Combining April showers with Fledgling powers (2016)

[SpareCrust]

Humungous thanks to Greymalkin for leading us so professionally and capably through March!

And thank you in advance to Einstein for covering the first four days of this thread (while I sidle off)!

If you are struggling with C.H.A.O.S. (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome) and S.T.U.F.F. (Something That Undermines Family Fun) then this is the thread where we (loosely) follow the step-by-step Flylady housekeeping system (in our own unique, relaxed style) with lots of support and chat along the way.

Flylady link here.

Don't let the somewhat sickly and barftastic language of the site put you off: the underlying system is sound!

This little-and-often system is designed so that you can follow a series of steps and routines each day (which gradually become second nature) in zones of the house which are designated weekly; defining and minimising housework; which in theory should leave you with loads more time to do something more interesting instead!

At the same time it is intended to reduce that panicky "rabbit in headlights" feeling when you are overwhelmed and everything needs doing all at once. No problem if you miss a day or two; just jump right back in and it will all come around next month again!

It's up to you, but we advise not signing up to receive the Flylady e-mails as you will be swamped with masses of bumph. All the information you need will be linked here on a daily basis.

From the first of the month, we will be following Flylady's steps and routines using a three-pronged approach (dependent on the stage everyone is at):

• start or repeat baby steps
• repeat baby steps + do 15 minutes a day decluttering in the current zone
• reinforce babysteps and do daily missions if you have finished decluttering.

** And if you are really enthusiastic and have finished decluttering - you can go on to detailed deep cleaning in each zone.

There are three key points to keep in mind throughout:

• No perfectionism allowed - this is harder than you would imagine and many of us on this thread struggle with this one.
• You are never behind - just start where you are and anything you do is progress.
• 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.

If you are new; then trying to spend 15mins decluttering daily and doing the babysteps is a good way to start. Some of us (mentioning no names!) can have scary looking ‘ta-da’ lists but don't let that worry you. Do what you can, anything is better than nothing, and don't judge yourself against others.

If all else fails, a brew + the power of three technique + a bit of support on here can work wonders!

Here's the launch pad for more experienced fledglings

Oh and don’t let it put you off if we appear a bit cliquey, we really aren’t! . Some of us have been on here for years and some of us natter rather a lot – but all lurkers, intermittent returnees, oldies and newcomers are very, very welcome!

Thanks for support. Yes, still breastfeeding so can at least give comfort that way. Luckily no vomiting and she is still eating, she needs to considering how much is coming out the other end. I've bought some apples this evening so will start on grated apple at breakfast tomorrow, thanks for the tip. Hopefully things will calm down soon, fingers crossed.

Looking forward to talking home ed when Meerkitten is back on an even keel and hence a little less demanding

MEGASIGH

Crappy day here. Achieved bugger all, have an upset DD because a local family who we knew from school has seemingly decided to not let her play with their DD anymore.

And now the toilet is blocked. AAAAAAAAAARGH

Oh Caglio your poor DD I hope she is ok, that is so mean

Thanks Dogs I'm not really sure what to say to DD, since it seems to be down to the parents taking offence at us home edding.

Their loss though. DD has loads of lovely friends (including the school friends who've stuck by us!) but still it's not nice to be turned away is it :(

Hugs to you and your DD. It is never nice to be left out of the playdate/party/sleepover. What makes you think home ed is the reason?

Not done any zone work today, there's always tomorrow ...

Morning all!

I'm sorry to hear that your dd is upset Cag. What a strange mindset those parents must have!

Hope Meerkitten's tum is a bit calmer this morning Dogsbum. Have you tried the BRAT diet? I know it is out of favour now with modern paediatricians but I always found it worked (and it includes apple puree as Knitting suggested).

I'm off out to serial medical appts.

Hope everyone has a good day!

Potentially not. Imagine you were a parent with a child struggling in school who it is impractical to remove to home educate and thus do't want them thinking that this is a option they need.
You just don't know what other people's circumstances are. Sad for the children but sometimes grown ups have to make difficult choices that appear to the outsider to not make sense. Although sometimes people are just arses. You really just don't know.

It could just be personalities. Dd was "dumped" by some friends, and I'm sorry to say has decided to "dump" other friends since she has become an opinionated teen...it isn't always the parents who make the decisions. Dd has one particular friend (or shall I say ex friend) who is brilliant at sport, but quite feisty/not swayed by peer group and not that interested in clothes (the more I think about dd's reasons the more I think she is crazy to fall out with this friend) Dd says she cannot be friends with her because she is not part of the "set" and is "irritating", "small" (dd is Amazonian in height) and "dresses badly". She is a lovely lovely funny cheerful old buddy of dd, but there is nothing I can do, except hope that this friend gets her revenge by having loads of her own "Set" and swans past dd at some point dressed in diamonds and tulle, preferably with several Olympic medals.

However Cag there was a very sad point when dd was about 7 when a stuckup neighbour decided dd was not a suitable companion for her daughter (who went to a posher school) and they used to wave at each other over the fence (one house in between) but weren't allowed to have playdates, that may be more the situation at moment. It was most discouraging. The mum in question then suffered a horrendous tragedy, so I now look back and just think, how unimportant these "opinions" are in the larger scheme. We get on well now. It is sad how things turned out (the tragedy I mean). Another friend just told me at the time not to fight it, but to just enjoy dd's other friends - if you get upset it makes your child feel worse.

done
driving
filled up with petrol (oh the joy of getting to the petrol station with only a few drops of petrol to spare)

Good point, could be that. It's definitely not their DD's decision as she keeps asking her parents to play out with DD. They are both teachers, but TBH quite a few local families have pretty much stopped talking to us anyway. I've heard it's pretty common for that to happen when you leave a school to HE. But then I was an outsider at the school gate anyway (despite DD being pretty popular) so it could just be that.

DD is fine today anyway, she's been finishing her poems for writing club which is on this afternoon. She's got a great bunch of friends, she'll be ok, I'll just have to be more observant when she's playing out I think.

Good morning feathered ones!

Cag - I feel for your DD. I was always being dumped by frenemies when I was a young teen; it broke my heart every time. Friendships and peer groups are so important for young people and not being liked can feel devastating. I'm glad she has other good friends though.

Knitting - I also limped into the petrol station on fumes this morning! One of my biggest worries is breaking down with DS in the car. His carseat stays in my car, so if ever DH takes him anywhere without me, they go in my car. DH then forgets to replace the fuel....

How is meerkitten doing today? Does she use cloth or disposable nappies Dogs? I just couldn't face the thought of cloth nappies when bubbas have poorly tummies

Things appear to be calming down here today. One poonami after breakfast that leaked over all her clothes and led to a bath but things seem to be on an even keel since then. I'm struggling to get her to eat much of the grated apple but hopefully she ate some of it and didn't throw it all on the floor!

I think she is currently having another poo though so will have to sign off again in a moment.

Disposables thank god, I bought the washables before Meerkitten was born but have never been able to face it and I certainly don't think this is the week to start!

I've not heard of BRAT but will look it up on the internet.

Off to change another nappy, oh joy..........

Me: Plan A
Life: Hahahaha
Me: Plan B
Life:
Me: I have plans C and D if I need them
Life:
Me:
Life:
Me: Look there are a whole heap more letters in the Alphabet and you already taught me to change plans on a dime
Life: Oh this is going to be fun.
Me: Really?

Good evening fledglings

Went to three med appts in a row today. Whatever possessed me to book so many in one day I do not know. Totally cream crackered now.

Well done re: your list and all the Facebook decluttering Grey (and we must pm about how we might organise the body decluttering buddy-ship!). May need to drink a glass or three of tonight though before we start .

Dogsbum glad things are calming down a little anyway! Poor Meerkitten she has had a rum do.

Cag/Einstein/Knitting
Yes, Einstein's explanation about the anti-home ed parents makes complete sense and that thought did occur to me later on in the day. This morning I was thinking in terms of personal relationships and thinking that the prospect of my dd being friend's with a child who was home educated would be (to me anyway) very interesting and out of the ordinary and something to be encouraged. The fact that the parents are both teachers may mean that they have taken it as a slur against their profession or something I suppose. All of which means that is nothing personal against your dd Cag and I'm glad to hear that your dd has other good friends and she's on good form today!

Agree with Grey and Knitting that friendships - particularly among girls - can be very difficult indeed. The worst bit being that one is obliged - later on anyway- to stand back and let it all play out before you, for better or worse.

Einstein Huge sympathies! I could have written your last post!

We've had some disappointing news today - about future/house/banking/renovation/the business/etc etc etc. We're not totally at the end of the road - it's a very first-world problem really - and we haven't totally run out of options but let's say plan A is definitely looking likes it's a no go. And we are at a sort of crossroads but with restricted options as to where to go next.

So I hope you'll all forgive me if I post the links for tomorrow early again and sign off for the evening! "See" you all in the morning!

Oh yes - Flying achieved today = exactly zero.

**

Baby-step no 27 for tomorrow, Wed 27th April is: a useful one about planning supper ahead of 6pm.

We are in Zone 5 this week: The Living Room (April 24-30).

Spend 15 mins decluttering in Zone 5.

When you have finished decluttering, the detailed cleaning list (if you are at that stage) for Zone 5 is here.

Wednesday's mission can be found here. Spend 15 mins getting rid of anything that doesn't belong in your sitting room.

The daily focus for Wednesday is: anti-procrastination. Do something that you have been avoiding!

The monthly habit for April is www.flylady.net/d/habits-of-the-month/april/ making your bed!

For a summary of the above, see the flight plan : www.flylady.net/c/fp.php?tzm=-120 which should update itself daily.

Sorry to hear plan A is not possible. Hope you can find a solution. SC

oh dear SC - is there a smaller amount of renovation you can do, just to make the next few years more functional?

I looked at my bathroom yesterday. Suddenly realised that the only justifiable reason to change it would be because the bath does not really drain anymore (related to the angle of the pipes - which would require the whole floor and ceramic tiles installed 20 years ago to be lifted) - making showers really revolting.. At least the water pipes have stopped thundering when you flush the loo . Anyone who bought this house would rip out the whole bathroom and put something more exotic in, it seems grubby and dull (once, it was serene and calm, now it is plain shabby and clinical) However I want to try and avoid yet more building work, and stop myself fantasising about different colour schemes. It is like an itch that once you scratch you never stop. Houses just keep on disintegrating around you.

In the shortterm I have bought some of that drain unblocker

We have had a magical time at a meetup in Hyde Park near the fountains. The children all ran off and played in distant field throwing grass at each other (hope no dogs around ), whilst we adults sat in the playground I reached home again and it was 6.15, and my wretched husband was asking where the lasagne was I had promised to make...[grrr] Husband in generally cross mood as he considers ds2 very unhelpful. We made ds2 load and unload dw, like pulling teeth.

I made a lasagne, ready by 7.30, we ate it, it was delicious. Phew. Ds1 is helping dd with her revision, very sweet. He is still talking about GOT, recent episode.

Sorry to hear about the thwarted plans, SC. I hope that a good resolution that suits everyone involved comes along very soon.

Today has not stuck to the choreography - the rain didn't help when I decided to wash a lot of bedding - and precious little zone work completed yet again.

YY to the disintegrating houses knitting!

Morning all!

Thanks for kind words (yet again!). Disintegration so bad - plus nature of house - that partial renovation isn't really a goer but a lot will depend on dh's meeting with our notaire this afternoon. Like your bathroom Knitting the stuff we put in as a "temporary measure" 14 yrs or so ago now all needs doing again. Definitely shabby chic here, but without the chic

Knitting think you deserve a and a for producing a lasagne in that short space of time!

Einstein hope your plans come to fruition too, whether it be B, C, D or E!!

Very rainy here too Cotswold and cold. We even had hail yesterday. And the clouds are gathering again this morning ... .

Off to get laundry room ready for fortnightly ironing lady (who actually turns up about once every 4 weeks at the moment if that, but I am v pleased to see her when she does). Then out to volunteering. Then ballet runs. And somehow have to fit baking for school open day in to the mix as well. Not sure much Flying or proper decluttering will be done again today and we are entertaining this w/e too [sigh].

Hope everyone has a good day! Big waves to Blue Caglio Toffee WhoKnows Ellie Grey Mercury MidLife WoodenSpoon Feetheart Nicknacks Honu Celeste HerdofAntilop Balletgirlmum Needastrongone Scatty Shannara Lucked and anyone else I have inevitably missed!

Meh it is just I like to plan my week ahead and life likes to throw things at me. It's fine here. Your plans are bigger and more frustrating tbh. I was just having a whine over nothing.

done
driving dd to school. Unaccountably (for someone who is always washing or buying new clothes) she has 8 long sleeved winter (to be worn with tie) blouses and NO clean summer blouses, cue screaming fit, as "I will get a clothes detention if I don't wear a summer blouse". Can't you wear the one you wore yesterday? No, I already wore that two days in a row It seems as if the revision has had some side effects

back, sat in garden with dh and discussed the lawn (which is looking a bit less muddy recently after a cut and feed)
told dh he had to stop meddling in ds2's "day" (I said this in a nicer way) - he (dh) is getting stressed by too many things atm.
recycling out

More science first thing, then we are going to a meetup locally in a outdoor play centre, ds2's favourite of all the meetups. And it is always so easy to get to.

So much mess in the house today, but i think I better tackle it this afternoon, when I am back from these activities. The only thing I really must do this morning is pick up ds1's SPECS!!!!

Sigh. We have a new lawn mower. Now all we need is for it to stop raining long enough for the grass to actually dry out so it can be cut! Parts are like a swamp and the rest is trying to revert to being a field.

Friend coming over in the morning, so I ought to tidy up a bit. I finished the big project yesterday so kicked back and relaxed a bit today instead of getting any flying done. Oops. Oh, but I did some grocery shopping too, and dropped a pair of boots at the menders, so that counts for something.

Hope you can get some kind of plan sorted out, SC and Einstein.

Hope Meerkitten on the mend, Dogs.

Clothing detention?! Knitting - seems like wrong priorities to me. Hey ho.

We have had snow all day. Been fabulous to watch. Drunk too much coffee need another change to plans. Ds is being demanding. Can i just take a road trip and do something fun?

Good luck with handling all the changing plans Einstein! And enjoy the snow!

Well done on finishing the project Blue!

Knitting hope ds2 enjoyed his afternoon meet-up and sympathies re: the teen daughter clothing angst!

My back is killing me tonight so can't sit in chair much longer hence brief post! Waves to all and links herewith!

Baby-step no 28 for tomorrow, Thurs 28th April is: here. Wise words about taking care of ourselves properly.

We are in Zone 5 this week: The Living Room (April 24-30).

Spend 15 mins decluttering in Zone 5.

When you have finished decluttering, the detailed cleaning list (if you are at that stage) for Zone 5 is here.

Thursday's mission can be found here. Spend 5 mins dusting decorative items in sitting room.

The daily focus for Thursday is: errand day.

The monthly habit for April is www.flylady.net/d/habits-of-the-month/april/ making your bed!

For a summary of the above, see the flight plan : www.flylady.net/c/fp.php?tzm=-120 which should update itself daily.

**

G'night all!

knitting I feel your pain with the uniform. My DD is on a growth spurt at the moment, even stuff I've bought her earlier this year is now way too tight on her really. She has two summer dresses (I bought them cheap last year) and only one of them is anywhere near fitting her. Good job the weather is so appalling that we don't need them at the moment Sun, rain and hail here today!

Still a pitiful lack of zone work this week, as well as a cluttered house I have acquired body clutter (extra weight) which has piled crept on in a relatively short space of time. Need to declutter all areas!

Might have an early night and read my Kindle to stop me eating

ds likes to stick his thumb through the seam between the sleeve and the cuff. Finding a jumper that does not need fixing is almost impossible. I have given up caring. Although the boy who loves a tatty jumper can't bare to go to school with an un-ironed shirt. weird.

Knitting sadly not surprised about the strictness of uniform. I know a number of schools where there is a detention for incorrect uniform.