April's Fledgling Fliers: there's no fooling the Fat Fairy this month.

[elliepac]

In a blatant steal from last month's thread:

So here we are, April already.

So for those who don't know the fledglings is a long running thread. Some of us seem clicky but that is because we have been chatting on these threads for nearly half a decade makes everyone feel old we quite like fresh blood though so feel free to jump in and join us.

Three key points to keep in mind:
(1)No perfectionism allowed - this is harder than you would imagine
(2)You are never behind just start where you are and anything you do is progress.
(3) It didn't get into a mess overnight, it won't get tidy over night - accept it will take time to get on top of things and you will be happier.

If you are new then trying to spend 15mins decluttering and the babysteps is the most. Some of us Bitchy can have scary looking lists. One word of advice ignore them. Do what you can, anything is better then nothing, and don't judge yourself against others

Am still full of energy after my holiday, which means I have a 'ta da' list:

Breakfasts
Swish and swipe
Checked emails
Emailed plumber about boiler
A couple of hours' paid work
Washing up
Lunch
Persuaded DH to take us to garden centre
Stocked up on plants and compost
Helped DS2 plant vegetables from a kit (carrots and peppers)
Restocked last year's hanging baskets
Restocked window box outside back door
Helped DS2 set up HUE animation to make Lego film
Tidied bathroom hotspot
Emptied bathroom bin
Put washing on
Dinner for boys

Coming back home reminds me why I get so stressed here though. There is simply too much to do, so I end up doing all of it imperfectly and feeling rubbish at everything. I'm not sure what the answer is.

On another subject entirely, DS1 has told me he wants to dye his hair black because he's decided he's a Goth . I said no. For one thing, school rules forbid it. AIBU?

ta da
Do battle with ds
Make some decisions for MY benefit
laundry x4 loads
sort out the master calendar
make plans for may.
Drink more coffee than probably wise
boil up handwarmers
Help ds with his lego sorting/tidying task
Deal with the stupidty of men
fold washing
more washing on
declutter the shelves in the bathroom
carry my clean folded washing upstairs and put on my bed.
empty ds' bin and put to soak in disinfectant
finally get the shower trying to have all day
more washing
consider wording of text that is needed to be sent
do more battle with ds
put ds' kit in bath to soak
more laundry
folding
ironing
put ds' clothes away
brew up proper coffee
put dw on
15mins decluttering in the back bedroom
do yet more battle with ds
threaten to throw out anything that is lego
more laundry
chuck proper coffee over bench
clean up coffee and under clutter on bench where coffee chucked
make sunflower seed rolls for tomo
put oat bread dough ingrediants in bread machine
put myself into time out before I explode
put my clothes away
drink more coffee than is advisable
deal with random question from next door (logical but random)
decide that tomo coffee cake will be needed and thus perhaps I could get away with making one.
consider also making a cake that ds can have.
Deal with ds who just doesn't get it
more laundry

Could you compromise and have spray in hair dye for hols which will wash out for school? we do this with ds when he wants blue hair.

Oh, your list puts mine to shame, Bitchy. Will have to go and do more now.

Hmm, hadn't thought about spray-in hair dye just for the hols. Not sure I want to encourage him at all, to be honest. He might want to keep it that way.

A lovely lazy day here, first day of the holidays without either work, visitors or DH being at home, plus nothing desperately urgent needing doing (apart form some emails about DS's statement tribunal, which is getting complicated as everyone wants different dates).

So, ta-da!

Lie-in till 9am
Stripped bed
Dressed before breakfast - this is going to be my new term habit hopefully, but it has not been a regular thing for many, many years.
Breakfast in the garden with a magazine DCs in front of telly
Put up a new washing line (we have one long line but decided we need another).
4 loads of washing done and dried on lines
Planted some sweet peas out
Cleaned toilet (rest of bathroom to follow)
Went to get flea treatment from vet
Took DCs to park and shop
Dinner (frozen pizza)
Made a treacle tart and some cheese straws with some leftover pastry from the other day.

Now just got to sort out and put away the washing, remake my bed and get the DCs off to theirs.

Wow toffee and bitchy your lists are amazing!

I have 150 words left to write but dd has come home from holiday club ill. She is burning up and complaining of feeling sick and having a sore throat. So I have made her up a bed on the sofa and sat reading while she sleeps. Im hoping she feels after some sleep.

Hi all, used to be on these threads but I'm a flaky mner, otherwise known as gossipwitch, but felt it was time to name change to babblehag, gone a bit Eastery too

how is everyone????

Oooh, I've forgotten to do my Easter namechange . Welcome back Babblehag.

testing, testing

like it who knows

I am doing hot and cross very well atm. Highly motivating it is

Well I finally won the you will fucking tidy your own bloody bedroom and the bastard lego you feel the need to leave everywhere arguement. Hopefully we will have a better day tomo.

Tired but drunk way way way too much coffee so the cunning plan for this evening when I have cooked the bread rolls involves a crochet hook.

Big wing flaps to babblehag

ohhh how I've missed you lot

Were still not using the loft apart from for storage.

I gave dp the stupid idea of getting his bike licence and getting a bike to go to and from work, I thought a nice little crosser type bike with a smallish engine, but I mentioned it and he wants to get the big boys licence with a massive sporty type bike, he says its a penis extension, I say he needs life insurance!! I know how this will pan out, he's going to get his massive bike and I'm going to be by the back door biting my nails and fingers off every time he's out on it.
Me and my big mouth

And dp has started doing the usual of bringing in junk from work, this week its been a few drill bits, a hose for the washer (both useful I know) and finally a spray gun nossle thing, that he needs a compressor for .

I have also got the kids on a rota thing to keep the house generally tidy, they earn sweets, its only for an hour a day but my god it makes the world of difference, 1 parent Hoovers and does the laundry, the other monitors the kids (keeps ds1 on track and from melting down) and helps where needed. I needed to do something to keep on top of it, it would take me six hours on my own, and if a bucket of sweets in an hour a day keeps the kiddy's off the computer and learning domestic skills then so be it!

Dp also says he'll get me a steam cleaner for mothers day. I'm looking forward to that.

I can't tell if you are being serious or sarcastic with that last statement babblehag Well done on the kids' helping though. Massive achievement!

Evening! Have done errand day, and the boiler has been serviced. Not much else. House is still a tip. My parents are still arriving Saturday. Still that gives me a day and a bit to sort it out!

Waves to babblehag and everyone else.

honestly I am really looking forward to it, apparently they are excellent for everything, I'm looking around the house for things I could steam, first steam will be the oven though, that's minging!!!!

Fabulous at the bottom of toilets (you know that bit where the toilet meets the floor), showers, tiles, kitchen floors. Love the one that is here. But mostly it is used to de-men the bathroom.

Enjoy it when you get it!

I was going to have an early night but there is a small matter of a battery that needs replacing and the really annoying beeping to notify of said requirement. Currently trying to figure out have to achieve the silencing of the beep. Locality is a bit of an issue.

Another earthquake this morning!!!! its crazy!

not going to get much done this morning not until ds1 goes to his dads anyway, will probably be spending the majority of the morning playing diplomat.

Have you all seen this thread can I use a pressure washer indoors. Very funny.

I've had a message from Ellie, she's having Wifi issues so I'm going to post links today instead.

Today's babystep is Morning and before bed routines

Daily focus is Clear out your handbag and car

Mission for today is Scrub round your taps and vacuum the guestroom

Thanks for the funny thread, WhoKnows. I love the way the posters seem to think those of us in the housekeeping threads have it all sussed and live in spotless houses. If only they knew (speaking for myself here, of course - I'm sure you all live in spotless houses ).

Cleared out my handbag a few days ago, car is DH's job and I don't have a guestroom - so that means I only have to scrub taps today, right? .

Had another lie in till 9am this morning. I could get used to this. Have spent ages with DS2, helping him plan a lunch to cook for me and DH, using the vegetables we have just planted. I keep having to remind him they have to have time to grow first.

Have decided I need to give the boys jobs to do in the house. They don't do anything and, at 8 and 14, they are certainly capable. Anyone know the best jobs to start with? (WhoKnows - I know you're good at this). I thought of maybe starting by getting DS1 to put his dirty clothes in the laundry bin every day (they get as far as his bedroom floor at the moment). And then I wondered if I should reward the boys for doing a daily job - and if so, with what? (I have been through this cycle of thinking before and, at this point, I usually give up and carry on doing it all myself).

Lovely Spring day here. Hoping to get everyone out for a walk shortly.

Hope you're all enjoying the Easter break.

I don't do rewards except for exceptional hard work.

They are expected to pick up dirty clothes and put them in the basket.

Share unloading the DW in the morning (one does the top rack, the other does the bottom. I help put away high up stuff.
Take plates from table to DW and help load
Help peg out clothes when asked - I do the main stuff, they put the smalls on those sock hanger things.
Put away their clean clothes (again with help) - their drawers/wardrobes are too small at the moment so it is quite tricky.
Put out their clean clothes for the next day.
Ad-hoc other things on request.

It definitely gets more ad-hoc and less routine in the school holidays,

The main thing is - they are not helping you, you have been helping them by doing their share while they are young, as they grow up they need to take it on themselves. You can ask them to help you with a particular task, eg I'm cleaning the bathroom could you help by taking these towels to the washing machine, but the ownership of the housework as a whole is shared, not yours.

Morning all,

I've been rather lax this month, but expect to see a bit more of me because I'm now on holiday for 2 and a half weeks!

Though of course, this means I have a cold as has DS so today will mostly be spent on the sofa, surrounded by tissues, watching Poirot and Disney films.

Ta da
Supermarket...heaving!

To do
I should do washing since the only clean trousers DS has are too small or miles too big. He's currently wearing rolled up trousers meant for a 4 year old (he's 2 and a half)
Dinner...going to make a quiche later if I can work up the energy.
MN!

That's it! No more!

I like the idea that 'you have been helping them by doing their share...' bit, WhoKnows. Quite right too. And I also like only exceptional hard work earning rewards.

Think I'll use dinnertime this evening to broach the subject.

"they are not helping you, you have been helping them by doing their share while they are young, as they grow up they need to take it on themselves ... ownership of the housework as a whole is shared, not yours." This. this was what yesterday's battles were about.

Ta da
Take battery out of the fire alarm
fall asleep around 5am when quiet was achieved
play walkie talkies with ds whilst being asleep
deal with meal juggling for lunch
praise ds for sorting lego off his own bat

Just about to grab shower and then run an errand at tescos. Today is brought to you by coffee and the comforting thought that i can have an early night tonight