Swish through September 2019 with the fledglings - Flylady thread

[ChicCroissant]

Let's swish and swipe our way through September, decluttering as we go with the Flylady! We have a mix of old and new fledglings and everyone is welcome to join us for chat and motivation. Thanks to Stressy for running a fabulous August thread!

The Flylady Launch Pad is the place to start each day - each week focuses on a different zone of the house to clean if you have decluttered it first (can't clean clutter) and you can also follow the Babysteps if you'd like to introduce one new element each day and build on that.

If you like to plan in advance, the weekly Sneak Peek will give you advance notice of the missions and zone coming up, it changes each weekend.

The monthly focus for September is making the bed.

stressytotally relate.its very easy to be frustrated and cross with yourself and let's be honest if someone's says something negative we believe them,but do we accept compliments or shrug them off??
It's time I think we all said actually today I did(insert X,y,z that's applicable) and that's actually enough but if life got in the way and I resorted to takeaway etc rather than the home cooked dinner or kids watched 2hours of tv over what we agreed as I was chat to a friend who was upset/dealing with random life crap we need to remind ourselves the world didn't fall off its axis!!

Oh yes Stressy. I only work 4 short days (usually 9-2), my DCs are at secondary school and no school runs for me now so in theory lots of free time but I spend my evenings taxiing them here there and everywhere, the house is never properly clean and tidy, paperwork is never ending and I don't do enough exercise/am overweight. I am constantly beating myself up over it all and am always worried about not doing my job properly even though I work in a very laid back place. Being on this thread does help though, there are times when I don't post much as I don't feel I have anything interesting enough to say but I always come back. It would be easy to read this thread as being full of self-criticism as we often post about our housekeeping shortcomings, but scratch at the surface and it is the most amazing, supportive little community, you play a part in that and should take pride in it (same for everyone else in fact). A year or so back I was feeling a bit down about myself so I got a pen and scribbled down everything I could think of that I had achieved in the previous few months over and above the daily routine stuff and was amazed at it all, maybe try it and see?

Thanks Chic and zoo. Very true, we would never be so critical of friends would we? Off to bed now. Busy day planned tomorrow!

Hello all

Toostressy I am just coming on to say that I think , fwiw and if you don't mind me saying so, that you have always seemed so disciplined and hard-working and I think you do brilliantly! But very pleased to hear you may be reassessing as you really really deserve a break too as I think you are far too hard on yourself! With working very short hrs per week (less than 18 and only have one child) I shouldn't really be dolling out advice but from the perspective of someone who is (cough) considerably older, it does suddenly dawn on one at a certain point that (a) no-one ever gives you a break or ring-fences time for you to do something more interesting that doesn't involve work or chores UNLESS YOU DO IT YOURSELF. And (b) the magical time that you imagine will come one day when schedules will clear and unicorns will gambol on the lawn and you will have acres of time stretching ahead NEVER HAPPEN

Sorry dodgy internet connection; to continue ...

...never happens unless you create it yourself. So be kind to yourself. Make yourself a school timetable divided in to half hour slots. Mark off work hrs, time for washing & dressing, school runs,extra curric, time for exercising, time for cleaning and laundry , time for food shopping and cooking and eating , sleeping etc and THEN if there is anything left, ring fence your weekly leisure time (could just be a couple of hrs a week) and don't let anything encroach on it. Even if a friend says can you come out on X day at y time, say no! It's your special time.

And if there is no time left after marking everything off and you have to encroach on to sleeping hrs to get your special time, then that tells you important info - prob that you are doing too much. Best to live in the here and now as child rearing a marathon not a sprint! Good luck xx

toostressy I can totally relate too and I agree with what everyone else says. Sc that's so true about free time, and I think that's a good idea about writing it all down.

We've all got to stop with the guilt that's for sure!!

Stressy and everyone, it’s amazing how we all beat ourselves up over this stuff isn’t it.

Our family support worker (and psychiatrist. And therapist. 😂) keeps saying, stop focusing on what you’re not managing at the moment, and look at what you’ve already achieved.

Why is that so hard?!

I’m in a coldy virusy fug. Ugh. Didn’t sleep much at all. Got the house to myself though so I made sure I immediately went to the piano to avoid staring at the iPad all morning! Going to watch a film soon I think (that requires a lot of concentration, I’m barely even using Netflix ATM)

Just going to write some stuff in the diary first, when I need to pay various things.

Thanks everyone! I like your idea of sprinkling love everywhere zoo .

Ta da:-
At dancing waiting for DD2 to come out. Nearly sent DD1 in the wrong shoes so was mad rush to get ready at the last minute . Totally my fault as I told her to put the wrong shoes on!
Booked tickets for a Christmas thing

Good afternoon! Sorry to be AWOL this morning, cooking breakfast, showering and a telephone call meant I didn't get online until after lunch. DD is grateful for the return of full internet service and is sitting opposite me on her own laptop with headphones on

Looking forward to Strictly tonight, will try not to spend all afternoon on the laptop

Hey all!

Very rudely forgot to say "thank you so much" late last night for all the supportive words re: lone tidying & cleaning! They help a lot!

Tidy & Zoo yes, that's exactly it, owing to dd's hwk burden and general demeanour currently, (and dh's all-consuming job) I have reluctantly come to the conclusion that the angst involved in nagging other people to help is simply not worth it atm ... haven't given up entirely... disappointing as dd was a great little helper from 6-12 yrs but hormones seem to steal most of that happy willingness away somehow!

Also missed great news about your dd1 Zoo congrats to her on the new job!

And Expletive - what lovely words about this thread!

Yay to Christmas booking Toostressy ! Super organized as ever!

Sorry you are feeling rough Laputa! It never rains but it pours!

Speaking of rain, it is lashing down at the minute!

Having a fun day not here. Poor dd has gone crashing down with really awful virus; possibly Norovirus?, some form of viral (not bacterial) gastroenteritis anyway according to doc (he did tests and they can tell the difference apparently). Feel awful for DD who is really feeling very ill indeed and awful for dd's friend's parents who came to early supper to pick up their daughter and we had lovely time but dd did not eat anything saying she felt tired (obviously we would not have invited them had we known illness was brewing - their daughter had been with us overnight too so hope she escapes it). Dh and I ok so far and I am cleaning everything in sight with Dettol but worried in case we get it as he, in particular, has so much on: new v important clients coming to office Wed. Aargh! And DD hates missing school nowadays as it's so hard to catch up. Heigh ho. At least it's a long weekend!

Waves to Foxes Lisette Joni I've Carys Bower and our latest newcomer, sorry , whose name I have temporarily forgotten and anyone else my faddled brain has forgotten too!

Joni, whose Joni? That was meant to be Honu!

Also, Hills , if you happen to be lurking, I know you are under the cosh with all of your caring responsibilities, but do come back to us 🙋. The thread won't be the same without you leading up to Christmas!

Oh great Chic had forgotten about Strictly tonight which will be a much needed filip today!

SChoping DD picks up quickly and no one else drops

I have exciting news
DD1 PICKED HER DRESS!!!!first one tried on and there that followed in different styles couldn't match it.i cried she looked so beautiful.if anyone wants a pic happy to post from the back pic.has a train,long veil,the whole nine yards

sc I hope your dd is feeling better soon and you manage to contain the bugs - I really hate sick bugs.

Stressy I relate to the negative thinking - part of the reason I decided to take a shower before starting the other stuff yesterday, self care is very important to stopping that negative cycle - we are our harshest critics! Well done for the Christmas booking , you are super organised!

I've managed to sort football/dancing/grandmas. Dropped dd1 off to her friends house, she won't be back until 11ish because she's going to watch her friends dance show. Sitting with a coffee wondering what to tackle first ! Oh has gone to visit his mum then he's going to clean the mould off the bathroom ceiling because I can't reach (disgusting I know , really wish I would've got a fan fitted when we remodelled the bathroom, I have the window open all the time but it doesn't stop it ) I am wondering whether I'll just do 30 minutes downstairs and see where it goes , I need someone to get my arse off the sofa , dd2 is too snuggly though and she's nice and warm! Much nicer to snuggle her than tidy up

Zoo yes to the picture please !!

I cannot contain my excitement and secrecy involved regarding dress til next June I might burst if don't share with SOMEBODY!!!!with and without the veil❤️

Zoo - absolutely stunning!! Oh wow!

Thanks Zoo and Tidy

Wow Zoo your dd looks beautiful! I almost prefer the pic without the veil because the back of the dress is so lovely! Congrats on being a deservedly proud ma

SC the pic doesn't do the long veil justice it's so sheer you can see the detail beautifully

Oh that's good Zoo the top detail of the dress is so gorgeous! . I'm really happy for you and you all deserve something celebratory and lovely to happen with things having been such tough going of late X

what a beautiful bride, she has excellent taste as well

👰Oh zoo she looks gorgeous. The dress and veil are stunning!

Aaah zoo beautiful ❤️❤️❤️

I am full of sneeze 😡😡😡 can’t even sit in the steam room as the pool is shut all weekend.

zoo, that dress is absolutely beautiful .

Hope your cold clears soon laputa

I've been pottering downstairs whilst playing with the kids and watching athletics. Living room is tidy, dining table is clear (it hasn't been clear in ages ) and cleared a bit of kitchen side . I may sort a box of paperwork whilst watching a film and enjoying a g&t after I put ds to bed. The dining room has boxes of paperwork in that I need to sort through rather than look at. I'm going to try and persuade oh to sit and help - wish me luck !!