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

Tbh toffee i don't blame him either and would probably feel the same way.

Also I would love to have finished writing the report but sadly no, it is getting done in 2,000 word chunks then proof read as a whole and then re-editied. I have already re-written half a section because it didn't make sense. School is going to get a copy because it will help them (although certain sections will be taken out.) They are really tied with what they can do because of how well he copes and the fact that because he is ok educationally he wouldn't get considered for a statement (aparently this is one of the key criteria for one atm) tbh i am not surprised nor did I think that he would ever qualify for one so not worried about that There is a plan and the issue is the education board's attendance rate and no of days off he has had due to being unable to cope rather then anything else specifically. Fingers crossed this will help reduce problems. I am lucky in that he has an absolutely wonderful teacher and there are some very good policies in place at the school. even if i don't always feel that way due to specific events Anyhoos, 5,000 words of the report written and I reckon probably the same again to go at least. Going to keep me busy for a while.

But that is by the by. I have washed the car because it was disgusting. It really did look like it had been dragged through a muddy field of horses

I hope you all have lovely evenings. I am off to go see some lovely people and celebrate a wedding. ttfn

Bitchy - you do know that a child can qualify for a statement for behavioural/emotional reasons, not just educational ones, don't you? Please don't believe what the teachers tell you. They may believe it themselves, but they're wrong. Trusting what teachers and other professionals told me was one of the reasons I waited so long to apply for a statement for DS1. The trouble is that children often have to fail spectacularly at mainstream in order to prove this.

I hope you enjoy your evening out. (What's ttfn? Or is that a slip of the keyboard? ).

Swan - hope DS1's concert goes ok this evening.

Managed to get through the ironing. Also managed to get DS1 out for an evening walk to the local chip shop.

Bitchy - my DS is there or thereabouts academically too, but I'm still pushing for the statement, it's about the entire education not just the academic stuff. Pm me if you like and I'll talk through our situation with you.

Oh sn

oops, phone fingers.

School have always said he doesn't need and won't get a statement. Up to a point I agreed, but a combination of things in the last year means he now does.

TTFN = ta ta for now, Toffee.

Yes, today has been slightly more encouraging, SC.

Still not much flying, but I always do grocery shopping on Thurs and as it's errand day that helps me feel more on track! I also bought absolutely masses of summer flowering bulbs in Aldi and planted them all out in clumps around the front garden, which always makes me feel more cheerful. And my friend visited with her adorable baby.

DH has just gone off to fetch DS1 from an almost-13-hour school trip, so goodness knows what state he'll be in when he gets back!

Concert went well. Ds1 sadly not in any starring role this time, but on stage a lot with his violin. Lots of amazing modern music, including a schoolboy indie band playing Daft Punk (not ds though)

dd breaks up for hols tomorrow, just one more early start, yay!

dss still at school till Tues.

done
washed uniform
drove to concert and back
persuaded kids to sleep
hung out shirts
wiped worktops
dw on
washer on

someone's trodden mud up the stairs and it was not me [grrr]

Blue hope ds survived his trip.

Lilly you are doing amazingly well.

Blue that reminds me must get some planting done, only got miniature daffodils on our balcony/window sill, need something for when they finish. Hope your DS had fun, 13 hours seems a very long day.

I actually feel like I got a bit done today, have tackled the veg box as I know DH won't look in there while I'm away.

Done
Blanched leeks, celeriac & thinly sliced potato (shepherds pie topping) for freezing
Cooked batch rhubarb (will probably eat that tomorrow)
Made chocolate brownie biscuits (ditto)
Made coleslaw
Dinner
Lots of washing up
Crotchet (some chokers/collars/necklaces) just need to add beads

Ugh dd has been up since 5 so Im shattered already
But on a positive the holidays begin tomorrow
All the talk of planting flowers is inspiring me to get out in the garden next week.
I managed my morning list but apart from making dinner I didn't manage any flying yesterday evening. I have got to complete a masters module for the Tuesday we go back after Easter so I had a bit of a panic and started to do some work on that instead.
I'm going to look around a school I am considering applying to this evening. Hopefully it will be nice. Ive had two interviews for positions for September so far and Im beginning to panic about that as well as I really cannot afford not to be working.

Sorry for moaning.

To do
Beds
Dw
Lunches
Hoover
Dry washing off the airers
Hang washing out
Reload wm
Clean the bathroom
Coursework
Be happy it is the end of term

A quick post to say hello to Lily and to those in the SEN process, put whatever you’re being told through this question: Would that constitute a blanket policy? If the answers yes, it’s illegal. If it's a mainly good school and LEA, then negotiate, if not leave them their a spade to let them keep digging a bigger hole.
If it goes to court it’s a point of law, not an arguable opinion even when they go all out to prove it;s an individual descision about your child, not a blanket policy.
Our school had used Fischer trust figures to claim it didn’t matter how many levels behind ds was, as not doing well would be our normal and his progress reasonable because he came from a very ‘disadvantaged’ background. (they may even have believed it)
In court I made the case that itself was an illegal blanket policy (and that their attitude to us was the real disadvantage of background) and he should get an education that allowed him a fair chance of meeting his individual potential, and provided evidence to support my claim that his potential was loads higher than they said it was. (Noteable that no EP could be found to back up the idea of blanket learning abilillity levels based on age, class, or background, even though they own the souls of a few!)

To do
Drag ds out of toilet where he's been for nearly an hour, and battle our way into London in rush hour to collect freecycle building material donations (available mainly because of pick up time!) to rebuilding our home.

Work out everything else afterwards!

Issue is Ds is in year 4 doing y6 work. educationally he is fine. the problem is lunchtime. And his ability to deal with change and noise (which they see no sign of in school cos he bottles) School accept he struggles and are going to support the work we have done at home. Tbh i have never seen how it could be argued that he would need a statement. And his teacher and the higher management are particularly good. Issues is the LEA and their bloody blanket attendance rates which take not account of special cases. And there is legal support for ensuring attendance. My real problem is the diagnosis process tbh.

I am doing an impression of a zombie today and it hurts to breathe so I am going to give up and go back to bed, once i have put ds' clothes on to wash so he has clothes for his wk away. night

Has he ever seen an OT Bitchy? IT may be that he has sensory issues that could be helped by an OT. This is one of the things my DS needs (and isn't getting).

Dag/salut! Hope everyone ok!

Ugh; the insomnia on this thread must be catching! Virtually crawled on my knees to bed last night but couldn't sleep until after 3am for some reason ... could hear birds singing at 2.15 ish so feeling a bit jaded this morning. Woke up with trails of mascara down the pillow cases and a full dining table of a 2 course supper for 6: dirty plates, glasses, baking trays, half eaten salads, HP sauce bottles and mustard jars... having failed mahoosively to take off my make up and clear up even one single teaspoon after entertaining last night

All a bit wing and a prayer but miraculously everyone ate my "sausage frisbee" as dd called it [variation on this with pork and veal mince] and one child had three portions so they'll be invited back Even dh returned in time and tried to take over control of the kitchen. And it was great to see dd run carefree around the lawn with friends and rabbits now exams/term nearly over

Ta da so far:
Emptied dw
Stacked dishwasher
Cleared dining room table
Rinsed and stacked rest of washing up for second dishwasher load
Rabbits
Folded towels
Re-booted laundry
s&s
Post
Watered seeds
Straightened play room

To do:
E-mails promoting friend's bk launch
Carry on with boudoir
Clear paths for cleaner
Watch Channel 4 racing

Just your advice is so brilliant - you should write a book (serious)

Mercury holidays start here tomorrow too - whey hey! (Sorry you have MA work to do though as I'm sure you could do with complete break.) Good luck with the job hunting and hope tonight's school good fit!

Goth all your cooking sounds really delicious!

Congrats to your ds on fab violin playing at concert Swan and no, only dd playing tennis thankfully! Arf at cycling through cowpats and sponge bob catechism from earlier down thread btw

Blue hope your ds1 survived his trip - 13 hrs seems rather gruelling! (Remember my dnephew coming back from one of those and being physically sick from exhaustion.) Glad you had some restorative time for yourself - babies and bulbs always uplifting!

Good luck with continued report writing Bitchy

Toffee glad it's not just us that does the ringing thing between floors . Otherwise tend to bark up stairs which is not terribly attractive I also have old-fashioned school bell for emergencies! (Very useful at the end of play-dates when parents are waiting impatiently in hall to collect reluctant-to-leave offspring)

Big waves to everyone else! Had better drag myself off and at least pretend to do something productive ... .

Big waves to Whoknows and eveyrone else too!

Morning all! Last day of term here, so shorter than usual day then nearly 3 weeks off! Looking forward to spending time with the little munckins but hoping it doesn't put me back to square one with the house.
My sister is in Hospital so ended up visiting her last night. Looking out for her next update.

Done:
Breakfast
School run etc

To do:
Reload dishwasher
2 x laundry loads
Tidy living room
Sort selling stuff - lady who bought loads yesterday is interested in taking a load more
Wipe kitchen sides
Hoover
Bit mountain of Laundry away upstairs when DH gets up (works nights).
Pick kids up early
Dinner
Take girls to their last day at Girls brigade tonight (One less thing to do every friday night!)

Guten morgen one and all.

Your links for today look like this:-

babystep post-it notes

your mission, should you choose to accept it (or not in my case is here

the focus is declutter your car and purse

current zone is Entrance Hall, Porch and Dining Room.

Have a flytastic day everyone

Whoops

Mission is here

No he hasn't Whoknows apparently we can't access this until he gets his diagnosis. He has major sensory needs. it is his biggest issue. The sensory box here is getting to be multiple boxes.

Another one here bracing for the Easter holiday, god DD was a madam this morning, 9 going on 15. I think puberty kicks in the week after the tantrums stop.

At least it's not actually raining right now, it's been grey for a week now and I really could do with some sunshine. And I hate the clocks changing

Done
Beds
Packed lunch
S&S
DD to school
Big bowl of porridge

To do
Dry laundry away
Hang next lot on airers
Scrape condensation off windows
Washing up
Look at missions (maybe even do them today)
Paperwork

That's enough to get on with.
?

Bonjour! What have we all been up to?

lily has made a fantabulous start to flying and is putting some of oldtimers (ie me) to shame. Gold star of the day (hope your sister is ok )

sc crawled to bed, had mascara all over her face, heard birds singing in the middle of the night, played with rabbits and made sausage frisbee. Sausage frisbee sounds awesome. I have no freaking idea what one is and have visions of throwing a lincolnshire sausage around a field but it still sounds awesome. She is now going to pretend to be productive...welcome to my life

bitchy is working very hard on being an awesome mother and trying to help DS and garnering lots of sage advice from the very knowledgable people on here just whoknows and toffee to name a few. SHe is also doing an impression of a zombie.....think I will still clear of her today, could get messy .

just was being the cleverest/wisest person in the whole world.

mercury has become inspired to garden and is worrying about jobs. DOn't stress too much yet, still plenty of time for teaching jobs to come up. If you need any interview tips please just ask as I interview for teaching posts sometimes. Hopefully they will have given you good feedback from the interviews you have already had.

goth did a marvellous impression of an earth mother. Baking, crocheting everything. She rocks.

swan is very proud of DS1 and is looking forward to the holidays. She was trying to summon up glamour with a bargepole. I would need more than a bloody bargepole..miracle more like .

toffee gave lots of wonderful advice and blue educated her in text speak.

whoknows gave lots of lovely advice.

elliepac did sweet nothing...all freaking day .

Oh and today is my birthday so I leave and for all .

Bitchy - the fact that his school and HT are good is probably in your favour. Ours are too, and I used to think that because of that there was no chance of a statement. However the fact is that in Year 5, despite the school having done everything they could reasonably be expected to, he still has significant needs that are not being met, means he really does need a statement. It would be worse if the school were crap because the LA can just say the school can do more and leave it to the school. Sorry, thread hijack.

[Pulls string of humungously large party popper]

Happy Birthday Ellie !!!!!

and for later (post-op recovery allowing)

(your round-up made me cackle )

for Goth too - hope sun comes out soon!

Hope your sister is ok Lily

[Crawls back to chores]

Don't apologise Whoknows it's important

whoknows i agree with sc. (even though she shouldn't be here as she told me she was being productive....she lied). That is why we love this thread and are all still here after 4 1/2 years. Because 90% of what we talk about has chuff all to do with flying and everything to do with supporting each other. Remember that. Never let me hear you apologise for being lovely and supportive again. And I am thread leader so you have to listen to me.