Flapping calmly through lockdown: Fledglings April 2020. Welcome to the Keep Calm Corner!

[LaneBoy]

Hello all!

Thank you for joining us, please note if we seem cliquey it’s only because it’s a long running thread - everyone really is welcome!

Welcome to (probably) the most bizarre Flylady thread yet... in which we are attempting to impose/maintain some kind of order in our homes, while also many of us are adjusting to working from home and homeschooling the kids for the first time too! Not to mention the anxiety around health and accessing food!

Of course, normally the opening post would talk about banishing CHAOS - Can’t Have Anyone Over Syndrome - but now we aren’t allowed anyone over anyway :o so, let’s just try and make our homes nicer FOR US. We are spending more time than ever in them, so let’s make them really wonderful places to be, our own safe little nests for our families.

Flylady routines might just help us get through this crazy time, by giving us a little structure to work from when all else is unpredictable - but as usual there is no right or wrong here. All of us follow it only to the extent it helps us - we can take ideas and make them work for us. And the key principle is, YOU ARE NEVER BEHIND. I feel like that is even more evident now, with so many of these outside pressures and commitments suddenly gone, and frankly the days rolling into one!

This is potentially a great time to declutter. Of course, Flylady suggests 15 minutes a day - but perhaps in these unprecedented times we will all do more! But we are all busy getting into our own routines now that school is out, and work too for many, and we’ve lost a lot of the outside structure to our lives. There’s no right or wrong here, we just have to try and adapt.

Links wise, I’ll just post the launch pad, and will add reminders about zones too. If anyone has Flying questions, please ask!

The Keep Calm Corner
The lovely SC came up with the brilliant idea of the Keep Calm Corner last month - this is a daily post with things to make us happy! I figured each monthly host can make this their own, and I’m a little worried my taste in art and music would not be calming to most :o so for this month, the KCC will consist of:
Some memes - either funny (we all need a laugh! Warning though - some will likely be unsavoury :o) or thought provoking/relaxation based. Do PM me (here or FB) if you have any you want to add!
A daily “ice breaker” type question - obviously answering these is entirely optional, and don’t say anything that will out you, but if you want to join in and create some extra conversations on the thread then treatment, we can all get to know each other better! Again, if you think of any questions please PM!

Thank you for settling in, and of course thank you to SC for making March such a lovely thread. And lastly, a huge thank you also to our key worker Fledglings, who are doing an incredible job of keeping things running!

Lane - my DS was obsessed with marble runs a few years ago, we still have his. There is a great youtube channel called Jelle's Marble Runs, a Dutch guy who is truly devoted to marble running.

Lots of clapping outside tonight, it was light this week so we could all see each other.

Screwball scramble We3! I loved that. Always wanted it too and was delighted when my DSis got it one Christmas.

Strawberry I find it much easier to stay on top of the house when me, DD and my messy DH aren’t actually in it for 4 days a week so I would definitely find it harder if I wasn’t escaping to work regularly! I’m verging on chaos and we’ve only been off a week.

Managed a bit of weeding in the front garden. Takeaway for tea. Washing in dryer and DD bathed. That’s the limit of my productivity today!

Ooh screwball scramble I did have! Think my “aunty” got it for me one Christmas. I found a copy in a board game cafe a couple of years ago and it was amazing how quickly all the timings etc came back to me #champion

Thanks for the YouTube channel recommendation, I’ll check that out - DS loves watching domino rallies and Rube Goldberg machine videos so I expect he’d love that too!

Actually making an RG machine is one thing we could try while we are all home! Really got no excuse not to try this stuff (other than the tornado toddler I suppose).

Also would be good to try making a ball run - like a marble run but for a bigger ball, Cagletini has some small wooden ones but I’m still nervous to let her play with marbles as she still puts things in her mouth sometimes.

Movie night was a surprising success. DD1 barely even looked at her phone! 😱 The film was Missing Link (on Netflix, made by the same people as Kubo and the two strings). Wasn’t expecting much but it was actually really funny!

Still crampy as hell but love looking in the garden - DH found some solar powered fairy lights going cheap the other day (again, during an essentials shop) and he’s put them up on the fence/shed. Nice to have something pretty and zero worries about switching on and off. They’re quite subtle and static (I absolutely detest flashing fairy lights so I wouldn’t use that setting anyway).

DS enjoyed helping DH make burgers today. Getting the older two involved in cooking is definitely another thing we can do more of now (toddler already asks to “help cook dinner now” pretty much straight after breakfast :o)

My favourite childhood toy was a small stuffed panda, fabric body but the front of it's face was a soft plastic. I used to push it's nose in and wait for it to pop out again so the plastic bit didn't last well and I tied a sock round instead. Still got it Always wanted a small chocolate machine that dispenses neapolitans or the mini dairy milk bars. Still time ...

Not done much today really, did go shopping which was fine (the shops here seem well-stocked to me), haven't posted the card yet so will take my exercise by walking to the postbox and back again as it is collected early morning. Then clean up the kitchen before bed.

One more day of school for DD then the Easter holidays which she is looking forward to, bless her! Did a bit of exercise today, will see how I feel after that tomorrow - looking at the Birmingham Royal Ballet's online class tomorrow knowing I have absolutely no chance of making it through! 11.00am for those who think they can, might be good for some of the dancers on here and a chance of Carlos Acosta being in the class as well.

Screwball scramble yes that's it!

And yes chic I wanted the little chocolate bar dispenser too and a bubblegum one.

I also remembered another thing I used to love which probably cost next to nothing. It was a bubble bath shaped to look like a game boy and it had a front on with water in then there was little buttons to press that shot the water up so you could do a little maze thing. I'm rubbish at describing things 😂

Tonight I've done something I never do. I tidied up before coming to bed. Just putting my blanket away, straightening the sofa cushions and washing a few glasses but that's all stuff I usually have to sort in the morning

Hello to Fluffiest and Strawberry. Wishing you well with your flying!

Sorry to hear about the online funeral, Willow. I hope your friend's family will be able to remember her mum with friends after it is safe to do so. It it cheeky to ask to see the embroidery when it is finished? I love seeing everyone's craft projects here. I used to run a sewing and crafting Meetup group once a month before I had children and although I hadn't missed it, seeing the projects here and chatting to all of you feels enjoyably similar.

I am also enjoying the cat photos Expletive. I can't have one due to allergies but would especially love a shiny black and white cat like that. KT, your one is also very elegant. My DS1 basks on windowsills above radiators and pools of sunlight just like that. DH thinks he is part cat and is quite pleased about that as he would also like a cat if it weren't for the allergy problem. Eek at Zoo's furball situation though. Not good indoors. I hope your cat gets over the problem soon.

I'm having the same dilemma about new clothes for the boys, givemeacall, Well DS1 really as DS2 has all his brother's stuff. Summer shoes too. I don't like not going for a fitting though, especially for DS1 who has tricky (and very expensive) feet to find shoes for. I was thinking to look if there is anything available when we do an online food shop and also in Lidl which we will still visit for food shopping as they are quite good for things that are milk and soya free, so isn't a separate trip then. The Lidl children's clothes are usually nice quality.

I love the crow meme Lane. That really tickled me. Your parents' dolls are amazing. They look fantastic. Great news about your health progress too.

I have enjoyed all the toy talk. I think my absolute favourite toy was my Girl's World. It was actually on my Christmas list the same year I got a brother for Christmas and apparently I opened it alone, plastered myself in make-up, hair ink, rollers and false eyelashes and scared my dad half to death by waking him up looking like something from a horror film when he'd had just a few hours' sleep after returning from the maternity hospital! I also liked anything crafty, like some printed cards that had holes punched for sewing with a long bootlace, french knitting and yarn flower making thingys, spirograph, paints etc. I liked tea sets too and used to like playing tea parties very much. I also wanted Mr Frosty and used to stare at it and read the listing in the Argos catalogue a lot to try to work out why all the parents refused to buy it. I wonder if the replacement syrups were really expensive.

I will have to get your recommendations on interesting places to go in Madrid, SC, if we go to visit my brother. I have been before as I did quite a few long train journey holidays using night sleepers before I got married and ones around Spain and to Morocco had a full day's stop there but I haven't really stayed there properly. I did love Atocha station with all its plants and the nearby botanical gardens though. I like the idea of the teddy bear scenes you are doing. I hope that is fun.

You made cake in a toastie maker, We3? That sounds interesting. I will Google.

How nice that your teddies have safely travelled everywhere with you, Bowerbird. They must bring back lots of memories for you.

I hadn't realised it was Easter holidays after tomorrow, Chic. I would have kept their noses to the grindstone and then realised a few weeks later! To be honest though, they are little (preschool) so they still think learning stuff is as much fun as playing. Well, I suppose it is playing mostly.

Ta das

• Home bleurgh
• cleared hot spots in kitchen
• 2 LOL, dishwasher empty and refill, S&S
• meals prepared and cleared away
• made loaf
• attended online pirate themed music class with DC. They both switch between joining in and watching the other children but overall went well, especially the dressing up and waving their pirate flags (their drawings taped to wooden spatulas!)
• drew hopscotch in the garden and had very fleeting and very rare smug moment as DS1 hopped up it calling out the numbers in Spanish!
• tidied toys in living room
• tidied toys in living room
• tidied toys in living room
• tidied toys in living room etc.

cut DC's nails

• all recyclable waste from last two collections packed up in black bags for collection tomorrow. The last two collections didn't happen and this week we got an email saying the recycling collections are suspended so we have to put all waste out as non recyclable. Our garden is a wind trap for all the other neighbours' plastic and paper recycling too, especially as nobody knew whether to take the crates in after the missed collections and left them to see if they came on a different day! Not sure whether to put them out now and risk foxes opening them or get up really early tomorrow.

DH settled both DC as they wanted to sleep in our bed (hope we can move them later or we'll have to sleep in DS2's bed and has fallen asleep so I am enjoying a glass of port, some chocolate and a bit of time to myself.

Much as my DH is generally pretty fantastic, I am soooo annoyed at him currently 😭 he turned the hall light on to find his phone, and the light coming into the room woke the toddler, who has spent the last hour half convinced it is day time and wanting milk too (which, being period time, is skin crawlingly painful to provide) 🤬

Think she’s finally dozed off. I’m now hungry and grumpy. Will catch up on last few posts in the morning as phone is on 5%

Ouch Lane! I know that feeling and sympathise. Hope you get a snack and a good sleep now.

Had a productive day today. Took DD to doc appt to get more hand cream. He thinks it might be eczema so may try a different cream later on. Also mentioned her MH diagnosis and vitamin B3 deficiency that can go along with that (and cause dry skin issues on hands). He ordered a blood test so did that after. Took her to get coffee as a treat, she'd never had blood taken before and said it hurt.

Picked up meds, made appt for another doc (video chat this time) for DD. Got my prescription all sorted and booked appt for me too. All that was done before 11:30am, in time to Skype my mum.

Got 1 LOL done today, 1 load in DW, washed and emptied, another load on tonight. Vacuumed, mopped the entire house, dusted, sorted kitchen hot spot, made dinner cleaned kitchen and got outfit out for tomorrow.

The side of my face is extremely sensitive for no apparent reason, which is odd, it started on my cheek and has spread to my eye area. I just hope it's gone by morning.

My childhood toys were dolls and teddies. I did have a barbie (2nd hand) and an army doll I pretended was Ken! I wished I had all the accessories, but we didn't have much money. I also really wanted a polly pocket, but had to settle playing with my friends when I went to their house.

I forgot spirograph!!I had fashion plates too...

Well I have decided today WILL be more productive
So am getting up and making a start now
Dd2 went bed 215,so she's not going to be invoked fettle today.house rules are get up at civilised hour so she will be woken at 9 and I'm expecting fireworks this what happens when I fall asleep watch TV and she's chat online friends in u.s

Ooo i loved fashion plates, i think i was a bit after their time but had lots of hand me down toys from older cousin. Was close to cousin as a child as although had two half siblings i did not really see much of them. One died several years ago in horrific circumstances which are outing so i won't go there and the other is nearer in age to my own dc so that relationship is not really one of siblings.

This week has been a blur. But the essay is sent (half finished but never mind) Dd (7) had a good birthday. I am looking forward to two weeks off from HomeSchoolHell 🥳

Welcome to the newbies

Thank you for threads both old and new

Morning all! Yay that glad to see you and well done on submitting something essay wise, doing anything at all under the circumstances is amazing! Sorry about your half sibling :(

Hazel hope your face feels better today!

Thanks cineraria it’s horrible isn’t it. And she aaaaalways seems hungrier at that time of the month too 😡 TBH I have been ready to wean for a while but have zero energy for that battle - and now no opportunity to leave the house overnight either 🙄😂

Not sure if I’ll try and nap a bit today. I didn’t get a snack in the end, too tired! Really wanted to try one of my new ruby magnums though (couldn’t believe they actually showed up on my tesco order!) - must resist temptation to have it for breakfast!

Zoo I forgot to express my anger and frustration at CAMHS and what they said to you. FFS they sound like the type of people who’d just tell someone sad to “cheer up love” 🙄

Launch pad

It’s Friday so last official day for missions if you don’t want to do them at weekends!

Daily focus is to clean out your car and handbag - how necessary this is will I suppose depend on whether they’ve had much use at all! Mind you I don’t know if DD1 has even cleaned out her school bag :o

lane I've had more comfort from our purring kitties!
That for half sister.

Well I cracked on...
Tada
Bleach lav
Wash on
Fed cats
Wash up my n dd2 stuff and few other bits I'd forgotten
Wipe surfaces
Mould patrol- scrub my windows and bath grout mix astonish mould cleaner and pink stuff.imprivement but I've not the will scrub hours so go do every few days til it's all gone
Sweep lower floors
Empty bins
Littertrays disinfected
Scrub bath n sink(rinsing well in hope no mould stuff left as one cats can't resist drink bath plug hole...

Zoo, I had a fashion wheel too, I'd forgotten! I used to spend hours making catalogues with (the same) outfit in lots of different colours.

Hope you are not wearing yourself out trying to get housework done before the zoolets get up. Same for you We3, and I hope you're in bed not on the sofa. I know the sort of game you're talking about with water in to move things around inside a "screen". My brother (child of the 80s) had several of them.

The Easter hols start today for DS3 and I'm hoping for lots of outside time if the weather stays good. DS2's term finishes at 12.30 and DD's at 2pm. This has been quite an interesting experience for DS2, who has learned that he can manage his own learning and workload, if the stress of classroom lessons and physical school is taken away. Whether that would hold if he wasn't on lockdown and could see his mates / GF I can't say though .

Cineraria of course you can see my embroidery! I'm making a peasant blouse that has embroidery on the placket at the front and on the sleeves. It's from a very old pattern, so I'm fully expecting to have to put extra panels at the side because a 1970s size 14 is pretty tiny. I'll post a picture later on, I can't do it off my phone. Yes, I am a historian and that's why I write. It's a lovely job, although it will never make me rich, but my head is often in the wrong century!

Hazel, great that you got so much done and were able to get DD to a physical appointment and blood test. All of my DC find them painful too and DS2 always faints (like his father!).

Lane, hope you're in less pain this morning, Cagletini went back to sleep and DS's antibiotics are working. Let me know how card sharking goes, I want to think about adding it to our curriculum too 🤣.

ED, how lovely to have a crafting group and somewhere positive to send what you make. Otherwise you end up drowning in it (or is that just me?).

Last of yesterday's Ta Das
☑️ 2nd LOL
☑️ Hoovered two sofas (yuk)
☑️ Dusted and polished the living room, H, S&L, our room, music room. DH can dust his own study (but won't!).
☑️ Bit of writing
☑️ Homework with DS3. He gets so stressed about it and got upset again that maths is not easy for him. He's afraid he will never live independently because he can't do two place decimals (i.e. money) in his head, and I wish I could help him 😢.
☑️ Posted aunt and uncle's anniversary card
☑️ Accidental nap on the sofa
☑️ Produced tea in 28 minutes flat after waking up with a start at 2 minutes past 6! 🤭
☑️ Proper kitchen clean and floor mop

To Dos for today
⚠️ DW
⚠️ S&S
⚠️ LOL
⚠️ Hoover the living room sofa
⚠️ Tesco. Am scared.
⚠️ Close down the HS term with DS3 - filing, clearing messages on Inter High app, clear desk.
⚠️ Do more humanities project with DS3
⚠️ Make broccoli and stilton soup
⚠️ Get DS1 to make pie filling
⚠️ Make pastry
⚠️ Get the marble run out with DS3 - think it might help with 3 dimensional thinking.
⚠️ At least stew those damn gooseberries!
⚠️ WRITING!
⚠️ Start sorting out old family photos for our family history (often comes last on my list - I'm like the builder who doesn't fix his own house).
⚠️ Collapse in a heap!

While I've been writing this essay, I expect all of you have posted and I've missed it, so 🍒🙋 to Lisette, that (hope you are ok and the essay got done), Stressy in absentia, giveme, Strawberry, fluffiest, KT, foxes, chic, SC, bower and everyone else.

🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎 TKCC 🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎

In the meme section today we have:

• an interesting (well I think so anyway!) fact about
• a useful breathing technique, I may have shared it before so apologies if so. A tip I learned at ACEs is that inhaling isn’t actually relaxing for the body (something to do with it preparing you for fight or flight) - it’s the exhaling that’s the relaxing bit, which is why some exercises ask you to count longer when breathing out. So for this one trace slower when returning towards your hand. It’s a good grounding one for anxious kids (she says, having never actually tried it with her own).
• a chart about email language... may be useful for our fledglings working from home :o

Today’s question is: What book are you reading (otherwise, what was the last one you read) and do you recommend it?

I’m reading a novel called Revenge of the Tide by Elizabeth Haynes, and I’ve barely picked it up which probably shows it’s not great! It’s a bog standard thriller. She has a boat, a body washed up next to it.
I’m also reading a non fiction called You Mean I’m Not Lazy, Stupid or Crazy? It’s about ADHD and ironically I haven’t been able to concentrate on it for ages :o it’s quite outdated TBH but the library had bugger all else on the topic. I might do a subject request and suggest more titles, as sometimes they’ll buy them and add to stock.

🍏🍏🍏🍏🍏🍏🍏🍏🍏🍏

I am not a stranger to writing a very arsey email or making an equally arsey phone call and lane has hit the nail on the head with that chart

I am reading a uni book about creative play and no i do not recommend it because it is headache inducing! Aside from uni stuff i am not a book person. I am also reading a bloody minecraft fan fiction book with the 7 year old and it is so grammatically incorrect it is driving me insane

Absolutely, that. Although I notice it's missing the nuclear option: "Regards". My DC know to apply tin hats and retreat when I get to that point!

Meant to say earlier and side tracked myself - brilliant breathing technique there, Lane. We were told holding the in breath for a few seconds is also important, for the oxygen/ CO2 exchange to take place. We also have a lot of success with grounding (5 things you can see, 4 you can feel, 3 you can hear, 2 smell, 1 taste) and with tapping on the problem (will explain further later if nec). Might that help DD2, zoo?

Sorry, no, am stupid. Regards is there. I'm going away to stew things now!

Morning, I have just started Death on a Shetland Isle by Marsali Taylor
It has a lot of detail about a ship and rigging etc at the beginning. Thought my dad might have liked it. Dad was writing a novel when he died. It had a lot of detail about shipping- too much according to the publisher he sent it to. It was set in China as Dad also had a lot of knowledge about the ports there and Japan.

I am dreading today. DD cat looks like she may have had a stroke and gone blind. Taking her to the vets today. Spoke to the vet that has seen her before and she decided she needs to see her. DH is all for having her put down. I haven’t heard her this morning and usually she is mewing for food even if she has some. I am dreading going down and have put it off on the other hand if she has passed away it would mean not having to make that decision. DD will be so upset and this is such a hard time when she is other side of the world.

Lovely reading about your childhood memories. We had Lego it was the one thing that meant dad would sit and play with us. He loved making fancy houses out of Lego. My kids actually played with some of my Lego as well as getting their own sets.

Be back later.
Done nothing as just getting up.

Ooh yes the five senses one is good. I’m intrigued by the tapping so would love more info please!

Also belly breathing - put one hand on your tummy and the other on your chest. As you breathe try and focus on keeping the chest hand still, while the tummy hand moves in and out.

Intrigued by the creative play book, is it a child development related degree? (Ignore the question if too outing I won’t be offended!) I have a few books to read about play ideas (not academic ones, just simple stuff a friend with older kids was getting rid of) - I should read those soon, may have some useful ideas for lockdown.

Ah yes, regards vs warm/kind regards :o

Last day of term. I should really actually look at google classroom and see WTF it’s about. I’ve just let her get on with it, so as there isn’t “homework” per se I’ve been entirely uninvolved which is quite a relief (ahem. I mean change. Yes. Change.) after so long home edding her and stressing over every detail! But I really do need to, and then we can make a plan for the holidays.

I have a dilemma that would have seemed utterly ridiculous before the pandemic. Cagletini is about to outgrow her wellies (and her one pair of shoes but not fussed about that - she is a creature of habit and Wellies Are Worn Outside). Unlike what is apparently happening in other supermarkets - I just read a thread full of sanctimonious shopping police - our local asda has already cordoned off the clothing section so no chance of quickly popping in, grabbing the next size up and shoving it in the trolley.

Obviously I can order online - could get the next size up basics for her too as she will need them in the next month or two (some clothes will be fine when too small but she lives in leggings/jeggings which will be uncomfortable when too tight). The other option is to see if we can collect her wellies from nursery - I remember getting a size up deliberately so they’d last. They’re still open (Cagletini was eligible to still go because DH’s 4h/w contract is technically charity work, for Coop, so he’s a key worker by name) but is that a giant PITA?

Really not sure what is best - and can’t believe the world is so crazy that I’m overthinking something so bloody simple! WWYD?

Morning all. Feeling a bit more positive and motivated today after yesterday’s non-day. DD woke up happy and we’ve only had 3 mini tantrums so far compared to countless big ones by this time yesterday. That breathing technique may have come in handy then Lane

Forgot to say yesterday those dolls are so impressive Lane and I love the idea of the teddy scene SC. MIL has a big ornamental boat in her window and it has been crewed by various cuddly animals this week.

Sorry about your sibling That . Well done on getting the essay submitted.

Willow please reassure DS3 that I’ve lived independently for years without doing two decimal places in my head. I just round everything up! Bless him, hope he’s calmed down a bit.

Books: I’m reading Louis Theroux’s new book. It’s good, but I’ve had it on the go for ages. I hear his voice reading it out the whole time.

I’ve also just downloaded ‘the book you wish your parents had read’ after seeing it recommended on MN lots of times. I’m on the second chapter. Seems to make sense so far. Hoping it helps me rein in
shouty mammy! I try really hard not to but my lovely DM was also shouty mammy so sometimes it just comes out, like a reflex.

Ta Da:
✅ DW unloaded, sink filled and the few takeaway dishes soaking.
✅ beds made
✅ loo bleached
✅ yoga done (abs one. Ouch.)
✅ DD has done a kids exercise thing

To Do:

• finish dishes
• get dressed
• walk before lunch
• beef thing in slow cooker
• meal plan (that we were going to do three days ago )
• LOL
• pluck monstrous eyebrows I’ve just spotted in the mirror
• any missions from the week I haven’t done

Cross post.

Sorry about your cat Bower. Awful decision to have to make. Hope it’s good news at the vet but if not.

Lane. I think I’d call the nursery and ask them to leave them by the door just before you arrive, and do the pick up as part of daily exercise.