Fledglings awaiting April organisation... and a plan - the Flylady thread

[TooStressyTooMessy]

Welcome to the April Flylady thread. This is a lovely friendly thread where we loosely follow the Flylady system (see the Flylady website ) in the hope of having organised homes and lives.

Every day I will post a link to the launchpad which has everything you need for that day if you do want to follow the system strictly. Plenty of options to follow the system more loosely as well :).

Please do familiarise yourself with the Flylady website, especially if you are new. The Flylady is (understandably) keen that people do look at the website.

On the website there is information for beginners. You can also sign up to the Flylady emails but we would advise caution as there are hundreds of them.

We post our achievements (ta das) and our to do lists and any other general chatter about life / flying.

Information on getting started: www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/

The launch pad is also a good starting place:www.flylady.net/c/lp.php

Fly stands for Finally Loving Yourself. The general idea is that short bursts of tidying / organisation are more achievable than marathon efforts. Flylady advises 15 minute bursts is effort but you can tweak this to fit your own circumstances.

Be kind to yourselves, jump in where you are and be careful not to crash and burn!

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A daily summary (which should update automatically every day) is available on the Flylady website at flight plan here.

The link to the current zone and missions is [[http://www.flylady.net/c/sp.php#missions here].

Re. zones, do what works for you. I don’t always stick to the zones myself and do what works best at the time, with varying degrees of success!

daily focus

missions for the week

Flykids mission

April’s habit is usually making your bed which is a nice easy one .

beginner babysteps.

The best place to look for an overall summary is the launch pad.

Happy flying everyone.
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Also a huge thank you to Chic for a lovely March thread as always.

My tips are and / I’m afraid

To answer your question more helpfully foxes, I try to use 1,2,3 magic along with the countdowns to things that Ive suggested. Mixed results .

I am shattered. The girls had a gymnastics thing this afternoon which was one of those sports-type events requiring organisation (by me of course) and being at the place at certain times with a fair bit of waiting around in between. So parts were easy for me but in spite of that I have come back tired. I took them to Mac Donald’s as a treat afterwards so we have only just got back. DH putting DD1 to bed now. DD2 seems much less tired but she doesn’t have to get up for anything in the morning so it’s not the end of the world. I have no hopes for flying tonight but DH was at home so place not too untidy and no washing up to do as he just sorted himself out for tea and it is done. So I might wash the gym stuff if I can face it then hoping to sit down. Did a massive laundry catch up this morning so it’s not too bad. Off to check on DD2...

Also How to Talk so Kids will Listen is always recommended on here. I have to say I’ve never had any luck with it but that is because I found out too late there is a How to Talk so Little Kids will listen which I think would have been much better for young DC. Keep debating getting it but not sure I can face another parenting book!

Night all .

launch pad link

Thanks all I do the countdown thing most of the time , that definitely helps dd not so much ds but he's very little still tbf. As for following through I definitely try but I have find we aren't being very consistent with what the "consequences" are which is making everyone a bit confused I think!

As for parenting books I've never read one (can you tell?!) Maybe I should give it a go! Or find some old super nanny episodes to watch

Dd did that typical thing of making me feel bad for shouting by bringing me a love heart made of blu tac and telling me she doesn't like it when I'm mean because then she thinks I don't like her . I don't know why I get all the blame!!

I have a whole shelf foxes . TV programme I like is the three day nanny.

Ugh, fallen off the thread and the housework!

Don’t worry Pushme, just jump back in as Flylady would say .

Jumping back in here too. Did quite a bit of decluttering yesterday (car boot full to sort for charity shop/tip), and did a few mission type jobs today, also got the DCs doing a few jobs. Mine are teenagers too (13 and 15) and pretty easygoing ATM, but I possibly cut them a bit too much slack WRT chores, tidying etc. In some ways it gets easier as they get older (DH and I went to the cinema spontaneously this afternoon and left them to sort their own tea out for example). But there are all sorts of other worries - GCSEs, relationships, drugs, social media use, safety out and about, its all quite scary.

I've said to mine in past (rightly or wrongly) "I dont like that behaviour,but I always love you" foxes

I HAVE to do better tomorrow.this place is a sty

zoo I did reassure her that I always love her and I definitely like her as well but that her behaviour has not been good. But I did also rather childishly say she was being mean to me too!

First official day of school holidays and I'm still in bed while the dc watch TV, which is nice actually but it is Monday and that means home bleugh and we are in the kitchen this week I believe...so lots to do. No plans to go out today I think the dc need a bit of time at home just mooching about and we're quite busy the rest of the week.

Morning all .

I’ve just dropped DD1 off at an activity. DH is off this week which is nice so he’s home with DD2. Going to head back now.

Rushed morning so far as with the late bedtime last night we all got up a bit late. Going to see what I can get done in the house now, hoping if DH occupied DD2 I can get through a quick morning routine. I am also in gym clothes in the hope of forcing myself to go later.

Definitely like the idea of impromptu cinema trips Expletive. I think / hope it just gets a little less claustrophobic as they get older. Now mine are 8 and 6 they no longer need me every second of the day. Of course as you all say, that does bring it’s own issues!

Ta da:-
DD1 at activity on time
One load of towels put in washer

To do:-
Everything else.

Morning all. Been awake a while but not gotten up yet. Soooo achy! Wanted to swim today but not sure yet if I will.

I’m really bored at the moment, life is boring, we never really do anything fun as a family like ever. The only thing we seem to do is wander into town when we need to buy something. Even going for meals is no longer very enjoyable as we are in the demon toddler who won’t stay in the high chair very long phase!

We definitely need to make more effort to go out and do (free/cheap) stuff. It’s just been so long since I was brave enough (being unwell, I get very nervous about going out to new places as I worry about the energy required, what happens if there’s nowhere to rest etc, especially having no car so the journey is a mission in itself) and often DH would take them all so I could rest at home, but he’s not great either now with his back conditions, we are both just exhausted. And I am really struggling with Cagletini TBH and don’t really have the confidence to take them all out by myself, it was fine when she was smaller but now she’s a runner!

Argh. Need to stop feeling sorry for myself and figure out a plan. We do have some home ed related things booked so that will help a bit. Need to go through the diary with DH, we have loads of commitments but no organisation whatsoever. Some things never change. But it should, on the face of it, because we are no longer tied to DH’s work.

Sorry for ranting, feeling a bit sorry for myself today! Lots of laundry and life admin to be getting on with

cagare either caglets able to catch and scoop up the runner and bring her back?bag backpack reins?it's a hard age til they grasp the hold buggy,in buggy or return on command!!

Tada
Bit more shopping I forgot

The house attack has begun...

Tada
Cleared 4BRC into chuck it or re-home it piles that were down back one of sofasmost of it wasn't worth keeping,why do I keep doing that??rest has been located to room it belongs in

To do
Enough to bring tears to my eyes...
Best crack on as backs playing up and I deffo didn't get enough sleep,plus lil zoo lurgy is trying to invade.i have painful itchy chest,sore throat and blocked nose
Talking of her,she's dreadful today.chest painful and starting to cough.she never coughs....last time had a cough was a chest infectionwill have to keep an eye on her....

Didn't sleep well here either, will be struggling later on!

First day of school holidays, I love them though. Will press on and stop house from sliding into complete decline while we are off and catch up properly later.

Tada

Other sofa cleared behind(4more BRCno other place to store lil zoo full size keyboard but behind sofa,so that had to go back
BRC sorted 95%in BINBAG(on second binbag already)

I need to stop for rest/drink/let dust settle a bit as getting chesty

Hoping rest room is quicker deluded

Then on to kitchen....

Ta da
Daily routine and s&s bathroom
Hoovered
Mopped.
Mirrors / some windows
Dusting
Stripped bed / changed towels etc
Bins
Lunch made / tidied up after
Decluttered colouring books (the dc helped me, a pile of finished ones for the recycling, a pile of barely started ones that they don't like for ds nursery to have and a pile of ones to keep) added bonus that they are both now sitting colouring and cutting and sticking while I watch great British menu
Sent some work emails

To do
Kitchen mission - dust corners / ceiling etc
Cook dinner - sweet potato, chickpea, spinach curry

Of course having the dc here all day does mean the house has toys everywhere now but I'm ignoring that!

The Caglets are very helpful TBF but they are only young themselves really and DS especially is so very distractible. So I don’t really like putting too much responsibility on either of them.

I should get used to just doing simple things like going to the park though. It’s ridiculously near! We do the park in town though.

I’m even grumpier now as the PlayStation wouldn’t switch on this morning, the online update wouldn’t work. Faffed about with USB drives and stuff but that wouldn’t work either so in the end we reinitialised it, which means minecraft progress lost and everything, so Caglets won’t be happy, but better than nothing. Amazing how much we came to rely on it considering we only got it for Christmas! But all our TV is via that etc.

Silver lining, although it did mean I had no time to swim, I did sort through some of the boxes in DD1’s room, when I was trying to find USB sticks. Got rid of a big box of rubbish and condensed some of the other stuff. So that’s something.

Now trying to relax with lunch and line of duty while the others are out

for getting DC decluttering foxes.

zoo, I think sometimes being deluded is the only way to stay on top of things .

I have a love / hate relationship with school holidays Chic so it is nice to hear of someone liking them!

Cag, I wish I had some advice. The toddler stage is so hard to manage. I loved our backpack with reins as zoo suggests.

Yup she has a bumblebee one! The strap is really short though. We got a wrist strap thing the other day to try, as that can at least stay on when she’s in the buggy, so less faff getting her in and out. I do really need to try the sling again though, I have a toddler carrier but am not very good at remembering to use it and I’m totally out of the habit

Ah yes, the wrist straps are great as they fold up tiny and can stay on in buggies etc as you say. Not sure how you would get on with any mobility issues but have you tried a hip seat?

Morning me darlin's! Hope everyone ok.

I love holidays too, once I have got over the fact they never turn out as anticipated; and DH never stops working when he says he will, and there are always five million errands to run like dentist appts and shopping trips for obscure bits of sports kit (rounders cuff and kayaking shoes anyone?) before we can get away! (So little time available for this stuff during the school term.)

I think stress free holidays are one of the benefits of having an "only" tbh , although the downside is that unless friends are invited around/invited on trips, dd is by herself, so dh and I only go out when she is off somewhere else as we don't like leaving her alone in the evenings - mostly though she comes with us (fortunate we have friends with DC of same age). She's obviously fine to be left for an hour or so in the day but tend to only do that if needs must ifyswim. And of course inviting friends over all the time in the holidays means house cannot be in total C.H.A.O.S. which is a challenge for me!

I'm feeling much more chipper than I was as things so much more relaxed here when school 's out and DD isn't taking her stress out on me! But Cag I really "get" the sameyness of it all; I felt despondent for similar reasons last week as it seemed to be all unrelenting homework and housework! (And I only have one DC who is not at home all the time! ). How you manage to organise stuff and keep trucking on with three DC at home is amazing! It must be especially hard when you and your dp are both feeling below par too. I would deffo grab a picnic, a frisbee and a rounders bat and ball and try out the local park! Maybe do a treasure hunt? There'll hopefully be plenty of seating available. And possibly not helpful but dare I say a dog is very good for getting a family together to do outdoor stuff!

Dd and I have had a good morning. I've been clearing out the boudoir (yay!) while DD had maths tuition. And then DD tried on ASOS order and put everything she liked straight in to suitcase for school trip after Easter so we are up on the clock iterms of packing for once!

I know I complain alot but dd is a pretty good teen tbh, doesn't swear, drink or stay out without permission, but boy she can argue the hind leg off a donkey when she is trying to avoid doing something and she can be very obstinate and reactive too (I always chuckle inwardly when teachers tell me how polite and shy she is in class). And she can be up one minute and down the next with her moods. It's pretty exhausting as you kind of live it all with them. And I am only now learning not to get sucked in to combat! The best thing by far is to stay calm, do not argue back, restate thing that needs doing, then step away. And I think it's the same iirc with five year olds tbh Foxes once humour and jollying along have stopped working! It's very hard to do though!

QAnd Foxes/Toostressy all the techniques in those bks are also very hard because they require a parent to think on their feet and keep calm, when they are are tired and stressed and high emotion is swirling all around! Not easy at all!

Great you and DH got some time out Expletive!

Ta for links Toostressy great your DH is at home for a bit!

Sorry Lil'Zoo so poorly Zoo .

Wing flaps to Hills Chic Pushme Honu" I've* Bower and everyone else I've missed!

Sorry missed Newme19 Lisette and Nobodysdogsbody off wing flap list!

And sorry missed that you are poorly too Zoo it's such rotten luck having all these colds, especially when you take care to prepare such healthy food for everyone. Hope you feel better soon.

Did lamb taste ok in the end btw Foxes?

That should have said "in terms of packing"

And, er, that should have read "good afternoon" not "good morning"!

Going bonkers as usual .

Back to boudoir ... . Might even have a "ta da" list to show for my efforts tonight, you never know!

The lamb was really good in the end sc thank goodness! The dc cleared their plates too so I was happy totally agree about trying not to argue back but that it's so hard because we are after all only human! I've been much better at it today, trying not to shout.

It's been nice to have a day at home as well. I think they needed it.

Will need to start on dinner soon. Dc are watching Trolls (dd knows it off by heart and is quoting bits )

foxes I was told knowing what comes next in books/TV/films that are repeatedly exposed to gives kids a sense of stability and calm as they know what to expect

SC impressed you are sorting things for AFTER Easter hols!!

Cag with D's effectively homeschooling at mo I totally understand how bogged down you get,and I'm not trying teach two and watch a mini one!!maybe go to the park and ask dp to come along X amount time behind you,so you have some time by yourself but know back ups coming and as get more confident switch it up so he leaves you to do getting back by yourself so you gain confidence/strategies?(if I'm talking crap ignore me)

Tada
Cleared thru 8bags stashed down corner second sofa
Another 4side other sofa(I swear they're breeding)
Sifted thru pile random bits stacked up from xmas
Sorted craft box,making sure everything in it,not scattered in other places
Swept floor
Tackled piles stuff at back two chairs of dining table

Kitchen
Put cat food in cupboard under sink
Put recycle indoor box in cupboard under sink
Put box soak socks etc in under sink
(Was scared put anything in that cupboard after how mouldy the old one kept getting but so far this ones stayed dry so sucking it up and using it to clear some space!!)
Swept floor
Got dd2 move tumble drier
Spent 30 mins scrape and scrubbing cat food scoutcats flicked/pushed under it that was crispy/mouldy bits kibble etc.bleurgh...
Scrub kitchen floor on hands and knees

It's taken me all day,I've cleared over a binbag if rubbish,one of recycling and cleared probably two BINBAGS of stuff that migrated from zoolets rooms into living room,or things I've bought and never housed!

Dd2 and I think we can shift dining table to it n front fire to make enough space for tumble drier to squeeze thru.this forced me clear everything that's stored under it at the back
I still need clear actual table completely if it will look super scuzzy as it's having to be crammed in small space to make the pathway to the kitchen...

My backs killing me and I can hardly lift my feet now