If your house is calling May Day, do not fear: May's Fledgling Flyers are here

[LinzerTorte]

Welcome to the May edition of the Fledgling Flyers' thread. Thank you to Nettie for her splendid leadership of last month's thread.

If you're living in CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome), this is the thread for you! We follow the tips on the FlyLady website in an attempt to restore order to our homes, but advise against signing up for the e-mails; all the information you need is on this thread.

Each day, I'll be posting the links that will enable you to do any of the following:

• start or repeat baby steps

• repeat babysteps and do 15 mins a day decluttering in the current zone

or

• reinforce babysteps and do daily missions if you have finished decluttering.

More information about the babysteps is here.

So please join us - there's always plenty of chat, tea, cake, encouragement and the occasional to help us on our way!

Good morning.

Lost track of you all over the weekend, sorry.

A brilliant start to today so far.

Washing Machine unloaded and loaded
Tumbler loaded
Washing on line
3 loads of washing sorted into personal piles
Dishwasher on
showered,
S & S

And only just after 7am! - it can only go downhill from here

A long day planned at work today and I have the whole building to myself as everyone else is out on a canoeing trip. (I refused to go!) I need to sort out big database and its rather confusing, so will relish the fact of doing it all by myself.
Just waved DH off to the mainland for a day of cycling. He gets bored of cycling around the island all the time, so is off for a change.

Have a good day everyone, sorry for lack of personals, I will do some scrolling to catch up on what you are all up to.

Morning all .

You must be having better weather than us PA (or have hardy colleagues and dh). Tis wet and windy here.

Absolutely shattered this morning, rubbish nights sleep (partly due to dd waking me up twice). So just going to plod along today. Hopefully bleugh this house at some point.

Love the idea of PA husband frantically bicycling round and round the Island - glad he found an escape hatch

Linzer our afternoon's a bit like that. Tonight at least someone else is picking up ds2 from Cubs.

Scatty For some reason I had a bad night too, ds2 waking at 11pm, cat appearing purring on our bed at 2am, severe insomnia till 4am...oh dear, I forget how utterly knocked out it makes you. What a good idea for a necklace.

Ds2 has a stomach upset so he's at home today.
Ds2 and I bought lots of summer bedding from B & Q (yes I know I said I wasn't spending any more on garden, but . He was v helpful at choosing colours and an excellent companion.
Then Dh watched King's Speech with them whilst I did the gardening - then he played ball games with them in the garden very charmingly....and then
ALAS - he made the mistake of leaving them in the garden to answer the phone, whilst I cooked supper.
Like addicts suffering withdrawal from adult attention, they then almost immediately started swearing and screaming at each other in with all the neighbours listening . Ds2 swore at dd, then refused to lay the table and blamed everyone for everything, Ds1 kept sniggering, and dd then turned round and attacked me for shouting

We had about an hour of everyone screaming, then magically the twins started playing Sylvanian Treehouses and were delightful to each other?????? And this morning they have played delightfully with each other....
It is like Topsy Turvy Land.

There is still a lot of gardening to do though.

MOrning all! Am going to try and be good this week as it is slightly less hectic than last, only 94 things to get done as opposed to 250 .

DH has a new job for the next few weeks which involves the alarm going off at 5.20am. In itself this sucks, however, it is enabling me to be far more efficient at getting things done. This morning I have:-

Tidied up downstairs
DC's and I sat down for breakfast together (b'fast is normally a rather haphazard affair in front of TV while I get ready )
Washed up (including breakfast pots)
Dried up and put pots away (that last happend circa pre children)
Ironed clothes
Swished and swiped
Mince out of freezer for tea (lasagne - inspired by swan yesterday!)
Packed bags

Tonight, it is the Beavers run along with football club but am hoping to get washing put away at least.

I went to Bingo for the first time ever last night . I have a friend who loves going but I have always resisted but she was a bit down yesterday so I offered to take her. Had a good time, spent £30 and cam back with £75 - £45 profit, I might go again .

No time to catch up with everyone but hope everyone is well. Promise to have a proper catch-up as soon as I find 5 mins - sometime next week then .

Hello,
Slinking out of the naughty corner and back into circulation...

Having some problems with DD1 saying she's ill every morning, being made to go to school and then checking herself straight into the sick room for the day. Thought we'd got to the bottom of it last week but she started again this morning and I've already had the call from the Head of Year. Sometimes I really don't feel equipped to be a parent

Also, DD2 is genuinely ill and vomiting copiously . Currently asleep, thankfully. Whenever she's awake she's being sick.

I was amused by the mission today, which is decluttering the back of the bath. Yesterday both DDs cleaned out their desks and drawers, unearthing endless bottles of bubble bath, bars of soap, and bath pearls/bombs. I was really pleased with their rooms and was slightly amused to see it had all ended up on the back of the bath in a perilously unbalanced heap. So it looks like I'll be dealing with it all in the end - as ever!

On the positive side we managed to give away all the Polly Pockets to two little girls from church, and I have 2 carrier bags of baby doll stuff for a local playgroup, so some FLYing is definitely happening. I also found a big bag of Build-a-Bear stuff that the DDs might put on eBay, as it was barely used and very expensive (always thought it was a complete waste of money by I shall try not to say I told you so too often!).

Morning It's still sunny here, pity i have no washing to hang out!

As i thoroughly cleaned my bathroom Friday i will sort out my airing cupboard instead. I also need to have a good throw out in DD toy cupboard in dining room as the top is full of half finished sticker books and random bits of paper and the bottom is full of baby books/toys.
Hoovered DD bedroom yesterday and it looks amazing - hope she can keep it that way for a while at least. Also hoovered the rest of upstairs so it's looking very presentable (apart from the dusting)

Wow at winning at bingo ellie Go and buy something pretty for yourself.

DD is poorly janey, sickness bugs are so exhausting (for both of you involved) Hope she recovers very soon.

See you all later

I also lost track of this thread (and the house!) over the w/e but had a nice time. I will try and catch up but have a busy week and will be trying to get ready to go camping on Saturday for 10 days. DH very busy so I'm on my own with most of it I think.

Toffee - I also babysat on Saturday. Lovely to sit in someone else's house and watch rubbish TV without any guilty feelings :)
Its lovely when DC look after each other isn't it, makes all the bickering seem almost worthwhile.

Swan - benign neglect is the only way to go :) DD had to do a diary for this w/e for homework and Sat 2-6pm involved 'playing' with my brother', luckily she didn't mention all the lessons in conflict resolution arguments :o

List for today;

• Declutter computer desktop - done
• 15 mins paperwork declutter - done
• Buy rubbish newspaper and go to Toys'R'Us for free Lego toy - done (expect Good Mummy award for DC for this)
• Morning routine - done
• 15 mins paperwork declutter - done
• Put ironing away
• Hang out more washing
• Hoover downstairs
• Clean kitchen floor
• 5mins in all bedrooms to clear space to start packing for camping
• Reading at school

Will attempt that little lot and come back and add more if there is time

Just popping on from work, as I am alone and all that! I ahve done all my work, so heading home, quite a shock, really. Surprising how much work I can do without others around!

Scatty weather is lovely here. A little windy, but certainly good enough for canoeing and cycling. - although DH would actually cycle in the snow (did do), thunderstorms (has done) and all sorts. The only thing he dislikes is when it is too windy!

SR - at the escape hatch - I think I could do with using it, too!

Ellie congrats on DH new job. and well done on the bingo you must be getting old!!

Sorry to hear that DD2 is unwell janey and I hope things sort out for DD1 - sorry if you have posted about this issue before, I may have missed it, but is there a reason for her not wanting to go to school? I have often thought that as soon as you become fairly confident with one phase, whatever age the Dcs are, they move on to the next and you have to learn all the coping mechanisms again.

Right, off for some shopping therapy now! Just to fill in a little time, of course, then home to greet a ravenous DH with a lush curry tonight, I think.

Too right about the phase thing PA

Breathing sigh of relief here ... had great day (to remember) yesterday ... dd's first communion. Bit of a bash afterwards. Spent this morning putting house back to rights.

Can finally get back and concentrate on this thread a bit more. Need to sort out juddering issue first. Worst than ever.

Going to log off because just typing this much is giving me a headache with text dancing everywhere.
Hope everyone is OK though. Sorry for lack of personal messages (again).

Humungous waves to everyone!!

Looking forward to catching up ....

Hope your dc feeling better today Janey

Thanks for your support, everyone. I don't know what is going on with DD1. At school all seems fine. She is in Yr8 and everything seems to be going really well. She's got good friends, she's in the top set for everything and seems to find the work easy. We thought it was to do with a rather fierce German teacher but school have been working with her to resolve that and there still seems to be a problem. Every morning she goes into a panic and convinces herself that she's too poorly for school, even though she has no physical symptoms and she never is actually sick. We've taken her to the doctor and they can find nothing wrong. School are being great about it and really supportive. I can only hope it will all come right in the end.

You're so right about the phases. Our DDs are so close together that they are almost always in the same phase, but it is hard when one moves to the next and you find yourself wondering why it's all so difficult all of a sudden.

Is anything in parenting easy?

Just having a quick lurk, but I had to reply to your post, Janey. My DS1 felt sick every day before school in Year 4. He was convinced that he really was ill and that he was going to be sick. He became hysterical when forced to go to school. At the time, he was under CAMHS and the clinical nurse specialist there used cognitive behavioural therapy to help my DS cope with his feelings. He had to continue to go into school, but he was allowed to stay in the office and do his work there at first. He was given affirmations to use which he kept on notes in his pocket, eg. 'I have felt sick a thousand times, but I have never actually been sick, therefore I am not likely to be sick today either'. Gradually, he was able to start going to one or two lessons, always with support from a TA, and by the end of the term he was back to normal.

Things went pearshaped a couple of years later, which is why I'm now home educating him, but that's another story! The point is that the cbt did work. Could you see your GP and get your daughter referred to CAMHS for cbt?

As for what is causing it - in my son's case, he had two pretty awful teachers that year and one, in particular, made him feel very stressed. She refused to let him go to the loo one day when he was feeling sick, so he felt panicky and that led to him developing a fear of being sick at school, poor boy. There must be something that has triggered this for your DD, but maybe even she doesn't know what it is.

Gosh, sorry everyone - I seem to have hijacked the thread . Please PM me if you want to, Janey. Hope your other DD is better soon too.

DH is STILL in bed! I am not being a very good nurse. I spent a couple of hours in town this morning and forgot to buy his painkillers, but remembered to get lots of good library books for the boys. DH complained that he comes bottom of my list. Well....er....yes . He really is genuinely ill, but it does annoy me. Must try harder!

As for flying... None done so far today. Sorry.

Ds2 and I have had a good day (although I thought we wouldn't get through it....as I am feeling so bleugh) He has done
handwriting
spelling
made cheese scones with me
a bit of lego
made his bed

I have cut my own bamboo canes for the sweetpeas and beans - very satisfying
pruned a while
swept kitchen
wiped worktops
2 washs in
dw on
rescued front room

now to hoover and sew on elastic

janey dd used to say she felt sick every morning, I think it was genuinely a combination of low blood sugar, nerves. I think I used to give her a glass of Ribena the moment she woke up at one stage as she never would have made it to the breakfast table without throwing a wobbly. But that was a seven year old. And she was always fine by the time she got to school. Which is not to say she didn't feel sick when she first got up. And now we have a different set of problems

My DH came home just now and said "thankyou mumsnet" as he could see i had tidied stuff that has been on my 'to do' list for ages now . I have a beautifully tidy and organised airing cupboard and DD toy and book cupboard which is in our dining room but also his tutoring room for home taught students is shining, tidy and everything has a place.

Going to have a now before school run and Drama drop off!

Thanks, Swan and Toffee.

We have been here a few times before. The worst was in Yr3 when DD's best friend's Mum was the TA in their class and it didn't work out. DD1 felt she was picked on by the TA and didn't feel she could tell me about it because she thought we were friends. Cue long discussion about bullying and the nature of friendships!

I think you're right that there is a cause and DD does not know what it is. She did think it was German, but that only came out after a week of 'illness'. School are working to put that one right but she is still worried and she doesn't have German today.

I like the idea of the notes. We could try that. Low blood sugar sounds like it could be worth exploring too. Sorry about the other problems, swan. I'm sure this one will be resolved eventually and there'll be another problem around the corner. I have been wondering how much is due to the sheer misery of being 13.

On the upside, DD2 has stopped vomiting and wants to eat rice cakes. She actually suggested pickled onion Monster Munch, but rice cakes are the compromise

aarrrgghhhhh

today can not get any worst

it cannot

keels over in a quiet corner

You ok cinders?

Picked up dtwins up from ballet; Dd was muttering that ds2 had misbehaved, to which ds2 replied "I just want to DANCE, I just want to DANCE" Oh dear I may have to pull him out after this term as he is obviously embarrassing his sister and showing off to the other two little girls there...despite hitting his head on the self closnig door just before he went in

Lady what a lovely compliment from your DH.

I have done the hoovering and changed one bed!
Ds1 off to footie now, baked potatoes in the oven with chorizo and tomato salad, and grated cheese for supper

DH had another "business" lunch appt today. I dread to think what state of jollity he will return in.

Cinders what's happened? I admire all the poetry, you are very clearsighted.

ellie I went to the bingo for my hen night (the nurses on the ward took me, they go all the time).

feetheart camping for 10 days. I can only stick it for 2 nights!

toffee I am a terrible nurse to dh. When he had his hernia op my sister asked if I was joining a carer support group .

janey poor dd. 13 is a confusing time . I hope you and she can get through it.

swan hope you are not still feeling bleugh.

cinders hang on in there girl.

Done:
hoover
mopping
recycling
reboot dw
hang out washing

I am so tired that I could just drop off.

Hello everyone. Busy but good weekend - we actually went out for the day DS wanted to find some ring-tailed Lemurs as they have been learning about them at school (Yr 2 everywhere seem to have been learning about Madagascar!) so we went off to the Cotswold Wildlife Park and had a fab day. Came back with small lemur (toy!) who is quite cute.
Feeling a bit behind with flying as didn't finish kitchen missions but trying not to stress and thinking about fitting them in if/when I get a chance. Will get DS to do today's while he's in the bath

Are you ok Cinders? It might help to off-load a bit.

I'm glad the communion went off well SC

Hang on in there Janey - 2 weeks to go till half term

bugger

sorry

My Mum is in hospital

I have fallen out with dh and tomorrow
surely will be much better

sorry to hear that Cinders, I know she was supposed to be coming over to visit you around now. I hope your DH understands you are worried about your mum and makes up with you soon - thinking of you. Hope you get a good nights sleep

Sorry to hear about your mum, Cinders - hope she's OK. Is it to do with her arm?

Feel like I've had a very unproductive day today. C25k and coffee took up the entire morning and I didn't get back home until midday (fortunately a friend picked up DD2 from school), while most of the afternoon was taken up with chauffeuring, homework and a trip to the playground. I have no energy this evening (as usual) so am having and chocolate instead. Although maybe that's why I have no energy.

And here is the round-up:

Cinders was asking why, did not have a good day and keeled over.

PA was an early bird and had managed to do an impressive amount by 7 am, got all her work done impressively early too, and was going for some retail therapy.

scatty was plodding along after an exhausting night.

swan also had a bad night, had a rollercoaster of a day yesterday but a better day today and was wondering what state her DH would be in upon his return.

ellie is being productive thanks to her DH?s early starts and has discovered the joys of bingo.

janey has been having school problems with her DD, her other DD is ill and she has got everyone involved in decluttering.

Lady has organised her airing and toy cupboards, and is enjoying the look of her newly hoovered upstairs.

feetheart has a busy week ahead of her and is getting ready to go camping.

SC is getting back into the swing of things after her DD?s first communion and still suffering from dancing text.

Toffee popped in to offer some advice to janey and was still annoyed at her DH being ill (I have absolutely no sympathy when mine is ill as he can just go to bed; I always tell him that if he thinks he?s feeling ill now, he should imagine having to look after three children at the same time).

DWM is feeling a bit behind (there?s always next month ? as I?m always telling myself) and has been to the Cotswold Wildlife Park (I used to love going there when we lived nearby).

Apologies if I've missed anyone out. Will be back first thing tomorrow with the links.

aaarrgghh

did along post

it

went somewhere
but not here

so no tis a heart scare...my Mum
hopefully
all will be well

life is too confusing