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!

on the hand, if you follow his advice you might find yourself falling off the pavement. Here in the suburbs.

Linzer - thank you for your excellent round up. It has been quite a day on this thread, hasn't it? I'm so glad for you to hear that your work was cancelled, btw. Oh, and I loved 'The Enchanted Wood'/'The Magic Faraway Tree'/'The Folk of the Faraway Tree'! They were passed down through my family and then I read them to my DS1. Haven't read them to my second son yet - at five, he's probably a bit too young. I'll look forward to that.

WhoKnows - DS still has one spot that I can see that hasn't healed over, so I certainly won't send him into school tomorrow. Was considering sending him Friday, but maybe even that's a bit too soon (?). I suppose it's better to play safe. I know how serious chickenpox can be for some people. DS has parties Sat and Sun, though, and I will send him to those, assuming the spots are healed and he is well. It will be exactly seven days since the spots appeared on Saturday.

Swan - sorry your DS is having a tough time at school. It's incredible that he still seems to like school and lessons, though. My DS has never been like that. He didn't like any of it! I hope the playground issues can be resolved. Have you spoken to your son's teacher to see if he/she can intervene? Glad to hear I'm not the only one seeking psychotherapeutic help for my DC, btw! Re: sailing - a mum with a dyslexic son recommended sailing as a hobby for my (dyslexic) son a few years ago. She said that all the boys in her son's sailing club turned out to be dyslexic! Am not sure why - I think they found it relaxing and they were good at the technicalities and spatial awareness stuff or something. Anyway, I didn't follow it up because I know nothing about sailing. Maybe rowing can be our cheapie version.

BlueEyes - at that comment by your mum! In my experience, it's always mums/MILs/stepmothers who come out with these comments. I heard a good discussion about it on R4 once, where it was suggested that mums, in particular, have to criticise their daughter's homes so that they can still feel they are needed. There's something in that, I think. Still bloody hurtful and annoying though!

PA - thank you for making me laugh again. I love that image of you hiding from the postman .

Sorry, can't do anymore messages as I must go to bed. See you all tomorrow for more flying and chatting.

NettieSpaghetti I hope you have a lovely time away, but when you come back could please, please, please post slowcooker curry recipe.

Good morning,

Today?s babystep is to write down any negative thoughts you may be having and banish them with something positive instead.

I must admit that this is another babystep I don?t take too seriously. DH is likely to think I?ve finally lost my mind if I start writing post-its reminding myself to put my shoes on and then start writing down what the voices in my head are telling me. But I am sure it has helped some people.

Your mission today, should you choose to accept it, is to dust the ceiling (including lights) and skirting boards in the dining room.

Finally, Thursday is Grocery and Errand Day. I am intrigued as to what kind of person needs to buy candles on a weekly basis, but reminders to go to the post office and library may be more useful.

Yesterday's List:
#DH(and the car) had to make a trip to Wisconsin (5 hours each way, poor man!), so had to get DS& myself up, dressed, fed, showered, etc, and out the door in enough time to walk to daycare and still have me be at work at 8. done
#Make beds done
#Swish n swipe done
#vacuum upstairs done
#tame the laundry monster (Sigh...the monster is down but not out)
#pay the water bill done
#clean out the armoire, the Hot Spot in my entryway. It's going to be at least an hour. (No. I opened it and a load of DH's papers rained down on my head. We're going to have to do it together because I don't know what's important and what's not)
#Email link to property to someone done
#Make dinner if that is what one calls oven chips and macaroni and cheese, then done
#Clean out the rabbit tub No! Forgot! Arrgh!
#Make copies from craft magazine done
#Carry drawers into storage No
#PHONE CALLS TO:
-friend that I've been playing phone tag with for two weeks done, and we had a lovely gossip chat
-sanitation company to order a dumpster...YAY! no
-check on signing DS up for Sunday School done
-realtor & inquire about the possibility of renting space for childcare center left message
-lady who wants my help organizing children's parade and tell her that I'd love to help but she's mad if she thinks I'm doing the entire thing No

Ok, tomorrow's list:

#Get up/dressed/showered etc and get to work and DS to preschool on time
#Finish everything I didn't go yesterday, including killing The Laundry Beast stone dead
#15 minute rescue in bathroom
#Mission
#Dinner
#Work second job at movie theater

A much better start to the day today here - everyone was in a good mood, DD1 decided to empty the dishwasher for me and then sorted out the cutlery drawer. Why are some mornings so horrendously stressful and some (admittedly few and far between) actually quite pleasant?

I really ought to make a start on my list as soon as possible just in case work arrives, or rather the job is confirmed, this morning after all (I'm sort of hoping it won't be). The dishwasher has already been emptied thanks to DD1 and the WM is on, but the house is in a bit of a state thanks to too much MNing my lack of energy yesterday evening.

swan I haven't seen Before Sunrise (or, as it's called here "Before Sunrise - Stopover in Vienna", because Germans/Austrians need to have the film spelled out to them in the title ), but have heard it's very good.

I have two hours and twenty mins

before ds school day is over

so waves

and flys

That's a ridiculously short school "day" even for Austria, Cinders. My friend's DD is out of school at 10.55 on a Friday because she doesn't go to Catholic RE; I'm very glad my DC are Catholic.

Now I have to try and get three children dressed so that we can go to distantish park to meetup with SIL.
But alas, it looks like rain....

Morning all!

Quickly posting my list this morning, as I am in the middle of it right now!

Shine sink done
Dishwasher loaded (no need to empty as we had takeaway last night!) done
Washing machine load on x2 x1 done
Put outgrown baby clothes in the loft (not quite ready to acknowledge I'm not having another one yet!)
Meal plan for the week
Order shopping online

Thanks all, this seems to be helping! Though I've had a look at the default settings on the Home Routines app and got a bit nervous about the amount of tasks they have as default!

I think the key to your much-better morning is the fact that your DD helped you this morning, Linzer! It's the mornings when everyone is moaning and working against you that cause the stress. Glad you are off to a good start and cross fingers that you won't get your work confirmed and will be free to browse MN do some flying.

MissC - at least your DS is at school! . But that is a crazily short school day. How do Austrian women get any work done ?

Went to bed too late, but am feeling OK so far, in spite of that. Still very croaky and chesty, but have taken Paracetamol to get me through the day. DS1 came downstairs, tried to speak, croaked, and then took himself back to bed again. I checked on him a moment ago and he's gone back to sleep.

DS2 is very, very, very lively! He would be fine at school, but I can't risk it yet. Luckily, DH bought him a new CD player yesterday so that he can listen to story tapes. So, at the moment, he is listening to 'Wind in the Willows' and playing in his room.

Have managed to unload the d/washer and am about to get the washing on. Am also admiring my bedroom, which looks so much better after a 15-minute room rescue yesterday afternoon. Flylady is right - it's amazing what you can achieve in 15 minutes. This is the difference for me now that I'm using Flylady. Before, I used to look at the mess, think "Oh no, it'll take hours" - and then do nothing. Now, at least I do something!

Back with a list in a bit.....

(DS now asking for a second breakfast. Definitely better!).

X posted. Good morning, Swan and Apuski .

linzer LOL at Austrian version of Before Sunrise

yes, some mornings can be almost what you thought family life was cracked up to be!

toffee v interesting about sailing. I need ds (who is not dyslexic) to sail so that he can sail safely on Irish lake, and also skipping a generation his grandpa is an enthusiast (many stories where he was either fatally becalmed or lost the centreboard in a gale) But unfortunately being such a bad sailor myself, outside instruction (not from Grandpa is needed. And of course a dinghy.

There, I've woken up...will try and organise myself now.

Good morning! Lots of activity this morning

Working from home again today and I know I won't get much done tomorrow as I am out at work then out all evening. At the moment I can't even see the skirting boards in the dining room to dust so I am going to do tomorrow's mission today as I am going to try to do my Home Blitz (Bleurgh/Blessing) over the weekend so the cobwebs will go then.

A list then:
Breakfast done
Dressed done
School run done
Washing out done
plan work done in my head at least
plan dinner for today and tomorrow and get whatever it is out of the freezer
set up meeting for next week - invitations, agenda + attachment, train ticket
15 mins hotspot dining room - table!
lunch
letter for work
15 mins hotspot - dresser and computer table
school run early to vote on the way
get stuff ready for tomorrow evening
bed on time

See you all later

PS why when there is nice clean water in a bowl in the kitchen is my cat drinking filthy green water out of the water feature????

Morning, Droit!

Ooh, DS1's childminder has just popped round and said she'll take him for me this afternoon, so I'll get two whole hours to get on with stuff. DS is delighted, as he's fed up of being stuck at home, and loves going to her house.

Yay for the childminder, toffee! I agree about the 15 min slot idea helping against the inertia too. Definitley helps for me.

I need to add:
empty upstairs bins and
patch DS2's trousers (again!)
to the list. Oh yes, and buy eggs on the way home from CM.

Linzer - I reckon the candles are for being romantic on Friday.

My entire morning seems to have been spent folding laundry and ironing while watching Junior Doctors (with just a few MNing breaks). Still no work, so it doesn't look like it's going to arrive now - but I'm not hugely disappointed.

I need to leave to pick up DD2 in five minutes - she's not out of school for 25 minutes, but I like to get a good parking spot so that I can sit and read in the car. Normally she would walk part of the way with a friend, but she has another friend coming to play this afternoon and I can't really expect her friend to walk the route on her own (without an adult).

Still, it could be worse - see Cinders' post. Toffee - the answer is that you never move out of your parents' home so you have GPs on hand to provide free babysitting. (Well, that's what my SIL did.) Or you have an au pair. Or you just don't work. There is an afterschool club, but only a couple of children from each class go to it.

Back later - must go or I'll miss my spot!

ds home already

actually doing his homework..

yawn
I think today
may last forever

Have managed to bake a quiche

and get a few things done....

I think

Morning!

Have voted done
School run done

That is it!!!

More plants to put in garden at some point today
More work in home office
General tidying/cleaning
Cook a roast dinner with all the trimmings (cos i fancy one)

swan i loved 'Those dreadful children' with the Taggertys and the Hiltons (i think) too and have just read hollow tree house to my DD who loved it also. I too felt a bit let down by Enid when i watched the portrayal of her in the film last year, so not what i would have expected from her.

Toffee sorry to hear DS1 is now poorly and you still feel rough. Glad DS2 is practically over the CP now - yey!

Children fed again. Time for a list....

Dress done (I love ticking this off! Makes me feel that I've done something)
B/fast done
D/W unloaded done
D/W reloaded done
W/M done
S&S
Shine sink
DS1 SATs practice and Mathswhizz (mean mummy - he says he's too ill. If i can still run the house with this lurgy, he can still do an hour's work)
Tumbledry clothes
Put washing away
Catch up on missions (hall and dining room)
Lunch
Friend - CV help
Tesco online order - update
Vote

That'll do. This morning has been punctuated by emails, texts, phone calls and Ds's childminder popping round, not to mention lots of "Mummeeee, I'm hungreeeee" from DS1.

Linzer - well done on multitasking (Junior Drs plus ironing!). I'm impressed that your DD is having another friend over - you are very good like that. Hope you get the favours returned. Re: the Austrian education system - at what age do your DC go all day to school? Secondary?

MissC - homemade quiche sounds delicious (boring sandwiches for lunch here again)

Lady - am not feeling too bad today, thanks, but DS1 is very croaky, poor boy. Am very relieved the chickenpox is on its way out and that DS2 has got it out of the way (was worried he'd never catch it and then get it as an adult).

Re: Enid Blyton - one of my absolute favourites is 'The Secret Island', all about four children living alone on an island. I read my old copy (belonged to my mum before me) to DS1 a few years ago and he loved it just as much, which was gratifying. I think it was the idea of being alone without adults that appealed to me as a child.

I'm back home with DD and her friend now too - although they're not doing their homework. Will get them all to do it after lunch when DD1 is home too (she'll be out of school in ten minutes).

DS was supposed to be having his friend plus little sister over this afternoon too, but their mum has just cancelled as he has toothache and so has to go to the dentist. I offered to have his little sister (plus even littler sister) here while they went, but their mum had just arranged for them to go the CM.

Toffee Yay for the CM!
Children do start staying at school a bit longer once they're at secondary school, but it all depends on their timetable; I quite often see the neighbours' teenage DC coming home just after lunchtime. It will be 5.5 years before the DC are all at that stage, though - and even then, they'll all be out of school at different times.
Re returning the favour: yes, most of the other parents I know are pretty good about doing so (if not, their DC don't get invited back!). DS's best friend's mum is amazing; she's a single parent, but will often invite all three of our DC over despite having three little ones (littler than mine) of her own.

Blue You're probably right. Flylady must have very looong date nights if she needs new candles every week. Or maybe she just likes a lot of variety.

List:

Post letters
Afternoon routine
Make shopping list
Clean fridge
Recycling
Purge magazines
Clean mirrors
Phone dermatologist to make appointment for skin check

Quiche was yum

ds had none

dd had tons

battery gone

going going gone

Toffee The secret island is pretty much the same as Hollow tree house in that children who aren't loved run away and survive on their own. I had forgotten The secret island bok until you mentioned it - wonder if i have a copy still. I am reading the Famous Five books to DD now and am on book 3 where the children hide on Kirrin Island from the hateful Sticks.

Have bought some strawberry plants and will plant them in a bit also renewed DD library books as we are overdue on them and she hasn't even read them yet!

Plumber is here as our new loo that was fitted at wkend is leaking and keeps filling up continuously so that you have to hold the ball balloon thingy (it's technical term don't you know) to stop it overflowing - no good when you have a school run to do or anything to do for that matter.

See you all later!

I want Camus .

For old time's sake .

Lady - is the hollow tree house by enid blyton as well? I don't remember those at all. I have to say that my enthusiasm for reading the Famous Five to DS waned after the second or third book. He loved them though.

Love the loo designed for someone with too much time on their hands!

Linzer - teens still coming home at lunchtime - oh my! Glad to hear your friend is so good at reciprocating.

Cinders - glad to hear your quiche was yum. More for you if DS wouldn't eat it!

Have dropped DS2 round at his childminder's. He was so excited and happy to be allowed out, especially to one of his favourite places (she is lovely). House looking fairly presentable - in the rooms that other people see, anyway. Am on the second load of washing and have tidied up the kitchen .

Friend popping round in a minute.