June know it's the fledgling flyers?

[Stillchuckingit]

A warm welcome to the June Fledgling Flyers' thread.

If the state of your house is getting you down, this is the thread where we follow the step-by-step Flylady housekeeping system (in our own, unique, relaxed style ) with lots of chat and support along the way and where lace-up shoes are definitely optional.

A huge thank you to Linzer for keeping us all on track so splendidly during May and thank you to DroitwichMummy for the thread title.

As usual, we will be following the Flylady three-pronged approach:

1. Baby-steps (a daily step to establish routines)
2. Then baby-steps + 15 mins daily decluttering
3. (And once decluttered) babysteps + daily missions

If you are feeling overwhelmed by clutter and mess, you can make a difference, one step at a time.

For more information, have a look here. You don't need to sign up to Flylady e-mails (we advise you not to do so in fact - you will be overwhelmed - all the information you need can be gleaned from this thread).

All long-standing members, intermittent returnees, lurkers and newcomers welcome!!

Tomorrow's step, no.20, for Monday 20th June is an important one about laundry here!

On Monday we will be in Zone 4, the master bedroom here

And the mission for tomorrow will appear here once the Flylady site updates itself.

For a sneak peak at the week?s missions, look here! Again, this may need to update itself.

Monday is home bleeurrgghhh day, more details here

And just another reminder that we are all supposed to be drinking lots of water throughout the month of June.

See you in the morning!

Thanks SC That is reassuring; I think ds1 is already quite good at coping, the mere fact he refused to talk to the man and immediately told me was a very good sign. Not that the man said much, and it was innocuous, just creepy that he went to talk to them at all. Dd and Ds1. They don't literally get changed, just take off the layer of Altar serving robes (like a coat really), and it's the church cloakroom too, so often people go in and out during service and after. Usually there are other altar servers there too- anyway it was silly of me to be on the wrong side of the church so didn't swoop down to supervise them I suppose it's just you forget what a public place a church is, full of people you don't know as well as the familiar congregation.

done
sink
washing up
lots of laundry drying, but can't be bothered to put it away or sort it
leftovers in fridge
worktops
bins emptied

Swan well done to your ds1 for doing exactly the right thing!!

Not sure it should be your responsibility to oversee though. Perhaps a word in the ear of person in charge of servers might be an idea? Know exactly what you mean about forgetting familiar churches also public.

(Sorry - yes - know they don't get changed literally - wrong wording. My db was altar boy for years. We attended mass on Sunday in huge RC catholic cathedral in middle of big city throughout my childhood; you wouldn't believe the wierdos "characters" that used to mill around at the back!! Most utterly harmless of course but with dc you understandably don't want to take that chance.)

Having said all that [excuse digression - no this is no laughing matter really] one of the strangest "characters" was outwardly one of most "respectable" - head of parish council during the week - and dressed in full transvestite regalia at the weekend!! My mother had difficultly explaining that one!! We also used to have a really lovely 'gentleman of the road' who took it upon himself to skip up the central aisle every so often shouting that he was about to liberate Poland!!

argh - must go to better - meant "know" this is no laughing matter

Go to better? Go to bed!!!!!!

LOL, I often feel like doing that (skipping up the aisles) (and of course dressing in full regalia

to speak of which, dd said I always embarassed her in front of her friends on the way home from school. Why? Because I said "And how did school go today, Darling?" in what she claimed were falsely sweet tones....

sleep well!
[just checking when my e-mails to see when exactly the plumber is arriving to change the radiator, please let it not be tomorrow morning at 8am!)

Don't ask.

morning btw.

Hope you all have marevlous days!

- CHB Was any sleep had at all?

Everyone sounds like they've been busy - most impressed at post-holiday Flying Toffee. Hope this week goes well for you all.

Had lovely w/e with DSIs - we don't see her often but she is so 'at home' with the DC and they with her (so unlike DSiL who lives locally and always seems to have an 'agenda') Long walk in country yesterday followed by BIG roast dinner and lemon meringue pie (DH's favourite and DD's suggestion for Father's Day :))
However we do seem to have nits . Confirmed on DS at bathtime. DSis was v cool about the possibility, just hope we haven't infected her (and possibly the Met Office )

Slightly confused as thought dentist's appointment was Tues (its Weds) so had mentally planned my week and now need to re-do it! So today I can Fly when I thought I would have to work - will come back with list as realised I need to get the hordes up, fed and out.

Just flying by with a really quick post to let you all know I have not been abducted by aliens, or drowned under a pile of ironing (always a possibility here!!!)

Had a weekend of A-level panic here. Trying to calm DD2 down has been quite difficult. One exam toady and only another 2 more to go. Roll on July!!

Back to work today after my few days off last week.

Will try to return later.

Morning all,

I think I need to start posting lists again - I need to do something to get myself motivated. Will keep this morning's short and (hopefully) manageable:

Morning routine
Change DDs' sheets
Mission
15 min decluttering
Rescue top floor

PA Hope your DD's exam goes well today.

feetheart Sounds like a lovely weekend.

SC Children seem to be expected to be fairly independent at an earlier age here too. None of the parents stayed at DS's 4th birthday party last year, despite the fact that quite a few of the children were only three (one was just two). Most children walk to school on their own, or at least with friends, within a few months of starting (at 6), providing they're within walking distance of course, and are left on their own for short periods at that age too. In fact, it's not unheard of for parents to leave toddlers or sleeping babies at home while they pick up older DC - something I was quite about when we first moved here.

Morning .

swan what a difficult sunday you had. Sounds like you are managing the whole independence training well (I am taking notes).

toffee Fingers crossed for you and ds tomorrow (and today) hopefully you will feel a bit better by Wed.

PA fingers crossed for you and dd too.

Must get back on the fly wagon today!!

To do:
school/work
Take dc to friends for tea
buy food
banking
house bleugh
collect dc
park friends meeting

BBL

errr with sleep that will be a no. But am wide awake and going to tackle this thing that is Ds' room. Starting with the bed as it turns out i forgot to put a nappy on him last night and it is predictably wet.

As for what else gets done what happens happens.

Thanks for the coffee linzer. Card arrived will give to ds when he gets back tonight. It was a bit late by the time he got home last night.

Eh up lovely fledglings. A very dull day here - hope it is brighter with you.

Just back from donating yet more of my bodily fluids to the doctor and dropping off monitor. Can now chomp on some breakfast. Frustratingly, many more tests on the horizon and have been told to continue resting. Arrrgghhh!!

Linzer I like the idea of the dc being able to walk to school in groups together ...in the villages near the Netherlands border, all the dc tend to cycle in huge, long, "crocodiles" which is great. Sadly too much of a big city here to allow it (even though quieter, more parochial than many) with the additional problem of mad car driving. You take your life in your hands as an adult walking across a zebra crossing; too hairy for a child!

Ditto about leaving younger siblings at home while collecting the older ones!!

Good luck with your list! (I know you already know this - so forgive the repetition - but when my motivation is at its lowest - 15 min timer method really DOES work)

Swan hope the plumber arrives at a reasonably civilised hour (at least in time for you to don your full regalia )!!

Oh poor you CHB! Why are the training sessions held at such strange hours???? That sounds positively tortuous!! [Brews strong coffee]

Feetheart Your w/e sounds lovely - so glad your sister's visit went well. (I'm sure the Met office are used to worse than nits btw!! )

Hey PA Hope you are surviving the stress of teenagers and examinations! (My sister is going through the same thing atm) [Hands over calming aromatherapy bath oil] Hope it all goes well for dd2! I'm just imagining you being abducted by aliens now; certain you would bake them a couple of cakes, do their accounts, and check out their electrical appliances (particularly hoovers and extra-large washing machines!!)

Huge waves to Scatty and everyone else

Hope everyone has a good start to the week!

SC Yes, I really should make more use of my timer; I've got out of the habit over the last few weeks. Sorry to hear you don't have better weather - the sun has finally appeared here, but there seems to be rather a lot of rain forecast in Brussels over the next few days (DH is flying this afternoon).

CHB Sympathies re the wet bed; DS has been wet quite a few times recently (despite pull-up) and I'm starting to get fed up with all the washing.

Have just dropped the DDs off at their piano lesson so must make good use of my timer over the next hour.

Sunny here at the moment SC ... Not much flying done yet, though today's mission is definitely one to aim for.

Hope you're recovered from your stressful Sunday swan and that you find your motivation Linzer. If you do, could you share some with me please?!

Hands round calming to PA and CHB, and anyone else in need!

because that is when they are. am having a nightmare. Not only is the bedding wet, but also pillows, duvets and favourite animals. risking the animals on a cold wash but can not tumble. How on earth are they going to be dry for bedtime?

Am in a very flity mood a bit here a bit there. Am sure there will be progress eventually. especially if i dont get distracted by the lappy...

No FLYing done today but still been a busy one.

Coffee with friend after drop off to see her huge extension
Food shop
Took covers off Stokke chair to wash them (bloody hard work that was as they are practically molded to the chair)
Met Cousin and Aunt for lunch in town
Bought DD's party bits and pieces for Saturday

She wants a Club Penguin cake so i have bought a huge already iced cake and i now need to make a lighthouse, penguins and puffles plus igloo to go on it and somehow ice blue waves around the edges - well this is what I have in my head as an idea

Hope you are all fine and dandy this Monday afternoon

We might be getting somewhere with help for DS1 at last .

Saw psychiatrist this morning, who listened patiently, didn't judge us, 'got' everything we said about DS and offered help. She says she thinks he has what they call 'mixed developmental disorder', which means a bit of everything - OCD, Asperger's, ADHD... Funny that her saying that cheered me up so much - but it was the fact that she understood his 'issues' so clearly that made the difference. She suggested we put him on Prozac for about six months because he is in such a heightened state of anxiety at present, then start CBT once he is responding to that. I discussed the drug's safety for children etc., but she was pretty convincing about it. Anyway, she is coming round on Wednesday to meet my DS (same day we are seeing dyslexia tutor. It's all go!).

Also, spoke to a really lovely teacher at DS's secondary school, who has flagged up DS's anxiety issues to all the teachers and TAs for tomorrow. DS has been placed in a very small group with boys he knows and likes from school. If he can't cope, they will ring me.

Phew. Today is a Good Day.

Hi, my DH took us to the seaside for the weekend, so I've not been around. With lots to unpack and a clingy boy at my feet, sorry I don't have to catch up properly.

Toffee, as much as it is possible to say this, that all sounds very encouraging. Hope things start looking up. My mother felt sort of the same when my elder DB was finally diagnosed with ASD.

Right, off to get going - timer at the ready. (Does anyone actually use a timer? My smartphone doesn't have a timer app so I have to set alarms for 15 minutes ahead.)

Dinner done
Shine sink
Unpack
Weekly Home Blessing if I have time

Toffee my mum was a changed woman on Prozac. I wish she had taken it years earlier. She became herself on it - the person she really was, not all the anxieties and depressions. That is my only experience of it. She doesn't take it now, but it lifted her out a major depression.

Sunday wasn't so bad folks! just that all the incidents seem to pile up around bedtime...

Blue what an amazing cake, lovely
[still have to organise ds1's party...

Dh has been at home (ill) today, the new ironing lady has been whilst I was looking after SIL's baby so I've spent a nice morning in the park with sleeping baby, texting long lost friends - didn't expect baby to drop off

Dh is thrilled by the piles of ironing, too thrilled if you ask me

The amazing cake is Pink's project - not claiming credit for that! (Although the apricot sponge was pretty good in its way)

yay for good day toffee!!!

Great news Toffee, what a relief. A friend of mine took Prozac for PND and had nothing but praise for it. BTW you did better than us with the ferries, we had both DCs sick both ways, and on the way out neither of them managed to get it in the sick bags, bleurgh.

Busy day here, gardening club at school followed by road safety training for Yr 2s, a little respite now then I'm helping with Beavers later. Our school summer fair is on Friday evening so there's lots to do for that this week too, but the weather forecast is not looking good.

Great to hear such good news about Prozac from you Flyladies. I was thinking about it earlier. If DS had diabetes or epilepsy, I wouldn't hesitate to give him the medicine he needs for that. So why do I worry about giving him something for his mental health? Anyway, I was reassured when the psychiatrist said it had one of the safest safety records for any drug.

Bartlet - thanks for the good wishes. And yes, I use a timer. It helps me to motivate myself when I can't be arsed to do anything.

Swan - that's good to hear about Prozac being so effective for your mum .

CBA

Whoknows - Seasickness both ways? . Oh, you poor things! At least my two didn't need the sea sickness bags in the end (very useful to take in the car though ).

The day is still going well: the headteacher rang to see if there was anything she could do to help DS tomorrow and wanted to know how he is getting on. She was pleased to hear about the help we are getting from the psyc.

Lovely mum has done all my ironing. She is taking DS2 to school tomorrow, as I'm taking DS1 to SS, then going home . Will come home to an empty house . Maybe then I'll get on with some Flying to take my mind off DS at his new school...