Social distancing around the Maypole: Fledglings fly into Flylady thread May 2020.

[Lisette1940]

Welcome to the May Flylady thread Fledglings! We are finally coming to the end of Spring and, erm, what a Spring it has been. Keep safe everyone and a special shoutout to Fledglings who are in the frontline of the response to Covid 19.
Lane has been superlative with the keep calm corner and has had a truly magnificent engagement with fledglings all through April – well done Lane!!! I have totally abandoned my routines (and my clean eating) and have been flying perilously close to the ground but am ready for take off again. But we operate a no fledgling left behind policy and indeed Flylady herself stresses that you are never behind in the system – no need to deep clean the house first, just jump right in.
All are welcome here from longtimers to newbie and those lurking – we all follow this zone-based Flylady cleaning system:
There are five zones and at the beginning and the end of the month we usually straddle Zone 1 and zone 5.
(amend rooms to suit your house – I do the living and dining room together as it’s all one room in my house)
MAY
Zone 1 Hall, entrance/dining room (Fri 1 – Sat 2)
Zone 2 Kitchen (Sun 3- Sat 9)
Zone 3 Bathroom and another room (Sun 10- Sat 16)
Zone 4 Master bedroom/closet (Sun 17 – Sat 23)
Zone 5 Living room (Sun 24 – Sun 31)

Pop onto the Flylady website to have a closer look here but be aware that lots of emails arrive if you sign up.

Flylady has an introductory scheme called Babysteps which is a light 31 day introduction to the system – dressing to shoes, shining your sink etc here.

There is a morning routine and an evening routine to keep things ticking over and a weekly home cleaning hour to change bed sheets, mop, hoover, take out rubbish etc. Flylady doesn’t want us cleaning all day so she is very keen on using a timer. Clean then stop!
In addition each day has a purpose: see the daily focus here

Monday: Weekly home cleaning hour (can be split into ten minute sections and spread over week) here
Tuesday: Plan and play (Menu planning, family event planning)
Wednesday: Anti-procrastination day
Thursday: Errand day
Friday: Clear out bags, fill car with petrol, date night
Saturday: Family fun
Sunday: Lift your spirit

Launch pad for guidance every day! launch pad

Habit of the month of May is moving – whether that’s your daily get out of the house during lockdown or in house movement. – moving is not my strongest point apart from pottering around the house…
We also have a naughty corner as a restful break out space and a Keep Calm Corner (KCC). I suspect I’ll be better at the naughty corner rather than the latter but I’ll do my best! Not sure I can muster the memes but I’ll do my best to keep spirits up.
So welcome to the new thread (I hope I haven’t left anyone out): Lane, SC, zoo, Bower, KTCluck, Willow/Megiddo, foxes, That, averytiredMom, fluffliest, ED, Strawberry, Chic, Hazel, Happiness, Cineraria, We3, stressy, and give.

And breathe!

Here is the bouquet with the wine. He told the ladies who put it together to try to be discreet with the wine since it was going to my work. They all saw it anyway and were super jealous! DH did good on that one.

I'm currently cooking dinner right now, breakfast for dinner again, it ended up taking almost 2 hours last night! Don't know why.

mornin sorry to hear you have to go through that with your DM. A little extreme to want to cut you out of her life for good, but by the sounds of the small info you've given it may be for the best for your own mental health. Good thing that you have your dad though.

DH is having to try to fix the bath. It's not draining, but like something might be broken inside. I should probably go help him!

hazel hope you get the bath sorted
Lovely flowers❤️
Did relationships with family can be very hard
SC did I miss what's happening with D's exams?

Can't sleep.didnt start making dinner til gone 10 after dd1 drop shop 845 then had sort n put away.ended up with cheese n bread as to tired to care
Still have bits on list to get today
She did acquire a cordless hoover for the stairs so will need charge and try that in next day or so

Today's plan- run round get everything done extra early so I can flip once heat of the day arrives.if don't resettle will surface in half-hour and make a start...

Morning all. Been up since 430 with the baby 😴

I've been feeling really burnt out / touched out / stressed out, this week. Like i just really need SPACE.

However we have also confirmed with primary school that we will not be returning the DC in June. So there are pretty much another 3 months minimum like this .... Hopefully the 'school holiday' next week will help my head as i won't be constantly debating school work.

I think most of us want a break now lovely,even just an hour..don't suppose manchild could take them all out for a bit to give you half hour of quiet/respite?

I did give up and get up,promising myself a nap later if required..

Tada
Wash on
Fed cats
Harpic lav
Tackle cupboard understairs-
*Quick tidy of board games,returning stray pieces to boxes
*Sort overflow drawers of dry goods,rotating what we have
*Tidy snack boxes
*Sort craft stuff and try rectify
Sweep floor

Head upstairs
*Pull everything out of my drawers
*Fold and put away properly,moving heavy winter warmers to a bag to make more space to see smaller summer items

Wash on line,next load in

Aim is to give kitchen a wipe over,scrub sink,sort littertray and bins before wake zoolets at 7(lots prattling around last night til very late so early start try stop a reset to stay up into night keeping me awake when exhausted then not want get up at civilised hour...)
If I get time sort downstairs bookcase/dvds before head to Waitrose for bits dd1 couldn't get

Morning all! Beautiful flowers Hazel, DH did well 😁. That I know what you mean - DS2's school emailed last Friday to say that they're basically shut til September except for occasional 1-2-1's for Y12. He falls into that category, but it's not going to be much, nor is it going to fulfil his need to see people. Suddenly the Academy system doesn't look so smart, does it, when the govt says one thing and all the Acadmies go "nah... You're alright"!

We've told DS1 we're happy for him to go to his house in Manchester on 1 July (assuming the contract stands), but until then we're all together, all the time 😭. Roll on half term!

Good plan there, zoo, to get things done before it gets too hot. On that basis, I'm taking the dog onto the field right now. 🍒🙋 all, speak later!

Tada
Scrub sink and drainer
Bins
Littertrays
Clean bookcase in my room
Feed zoolets
Clean bookcase/dvd storage in front room
Washing in off line,ironed and put away
Tumbled washing folded and put away
S+s
2of 4 drawers by my seat on sofatidied
Internet banking

I am now about to braid dd2 hair and head off to shops

to do
Shop
Wipe
Put away
Poss wash floors
Poss one more load laundry
DEP on heat I maybe tempted charge up my new cordless hoover...

Ta da

Wash on X3
Two loads on line
Some bits in dryer
Washed last nights pots
Dc all fed and dressed
Had a bath and dressed myself
Stripped dc4 and 5 beds
Ordered a birthday present

Those are lovely flowers Hazel. Nice that you are appreciated.

Ta da lists going nicely this morning. Heading into home school and online work meetings so can't get images up on phone - darn app.

KCC at bit woo this but what is your spirit animal?

I think mine is a squirrel, what with my hoarding/planning inclinations. I'm not a hoarder in the sense that I can throw things out but I store stuff we might need. I like to think I scamper

Anti procrastination day today.

Baby step 20 here

Launch pad here

My Spirit Animal is a cat, that just wants to find a warm sunny spot to sit in.

I've had a decent amount of sleep so am feeling better today than yesterday. No news on the friendship drama but I'm hoping they are working it out between themselves.

Had a very lazy morning so far, still in pjs but I'm going to get dressed and do some bits. DH is keen for us to go a walk today as we've stayed in the last couple of days whilst it's been raining.

fluffiest they've probably gone to reflect. Fingers crossed they can find a way forward.

Yesterday's ta-da's
S&S
Get bathed and dressed
Tidy round make beds etc
Ironing
2 x LOL
Schoolwork with DC (long multiplication with DS1 which he hates so was not fun at all)
Then just cooking and cleaning up after
Tesco trip

So far today
S&S
Tidy make beds etc
Ironing
LOL
Bath and get dressed
Started schoolwork

I did a quiz once which said my spirit animal was a snake I would say I'm more of a chipmunk constantly running round without actually achieving anything and a bit fat 😂

I think mine is a pangolin - slow and sleepy, curls up into a ball when stressed :o

This was my ta da from yesterday - with tortoises because they were yesterday’s spirit animal
🐢brief new maths thing with DS
🐢had nice chat with new friend and was open about struggles, but also gave a lot of MH advice she asked for about a friend. Given that we met when she was leading a course I was on, it’s nice to feel more on an even footing IYSWIM? I do wonder how that will change after lockdown though.
🐢dug out DS’ geography workbook that we abandoned months ago (DD1 was doing the same one but then went to school!) and found page to start in corresponding study book (DH covered the actual work, went well)
🐢found, downloaded and printed some verbal/non-verbal reasoning sheets for DS - he’s not prepping for 11+ or whatever but he loves the NVR (definitely my kid 😅) and I’m hoping the VR will help his, well, reasoning skills obviously 🤣 just gives him something else to do as well
🐢took a phone call from HOY about whether or not DD1 wants to still attend school in half term
🐢set reminder for phone appt with ENT after another phone call
🐢answered yet another phone call, from housing association checking how residents are doing and if we need anything 😊 (also took the chance to ask about the shed!
🐢tried two face coverings - wore one to town, not very practical as I had to keep adjusting it when it slipped!
🐢Asda - was walking to town and there was zero queue so took the opportunity to go there instead of tiny Sainsbury’s. Then went to Boots and WHSmith.
🐢sat in the shade and had phone call from Homestart volunteer
🐢showered outside world off me
🐢persuaded DD1 to do her art homework, like pulling teeth again, proving once and for all that she has to get it done earlier on in the afternoon (they’d been on an errand earlier - next time she will have to do her work first)

Managed to get DS started with work fairly well this morning but still channeling a sloth-like energy.

Can I just have all the sleepy creatures for my spirit animals?

Ok, back from dog walk. Met Mrs Next Door, who was pleased to tell me:

1. the building site over the park is noisy
2. they don't like that they're building a skate park because skateboards are noisy
3. they want teens to stop sitting in the park because they are noisy
4. MegaHound is cute but very noisy
5. they think the fox barking in the middle of the night is MegaHound (it isn't)
6. They think COVID-19 is overblown, because they know a GP who has 2 kids in (keyworker) nursery and none of them have caught it
7. Teachers should man up and get back to school.
8. The Media aren't printing any human-interesting stories about how people are banding together to feed / support their elderly neighbours, like they are for Mr Next Door's elderly mother (? really? You can't move for them where I'm reading!)

Since Mrs Next Door is a former Primary teacher who proudly told me she was excellent at discipline because she once shouted at a Y3 child so much he wet himself in fear, I'm not minded to listen to her blatherings. But she's put a proper crimp on my day, to be frank.

Anyway. Onwards.
Ta Da:
💖 DW
🧡 S&S family bathroom. Have passed the en suite on to DH, because he's taken to trimming his hair / beard daily. This is not working well 🤦‍♀️
💛 LOL in the machine, first of many (DS1 has put it washing in the basket and it nearly touches the ceiling!)
💚 Dog walk
💙 Emails cleared (finally!)
💜 Printing for OT file done and talked through with DS3

To Do
🍧 More LOL
🍧 Clean birdshit off the slide so DS3 can slide
🍧 Mop kitchen floor
🍧 pull up bolted radishes (taste like golfballs now 🤢)
🍧 make lunches
🍧 Do writing
🍧 Start thinking about DS3's 10th birthday next month, which is a big one in our family.
🍧 Put clean washing away because no-one's done that since the weekend.
🍧Email OT about something specific that is bending DS3 out of shape
🍧 Get DS3 to do OT exercises for core strength (going to be a tough ask)

mornin, sorry about your DM and fluff sorry about your friends' troubles. I think lockdown is rather magnifying these things and we're all feeling more emotional anyway. I usually wouldn't let Mrs Next Door get to me either.

Lisette, the KCC question of best surprise - I've been musing on this as I'm not very good with events etc I've not planned for. I think the best surprise was when DH clubbed together with all the family to buy me a piece of art for my 40th birthday. I'd observed I loved it, then looked at the price and laughed til I was sick; he got everyone to chip in and negotiated with the artist, and it was there, in the kitchen, behind a table cloth rigged up with some string to do a big unveiling on my birthday morning. I'd totally put it out of my mind as something we couldn't afford and wouldn't do, and was so surprised to find it there. It's in the living room now, I see it every day, and I find something new in it every time I look.

Oh gosh, xposted with lots of you!

AWOL, DS2 struggled with long division until I did it multicoloured to show him where numbers moved to. Mind you, I last taught it to him on the morning of his first maths GCSE...

Lane, great you got so much done, but I'm with you on not bending on homework being done at Homework Time, otherwise it's exactly like pulling teeth.

An online quiz says my spirit animal is a deer, because I am sensitive, introverted and organised. I'm not totally certain that follows!

Jigolo DS1 is also 10 next month. I really need to start planning his birthday might wait until the next anti procrastination day though 😂

I need to sort DD’s birthday, she is 13 in late June. We would have been getting Kpop merch but her album (from the official site) took an insanely long time to get here compared to previous orders. So we will focus on other things, especially nice art supplies I think.

Might do lots of little bits and pieces hidden round the house but she has to facetime family for clues (saw that on MN). Her choice of takeaway.

Luckily it’s on a school day so even if schools aren’t properly back she will have the day with her BFF as she’s attending too. I might ask the HOY if there’s any food she could take to share without mucking up the rules - eg if she got multipacks of sweets and emptied them on the table would that work? As opposed to a normal cake which would be impossible to not touch etc?

Also they watch films in the afternoon so I could see if she’s allowed to choose that day.

They all sound like great ideas, Lane! I'm not sure if it's good or bad that, as the youngest of 4, DS3 knows exactly what a tenth birthday looks like and what to expect! AWOL be very aware you're setting a precedent here!

There will need to be some codebreaking to get to his Big Present and this is usually the first Friend-and-a-museum-or-show birthday. However, he has already invited all his friends to buy themselves some crisps and a cupcake and play games online together*.

*not even all the same game. Just play something you like and have comms open 🤣🤣

Family birthday cake is usually pretty special for 10th birthdays, though, and I need to get my act together. I know DD had a Clash Of Clans cake, and I think that was the year I did Kermit The Frog for DS2. Can't for the life of me think what DS1 was - I know it wasn't the Daleks - but it will be written in his baby book somewhere!

I have never made a birthday cake 😳 I really do suck at baking. Maybe we will try doing a load of treat food though. Code breaking is usually on Easter here but we may add a bit of that in too this time just to make things interesting in the afternoon (she doesn’t have much time before school so could maybe open the main thing there) although the clues will have to be fairly simple I think. DH totally overestimates their ability to make massive synaptic leaps like he does and I regretted letting him do the egg hunt this year!

What about a sweet tapas table Lane? Say with Chocolate bark of different types - white chocolate unicorn bark? here

I'm definitely a squirrel by the way see image

or a piñata to go with the tapas table here

I'd never really considered 10 being a special one tbh. Other than that is the age I said they had to be to have a phone so he's excited about that even more so after so long away from his friends. Just had to fill in my response to say wether or not they are going back to school and so far in the parents group chat only one parent has said they're sending them back. I'm glad take up is low enough so hopefully the parents who need the spaces will be able to get them without causing the school too much stress about how they will fit them all in while following the social distancing rules. Facebook has become a bit bitchy with people saying why are people who are SAHP sending kids back. Well there's a multitude of reasons. I wish people would just stay out of other peoples business at the moment I really do.

Anyway off to make cheese and onion toasties for lunch 😋

That bouquet is beautiful hazel, and thank you. DM tends to overreact so I take everything she says with a pinch of salt.

Sorry to hear that zoo, I went NC with DM for a while but when I had my eldest son I started seeing her again for his sake, she’s never really bonded with the DC though it was pointless really.

that being touched out is awful, is there any way you can get a break?.

Glad you got some sleep fluffy

meg mrs next door sounds awful. You’re right about lockdown, everything seems 10x worse.

Great ideas lane!

10 is a big birthday here, double figures!. I have 4 younger sisters, and 2 of them are 10 and over. For both of their tenth birthdays we went shopping and they could pick a new outfit and then we went for a grown up meal, they loved it. Not sure what I’ll do for my own DC, I’m crap with boys.

My spirit animal is a cheetah, for no reason other than I feel like we connect😂.

I have done the usual daily tasks of washing up, tidying away, breakfast and lunch etc. But it’s hot so we are in the garden and the house can wait. One thing I love about having the house all Cream coloured is how bright it is when it’s sunny. It’s a tiny house so I feel like it opens it all up.

AWOL I’ve deleted my Facebook because of bitchiness. My eldest hasn’t even started nursery yet, and I’m a SAHP, but if I had the choice I’d be sending him to nursery. He’s missed out on a lot of development and interaction with others. We used to go to playgroup twice a week and he doesn’t have that anymore. I’d also like a break as well tbh, and I think it’s okay to say that!.