea of what will be coming up

Please note everyone, Flylady says "You are never behind. Jump in where you are"

Gosh I am starting to get positively evangelical . In fact I already feel a bit like a priest with so many newcomers to this thread starting their posts with "I am lapsed"

I'll be hearing confessions between 6 and 8 pm this evening......

[WhereTheWildThingsWere]

Oh god, it's the third day and I still haven't summonded up the will to shine my frigging sink, even though I wrote on here that I was off to do it[blush}.

Please can someone give me a huge kick up the arse I am drowning in housework and hiding on the computer, help.

[McDreamy]

Morning all!

Once again some of you ladies are very organised - I live in hope!!

Finally got all the uniform labelled and trouser taken up last night. Put their uniform out ready last night and it made such a difference this morning. No hunting round for a tie or pe kit etc.

Today as well as the baby steps my aim is to put away all the clothes that have been accumulating upstairs after holidays and camping.

Currently trying to pay for DD's milk at school (I know I'm late but the server has gone down and the phone is permanently engaged