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!

Have just been for a run to relieve the early-morning stress. DH was also being particularly annoying this morning, telling me not to get so stressed. It's easy for him to say ? he leaves while the DC are still having their breakfast and doesn't have to make sure they all get to school on time. He was still trying to test DD1 on local castles while I was shouting at her to clean her teeth.

I just wish he could sympathise/help out rather than suggesting there is a simple answer (because I'm doing something wrong). His answer this morning: get them up earlier. But they're ridiculously tired when I wake them at 6.45 and it often takes them a good 20 minutes to get dressed. His answer: put them to bed earlier. Yes, well, it might help if he helped put them to bed rather than whisking DD1 off to revise for her test when he got back at 7 pm last night. His answer would probably be that I should have revised with her in the afternoon, but it was difficult enough to get her to do her homework with the four little ones around. Oh, I don't know what the answer is. The teacher has definitely given them far too much to revise IMO ? I don't remember ever having to revise for much more than a spelling test when I was 8/9.

My challenge for today is to keep my routines going despite being fairly busy with work. I also need to rescue the entire house, but really must get on with some work first.

Washing machine has flooded my wash room!

And last evening I took ages typing out a message from my new phone showing off and lost the whole flippin thing!!

bunnies have made an escape attempt this morning again. Waiting for a new run to cage them in better.

Not a good start so far!!

Oatmilk is coffee is just wrong. First job of the money is get get some proper milk so I can have a brew or 3 before i get going. i feel like death again today. need more sleep. Sod that fly lady. i am behind and that is because things like packing etc has a deadline and i have to get it done by then. as for the house work, well then i agree. i am not behind just not up to date either

linzer I think you are amazing to take care of all the extra children - it is soo frustrating isn't when a good deed backfires on the rest of the arrangements and one ends up thoroughly stressed by something evil like homework.
Scatty well done on budgeting.
WKN don't overdo the school helping, it always ends up making one feel plain knackered and even angry. You can only do so much, and it is better to do it and not feel under pressure, and always the one who does everything! There are 400 other parents!!!!
PA I have an extra capacity washing machine, it is great! And it tells me how long before it finishes too. It doesn't do the ironing unfortunately.
Could there be a kink somewhere?

My attempts at decluttering shed are going backwards.
The punctured wheelchair is in the car, but can I face taking it to the bike shop, or shall I just take it to the tip? Who wants one, as the brakes are also defunct...so might be dangerous? But on the other hand there may be someone who desperately needs a wheelchair for a short time! No-one wants the children's bikes because they are too rusty and clattery, so I think they are going to the tip too...I wish I knew someone who just liked mending/fixing things...Have already offered the bike to someone but they rejected it, so feel a bit crestfallen. Maybe it is just easier to throw things away than go through all the rigmarole of telling them what's wrong with something, and worry that their child is going to fall off and have an accident...

Another maundering...
todo
table
singing practice
laundry pile
dw

Mum has solved problem.

Being of a generation of hoarders, she has told me to mend the wheelchair as she may need it in the next year or two, as she has a bad ankle. At least there is closure! She also gave me a long list of various relatives who she said might want to borrow it! (over the next twenty years, no doubt that's what sheds are for)

Swan - you are right about school, I was feeling very grumpy last week and nearly quit the PTA. Then I remembered all the good things about being on it. However I am going to start saying no to non-PTA/gardening related activities. The gardening should be quiet in winter anyway. It's just this time of year, school trips, garden in full swing, school fair to prepare for, am really regretting saying I'd do the traffic thing. And I'm not going anywhere near the vacant governor position!

Grr! I just got soaked getting the washing in, but it's stopped again already and still won't do the garden any good!

I hope your day has got better PA and Linzer. I hate early morning stress which always turns me into a raging monster! I remember having to learn to locate and spell all the countries of Europe and their capitals at primary school. I think that was more like 9/10 though. And it was easier then as there were fewer of them!

Done:
Washing
morning routine
dusting
hoovering
returned half the clothes I bought yesterday
mending

To do:
My desk (aagh!)
collect boys
something for them to eat - we're having curry
look up sag aloo recipe

Swan - we've got a very nice chair that has needed a new seat for as long as we've had it (10 years!), but I can't find anybody who likes furniture restoration and don't know what else to do with it as it looks like I'm never going to get it restored now!!

Sympathies to you, Linzer. I get the same thing from my DH - I should get the DC to bed earlier. Er, maybe if he helped me to do that, it might actually happen..... Hope your day gets better.

Oh dear, PA. Sorry your new gadgets are misbehaving.

No time to write anymore because it's already time for me to collect DS2 and I still haven't started the housework. Where did all the time go? Oh yes, on home education, doing a long Tesco order, printing 'important' stuff out and making lunch.

Will try and get back here later.

My dh thinks there should be a simple answer to all child related problems too linzer heck knows what it is though .

swan the Red Cross might take the wheelchair if no one else wants it, or your local wheelchair services (they would fix it up) ask your GP. Mind you sound as if you have a waiting list for it!

PA Oh no!!!

To do:
laundry
DC beds
dust
kitchen floor

My to do list has been hidden under a pile of office work so have only managed to clean the bathroom. Need to quickly do the loo's before school run and prepare dinner.

Damn now it's pouring and i have to park ages away to get to school gates. I did want the rain to come but this is just bad timing!

Sorry no time for personals as haven't had time to read any posts up thread as snowed under here

Another day not exactly going to plan. too tired to even clear up yesterday's naughty corner party. My own fault i went out last night and it got a bit late. was a nice evening though.

done
singing lesson/getting caught in torrential rain
hoovered and tidied playroom in preparation for playdate
She cancelled at last minute dd was very upset, but I'm feeling very relieved not to have look after that particular child as she is quite demanding.

Ds2 does have a friend over though but they always disappear upstairs/do lego and are no trouble/don't eat anything. The best thing of all is that they never want to do PAINTING.

Decluttered some more books

todo
reload dw
sink
laundry mountain put away
cup of tea
cuddle up with dd and watch telly as it is still pouring with rain, very cosy
homework
supper? potatoes, chops, salad, rest of chilli con carne Dh
find out if there is a campsite near Reading somewhere

Waa! DH's train is delayed which means I've got to bath time and stories on my own with 2 tired and grumpy boys and no voice. DS2 can't stop coughing so will prob sleep badly again too. :(

Good that you didn't have to cope with difficult child, Swan, but I'm sorry your DD was upset.

BlueEyes - any sleep-inducing cough medicine in the house? I think Tixylicks helps children sleep. Failing that, it's Medised or Calpol.

Have had MIL on the phone about her house move again. She always manages to phone at the least convenient moment - but, to be fair, there really is never a convenient moment. She says she may have to move in with us again. Oh no, no, no..... I was a very dutiful DIL for 10 weeks, but I don't think I can repeat the experience.

Have done a crisis clean. A distant relative (who has never had children) today asked MIL, in a disparaging way, if I did any work. What does one say to that? I just don't get paid for home educating or housework. Does it make what I do less valuable?

Mind you, if MIL moves in again, I may get a job - pronto!

Anyone want a glass?

I desperately need one Toffee, but am working this evening so shall have to resist.

Oh no toffee I don't think I could cope if any of my relatives moved in!!

Done:
laundry
DC beds
dust
kitchen floor

Ds has dusted all the doors for me and dd did the skirting boards .

Oh, Linzer - .

Scatty - what good DC!

Today the babsytep that i shall be achieving is load of washing and early night. whoops about the rest

Good thing I didn't have that wine - I'm falling asleep as it is and still have another 14 pages to proofread. I really need to get this job finished tonight so that I can make a start on the next one tomorrow morning, which is due next week. I'm afraid I probably won't manage the round-up tonight, but will be back in the morning with tomorrow's links.

Please don't worry about the round-up, Linzer. Fourteen pages sounds like a lot to proofread if you are falling asleep already. I wish you luck.

what helpful children Scatty
all our skirtings are so dusty, I don't even want to think about them
Toffee boo to her (nasty disparaging person) and hope MIL is alright, I think you looked after her wonderfully before.

Today has been the most useless day ever, as usual I frittered away the time, worrying about my music lesson, wondering about decluttering etc etc, rabbit in headlights. House not really tackled...
And not surprisingly afternoon was a muddle again...children screaming about homework, ds2's friend accidentally on purpose decided to have a train crash with the lego train [not compatible] Food rejected due to homework anxiety, everyone hungry again at 8pm! Ds2 suddenly remembered his spelling test. Dh furious, ordered takeaway, children insisted on eating bits of that!!!!Aargh.
However, had a nice read with the twins, and ds1 still in good form.

I think I need to get back to my "office job" in the school library, which has just re-opened after building work - otherwise I just go round in circles

Linzer hope dd did alright in her test, and you get a good night's sleep to deal with tomorrow's work.

Blue I feel for you, I remember the stress of trying to put littlies to bed on my own when dh away.

Despite my complaining, the garden is looking really very nice after the rain, so I must have achieved something this spring/summer. Crosses fingers.

Dh is incorrigible He came home, found a pile of books near the door to be disposed of (that was a mistake, I should have hidden them in the car) and immediately retrieved 6 of them! They were my blooming books, but he still wouldn't let me throw them away...

Fortunately DH's train made up some lost time and he was in for stories if not baths. Phew. You're not allowed to give medised to under 6s now toffee. :( Have just dosed DS2 up with calpol, but had to fight the first spoon in - little junkie can't normally get enough of the stuff! If he's no better in the morning I'll have to take him to the dr...

I hope you get/got the work done Linzer. 14 pages!
Hope your evening improved Swan.

Never mind the wine - whisky's medicinal, innit? Yawn. Night all.

Just time for a quick round-up before I go to bed (must make it before midnight). Work is finished - the first job at least - so I can make a start on job no. 2 in the morning, although I suspect lots of coffee will be needed.

Thanks for the good luck wishes Toffee - the 14 pages I had to proofread were ones that I'd translated myself so I didn't find too many mistakes. Oh dear to your MIL having to move in again; I hope she can find an alternative option.

PA Oh no, what a stressful start to the day - hope it improved.

What lovely DC you have, scatty.

swan Your day sounds very similar to far too many of ours ? but no day where you and your DC enjoy reading together can be written off as completely useless. I often think that I'm only ever truly productive when I'm working, but feel even more frustrated then as I watch the house descend into complete chaos.
DD1's test is on Monday and I think DH plans to spend most of Saturday helping her to revise.

Blue DD1 had to learn all nine provinces of Austria and their capitals in her second year. That was a walk in the park compared to knights and castles; she has a page to learn with all the different parts of a castle (about 20) labelled, a page all about how boys became knights, a page about the rights and duties of our town ? and so on x about 12 (all densely printed A4 pages). Even DH agrees it's ridiculous and far beyond DD1's capabilities.

Waves to CHB, WhoKnows, Lady, SC, Nettie, DWM, ellie and anyone else I've missed.

DH put the DC to bed tonight while I worked. I could hear him shouting at them and losing his temper as they wouldn't settle down and be quiet. I was quite tempted to go downstairs and tell him not to get so stressed.

The babystep today is to decide what's for dinner either as part of your before bed routine the day before or as part of your morning routine.

Today's mission is to declutter the chest of drawers/dressing table in your bedroom.

Don't forget to declutter your handbag and car today. According to FlyLady's weekly routine, Friday is also the day to deal with your paperwork, pets and DH (date night tonight).