August already?! Time keeps flying like the Fledglings!

[SingToTheSky]

Hello and welcome to the (slightly early) August Fledgling Thread! Join us for housework chat and a ridiculous amount of non housework chat too.

We follow (supposedly) the FlyLady system, which helps you gradually build up a set of routines. This month I won’t be putting regular links on, but there will be regular references to whatever the current zone and daily focus is. Please ask if you need any further info!

Here are some links to get you started (but don’t sign up for the emails as you’ll get inundated!)

www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/31-beginner-babysteps/ - a set of little tasks to gradually add to your day - some are a bit twee so pick and choose what you want!

www.flylady.net/c/sp.php#missions - this updates weekly with a set of five specific tasks for the weekly zone - worth checking for ideas! I will try and remember to remind us what zone we are in. It changes on a Sunday and we will be starting with Zone 1, the entrance/porch/hallway, and dining room if you have one.

www.flylady.net/c/lp.php - this contains links for most other things so is a good place to check if you don’t know where to start

It looks like the focus of the month for August is LAUNDRY - getting into the habit of a full load washed, dried and away each day.

Also I was bored a while back so I put together a little glossary of the many weird and might-seem-a-bit-cliquey terms. We have been going a long time but we always love newbies - hopefully this list will help you settle in.
KCC - the Keep Calm Corner, invented by our lovely Fledgling SC back in March, where the OP posts nice diverting links, memes, questions etc to distract us from the pandemic.

Ta Da - instead of a to do list (which is of course welcome too) we often post our achievements, with accompanying jazz hands, in order to celebrate the positives, however small they seem! Sometimes if we want to share an embarrassed giggle/commiserations we also post a ta didn’t - the stuff we didn’t get done. Oops.

BRC - Bag/Box of Random Crap. These are usually formed when we are panic tidying and shove anything in “to sort later” which is also known as a stash and dash.

Power of Three or PO3 - the idea that if you’re feeling really unmotivated/overwhelmed by your to do list, you just choose three things to do, and then post when you’ve done them.

Cherry Waves - borne of a typo of “cheery waves” this is now - to the extent my autocorrect just changed it again - often how we sign off. You may also see it in emoji form! 🍒👋🙋🏻 (😷 for socially distanced waves!).

Haughty Corner - this is from a typo of the naughty corner - the virtual hangout spot where we hide from housework and eat virtual snacks.

Future Friend or FF - the idea (apparently coming from The Organised Mum Method) of doing something to make life easier for yourself in future. Includes things like choosing clothes for the next day, getting bags ready etc.

DLMS - didn’t lose my shit - in other words, somehow stayed relatively calm despite a stressful day!

SS/S&S - Swish and Swipe - this is one of the key parts of the morning routine, a quick once over of the bathroom.

And a few basics:
LOL - load of laundry
WM - washing machine
TD - tumble dryer
DW - dishwasher
HSL - hallway, stairs, landing

And finally, for any Fledglings old or new who are trying to lose weight in lockdown, here’s our new body clutter banishing thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/weight_loss_chat/3975886-Body-Clutter-Be-Gone-The-Fledglings-Weightloss-Thread?pg=1

I’ll stop waffling there. Welcome one and all, a huge thank you to KTCluck for steering us through July while also working, and away we go for August! 🍒👋

Final Ta Da for today:

🎉LOL - Dried, and ready to be folded. But that's tomorrow's headache
🎉Kitchen and bathroom S&S: quick clean of the bathtub, shower glass and sink, bleach into the loo and all plugholes. Toilet itself cleaned with antibacterial stuff. DW loaded and started, kitchen surfaces and sink cleaned.
🎉Living room and "my room" (ie a small room with a sofa, piano, table and an aquarium) dusted and surfaces cleaned with antibac spray.
🎉Downstairs hoovered.

Ta Didn't 😬
🌡️Did not look into picture frames for the hallway... Tomorrow is another day.

UPany lessons for other flymen in need of such skills available?
Well I've already LMS.......

Dd2 is supposed get up and take meds half hour before brekkie..I warned her I hate faffing around doing two lots breakfast and I get annoyed everyone has wait for her
Woke her 730,and her get up in a minute ended me ranting at 8am as she still lay festering in pit.ffs
I wouldn't mind if she could fix self cereal etc but she only eats toast/crumpets/muffins for brekkie and as we have steel toaster it gets hot and she's terrified burning fingers so can't/wont do it herself.her sense of reasoning is very poor so arguing is a stressful waste of time.grrrr

AlsoLMS with "d"p after he didn't even bother to comment when I message him on Instagram that lil zoo will most likely be undergoing ASD assessment.his response to that was I've been busy.too busy to be bothered to spend a few sec responding to a message.i Officially Give Up.he moves today to multiple occupancy with shared kitchen and bathroom despite patiently trying to explain why during a pandemic this is not a wise movehe thinks it's stupid wasting money if they can get you out at any time so gone cheapest fleapit can get.i am angry as he has been told most firmly he's putting himself at much higher risk,and would therefore put us at it too as D's doesn't social distance well and can't tell us if he's feeling ill so we probably won't even see him now.but if course it will be my fault for deny him his children even tho since lockdown he's only bothered actually see them twice.grrrrrr.

Tad
Fed cats
Wash on
Watered flowers in garden
Apply some paint to high bits in kitchen ive been avoiding as hurts hips to climb up.

zoo do you think dp will get on with other occupants at HMO? He's not easy is he?

Zoo I've missed a lot but it sounds like you've had a rough time lately,

We didn't get back home until 9pm and still had tidying and pots to wash as well as getting everyone to bed - didn't get to bed until late so I'm struggling to come round this morning .

Tada
🎉exercise
🎉everyone's had breakfast
🎉ds attempted his run but his legs were sore from last nights matches so I persuaded him to stop running and have a rest day - he's too committed to his sport for his own good at times , to say he's only 9 , he works really hard . The only reason he stopped was because I told him he would be to tired for his training session later 😂

To do
I think a more laid back day is on the cards today (if you can ever be laid back with 3 kids 👀) I'll just do a random tada list rather than a structured one .

Oh zoo :( I’m sorry lovely. But glad too, that you are not accepting this shit from him. 💐 You and your zoolets deserve better.

Meg DS was really dreading the outdoor classes! Thankfully he ended up saying he enjoyed it more than he thought. Change is so bloody hard for our kids isn’t it? Does DD know what specifically it is that is worrying them? Other kids, virus, other people seeing them/laughing etc?

Not caught up yet and about to have breakfast, then I’m taking DS to meet his bestie at the park. They’ve only seen each other on zoom for scouts for months! He’s got his laundry moved along (but has no clean trousers 🤨 so that’s added to the list for town later as TBF we have thrown some outgrown and holey ones lately) and he’s now doing a bit of maths before we go. I wish DD1 was that compliant TBH 😬

👾👾👾👾👾

So it’s Thursday. Errand day. Get stuff done. Yay.

KCC - do you have a song stuck in your head at the moment? Or if not, what’s your current favourite song?

My current one is this, which I loved as a child. It’s an annoying earworm though. Sorry. 😬🤪

👾👾👾👾👾

Hi all just popping in bcuz I want 2 say I’m going 2 be having a bit of time off SM. Rly struggling wiv this whole second lockdown 4 shielded by me so just gonna spend a little while focusing on getting my MH better. I hope u all understand! Ur all such luvly ppl and I’m rly sad 2 b having sum time away but hopefully it won’t b 4 long x

Sending you a big hug zoo.

Meg- I too hate the 'Boring Daily Shit.'

Today....i must....i have to....get rid of the bags and bags of excess clutter that are hanging around. Its waiting to go to the tip. Out grown clothes....old stuff....why am i finding it so hard to part with?
I want to take the kids on a picnic.....i dont want to be tripping over stuff...not finding stuff. Why cant i just let it go.

xmummy don't worry about us, sweetheart! You concentrate on yourself and your lovely family - the littlies and your support - and no doubt we'll still be here moaning about getting dressed to shoes when you come back

Mummy

mummy 💐💐💐 we totally understand x

Dancing I think a lot of us are the same. I struggle to get rid of stuff because I might need it. Now I am trying to change that and think...when did you last see/use it, did you actually ally remember you had it? I am finding this is helping.

I chucked loads of stuff from school that I have been saving in case I need it. I won’t. I was trying to sort it to give people but due to lack of communication from anyone bar two I am chucking it. I now have five large shopper bags of stuff that belong to school in my dining room. I cleared four yesterday. Not as good as Tuesday as less focussed. Today I am going to find the dining room table. Anything else is a bonus. There are two BRC I think.

I like that on here people have 😄cover my pattern box and 😄sorting my recipes. It makes me feel better. Amongst the RBC is both patterns and recipes and craft and gardening torn out from mags. DH was dead proud of me on Tuesday. He couldn’t believe I got rid of all that paperwork their was a bag and a half. I also did some magazines. I didn’t do the anti procrastination as DH slept in until 11 and I had already started something else. He has gone walking today so promises we will do it tonight. I may start before him. I need him to check it as I don’t trust myself to get it right.

Zoo🤗 hugs. Bloody selfish man.🤬 however it may not work out so just sit back and don’t stress.

2Princes I understand but we will miss you so do come back if only to this corner. I love reading about your boys and you are doing a brilliant job bringing them up on your own. Sorry to hear your in lockdown again. Keep writing your lists though there is something satisfying about crossing off lists. Hope to hear from you again soon.

Sing glad the outdoor classes are ok for him.

MC you seem to be getting into Flylady well. Great list.

Will need to catch up on yesterday’s thread there seems to be a lot. I just started reading yesterday and twice interrupted was going to do it before bed and got a very long phone call from lovely ex colleague.

Cheery waves🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒

Mummy- look after yourself. Take care lovely.

Bowerbird- thank you, I will try thinking like this....!

mummy you can't take care of your gorgeous boys if you don't look after your needs.we don't leave anyone behind,so if you decide come back we will still be here and keen to hear of your adventures since we last heard from you!take care

Second coat paints done on kitchen.still bit patchy but fuck it.my hip is very very up unhappy I've been up and down stepladder.i have hypermobility in it and it feels like it's not fitting snuggly in place,but not dislocated iyswim...

Also acquired cat food,D's needed more milk and I got rolls and a lettuce because I could..

Of course we understand princes take care. You are doing brilliantly 💐 it’s totally understandable to be struggling with the news. We will be here when you want to come back xx

Hi all,
Sorry to hear people are struggling, lockdown does add pressure to already difficult situations, whatever “phase” number your area is under.
I have been attempting to follow fly lady, but am ignoring the zone. Who was it that liked to zone rebel: Sing and was it Bower ?
Anyway, you know who you are
My kitchen needs help and I don’t have a dining room!
This week my wm has been dying and is dead as of yesterday. I put in some dry, but slightly, damp clothes to tumble last night and the machine dumped a load of stinky, foot water on them. Grrr!
Belated thank you to Hungry about teething support message.
So Tada
Find repair person
Get stinky washing clean and onto clothes horse
Clean second hand high chair
Find title deeds to see whether crazy neighbour can dig up half of shared garden without agreement of all residents
Send payslips to tax credits
Badger hr to send payslips
DS vacuum
Change vacuum bag
Make soup
Swish & swipe kitchen and bathroom
Wash up
Pay credit cards
Home made diffuser oil
Yoga baby
Yoga self 15 mins
Walk with DS and if DS will get out of bed (went back)
Continue reading on video conferencing (dont ask)
Back later.....shuffles off...

Ok finally caught up and hopefully remember everything.

Up we also have a load of decorating to do but I hate it so that's definitely on the procrastinating list. Well done to you DH for redeeming himself like that!

Sing i agree with that of DS said that you obviously make it look easy.

Zoo sorry your OH is still being a dick and also for your crappy (no pun intended) morning with cat poo incident. You got loads done yesterday despite all of that ⭐️

Home I must admit I am making the most of DH having no overtime on ATM especially with the DC being off school. I am with you I'm feeling like it takes all day to just get the basics done as well but that's probably because I send most of the time sitting in the garden doing nothing 🙈. Well done on sorting your kitchen after getting in at 9. Mine would have been left until morning I'm sure.

Sorry about lockdown lisette and MC.
*
Meg* I might have been tempted to let them have a good rummage around for the non existent cervix just for a laugh but then I suppose no one would want to put themselves through a smear they didn't need.

Mummy you probably won't see this now but just in case I hope your SM break helps

Marta how do you make your diffuser oil?

KCC q's
Yesterday - I'm annoyed that all of the campsites are fully booked by people that wouldn't be going camping in usual circumstances. We wanted to book up but there's nothing. Feel like telling them all that we like camping and they need to bog off and wait for their foreign holidays 😂
The boys being able to see their friends again has made me smile.

Today's - savage Love is stuck in my head mainly because my kids have it playing on repeat 24/7.

Just the basics done yesterday and today really although I do did my anti procrastination yesterday and sorted a bank thing out.

🍒 👋 to bower, ED, hazel, stressey, dancing, merry, foxes, tidy and chic.

Hello I’m not sure if you remember me I was here back in June under the name ‘didmyhousethismornin’. I managed to fall off as had a huge change of routine, I got a job!!. I am so chuffed, both boys will start nursery part time in September and my DM currently has them whilst I work now. I don’t know if you remember I struggled with mine and mums relationship but we got counselling (still doing it) and are doing really well better than we ever have! I hope you don’t mind if I jump back on

That's brilliant, cleanermum, both the job and the relationship. What kind of thing are you doing? Sounds like your mum is prepared to make changes too, which is really helpful.

ooh, sorry, cleanermam (I live in the northeast, too...)

Hey cleaner welcome back, yes I remember your name (I’ve name changed since) and congratulations on your new job, how exciting 😍 great news about the counselling.

I’ve been out several hours - must be the longest I’ve been out of the house since before the virus. Met friend with our boys in the park at 11.20, then DD1 came for join us for a bit. I’d planned to go home for a while but the kids begged to go into town. So we did errands with them in tow and had lunch in the food court, kids sitting at a different table. I’m knackered but it was so worth it as some normality for them, and it was really nostalgic as it was (minus the masks etc) just like old times, as we used to do that all the time when DD1 was still home educated too. I then sent the caglets home while I met a friend for a drink as planned.