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! 🍒👋

Hi every1. Thank u all 4 ur kind msgs yday. They made me rly happy. Just wanted 2 update every1. I have been speaking 2 my counsellor and we think I may have developed agoraphobia in lockdown. So am currently working thru that plus my existing issues. I’m quite disappointed bcuz I’ve been wanting 2 get driving and a job but I’ve realised I’m pushing myself 2 far as this time a few months ago I wasn’t even getting out of bed and now I feel better I want 2 do everything. But I’ve wrote out a plan and am hoping that by the time Sullivan starts nursery that I can get a part time job and build up from there. But I’m not pushing myself any further than that at the minute as I’m barely keeping afloat just keeping me and the kids alive. I hope you don’t mind if I continue to post a bit still? I feel a lot better now I’ve planned my goals and have admitted to every1 my problems. I’ve still been going out in lockdown but every time I do I have panic attacks so I’m going 2 b honest with my family and get sum help.

Mummy . Anyone is welcome here any time, this thread is about friendship as much as housekeeping and at any given time there are always a few people who are having difficult patches and posting for the support. Post whenever you feel like it. It sounds as though you are doing the right thing by getting help and lockdown is having very significant effects on many people.

Mummy you're an absolute star . Everything is baby steps and I think you are taking really positive and progressive action to deal with the panic. I've used breathing exercises to deal with my panic (mostly due to flying). If you can get your breathing controlled and bring down the stress your body completely relaxes and it's really hard for the mind to ramp up the panic systems when the body is in a state of relaxation. I'm sure your counsellor can help you with that. You won't be the only person with agoraphobia after lockdown so you are not alone. Do not lose heart whatever you do - you are doing all the right things. Will look forward to spotting you on the thread. 'No fledgling left behind - NFLB'

Thank u 4 ur kind words ladies. I won’t be on as much as usual but I will pop back on and say hi to u all and let u know I’m okay from time to time just whilst I’m getting better :)

That's great mummy 💐

I think a lot of us here can identify with now I'm better I want to do everything

A few years back there was an online cartoonist called Hyperbole and a Half, one of whose strips had the immortal line "Clean ALL the Things!" (The strip ended with her back on the internet...)

Thank you again to those that have welcomed me back :). I love this little corner of Mumsnet!. I had a delivery this morning, just some cleaning products but the delivery man couldn’t find my house so I have to get it from the post office 😡. My house is a little road off a bit of a main road but you can’t see it unless you walk quite far into my road. It just looks like a block of flats until you find there’s a few little bungalows!. It can be really annoying because there’s not even a sign to say it!

Oh well! I’ve just finished work and got dressed. Weather is gorgeous, so I’ve decided to take the boys to Stratford-Upon-Avon. Means I won’t have to cook and we can have tea out!. Dfriend and her LO’s are meeting us there so we’ll have lots of ice creams and fish and chips!

zoo it’s so hot isn’t it! I love it usually but even I am a sweaty mess!

Thank you ED it’s brilliant suits me down to the ground!

THAT I hadn’t worked since before DS1 was born so I was crapping myself. It took a couple of weeks but then I did get right back into the grove of things. I’m sure it will go well for you too!

meg great news about DS’s tooth! Is that the going rate for a tooth now? It was 50p when I was little! I’ll be skint when the kids teeth start falling out. Better start saving now!!. It’s a good job I like to clean, I did get burnt out a bit but have found a rhythm. Some days it does feel like my only purpose in life is to clean though 😂

MC it’s meant to be sunny here I will pray to the sun gods it stays that way for you. I need to sort my garden out too! That’s the one thing I don’t clean

Ooh upholder are you doing much with your 10 days off?!

bower have a good day! Sounds like it will be a busy one!

sing I’m glad you enjoyed your breakfast. I haven’t been out for breakfast yet, might put that on my agenda.

mummy oh bless you sweetheart. I’ve really struggled with my mental health and counselling has really helped and you seem like you’re doing the right things!. Don’t worry about posting you look after yourself and your DC❤️

KCC I’m like sing I’d go swimming. We go once a week normally but the leisure pools aren’t open by me unfortunately. The boys would just love it.

ta da

✅Made beds
✅Morning skincare routine
✅Kids and I dressed
✅Made weetabix and bananas for breakfast
✅S&S
✅LOL
✅Washed up from breakfast, dried and put away
✅Cleaned kitchen surfaces
✅Dropped DC off at mums
✅Went to work
✅Picked DC up from mums
✅Gave Apple and grapes for snack
✅Took off work clothes and put in laundry basket
✅Got dressed into lighter clothing

hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/06/this-is-why-ill-never-be-adult.html

*merryhouse8 - I've just guffawed at the cartoon and website! thanks!

2PrincesGlad you decided to pop back and tell us. This group is very supportive with everyone. There is a great understanding of disabilities and mental health issues ( which most of us have experienced from time to time) so if you need support we will be here for you.
I have only been out of the house and garden once in July I think. I had some work issues to resolve and I am still on sick leave it is due to this plus Covid that I have not wanted to go out. There is a woman around the corner who hasn’t been out of the village since the shutdown. She lost her job just before and she is extremely stress about the virus heightened by our mutual neighbour who ignored lots of rules. I think there will be quite a few more people still shielding which might develop into agoraphobia. I know it has crossed my mind that is what is happening to me. I get quite stressed whenever I do go out. I hope you start to feel better soon like Lisette said baby steps.

Mc I am quite good in the garden but not with houseplants and nearly killed two plants of DDs last year one survived and the leaves grew back the other one died. However if you have a few ( previous page) I would probably hedge my bets and plant some in a good compost and keep some for a couple more days in water. I was about to give up on some seeds when suddenly there was tiny sprouts and now small plants. I think I was a bit impatient. Fingers crossed.

Still haven’t caught up on bits of Tuesday/ Wednesday thread.

Phone call was really difficult and I broke down. I really have had enough. This is still ongoing from last year and Union are trying to keep me going through hoops but I really feel I can’t stand anymore. I will wait a few days as I don’t want to do anything rash. Chilling out with one of those daft movies Zoo will get my drift.

Not planning to do anything more today. Anything done will be a bonus.

Princes 💐 totally relate to the pushing yourself and wanting to achieve loads when you’re better. I have found in lockdown that because it coincided with my brain getting better at concentrating (due to meds) I put a lot of pressure on myself to do more and more and then I get overwhelmed! I love the clean all the things merry :o

I was actually meaning to write a big list last night of all the things I need to keep track of. A map of life as it were. I haven’t done the actual writing down bit but even thinking of what to write made me realise just how many things we have to keep track of. It’s a lot of stuff to keep in my head. I need to write it down and then discuss with DH. I’m interested to see how much of it is always in his head too. He actually does an awful lot of it (far more of things like washing up etc than I do) but the mental load doesn’t seem to bother him nearly as much. I would love to delegate/outsource but I just don’t know how. Cleaning for example - I feel like we would need one but I actually don’t think we do because it’s the tidying and the clutter that are the issue. I honestly don’t know where to start with simplifying life!

Anyway I’m hoping the iPad has now cooled down enough for me to watch the rest of the show I’d started when I came up to rest. The heat really got to me this morning and I’d just settled down with painkillers and catch up telly when I realised I only had twenty minutes before DS’ zoom meeting with the autism charity 😭 and that was great but mentally exhausting because zoom!!! And lots of thinking for me which was actually related to all this managing of life and how we can help DS. But as I said to the practitioner, it’s hard to tell which difficulties are his, and which are actually just a symptom of the fact that the rest of the household is also ASD/ADHD and rubbish at routines 🤯

Gaaaaaah!!! Anyway. I am now hungry (obv didn’t have lunch due to lovely big breakfast) so I’m going to grab a snack and go back to bed 🤕

Bower 💐

I love Hyperbole, that particular cartoon (and the downbeat version of clean all the things!) has been with me for ages especially the 3am frame! The cartoonist suffers from depression and has stopped for a bit, will look at the website again. I think she did bring out a book, will check Amazon.

DD and DH went out for a bit today so had some time to myself. Did a bit of prep for tea, some washing up then sat in the garden and painted my nails. Lovely!

chic yes, she's been away for ages but I saw a rumour last month that she's started doing something again

Clean all the things is ten years old. How the hell did that happen?

mummy you are doing just fabulous! You do what you need to do, and we will always be here when you are ready 🥰

Bower thank you, I will give that a go.
Sounds like you need to put your feet up today and forget about the world for a min. Virtual hugs your way.

Merry I love that meme!

Cleanermam I am relatively new to gardening, but I find it is getting to the stage of being addictive 😬

Sing that is one intense day. [Flowers]

KCC I would throw a proper old fashioned dinner party. Dress code and everything. Has been a while since I've done one of those, and by the looks of it, it ain't gonna happen this year either..

KCC
If the pandemic suddenly completely disappeared, where would you go first?

I would get on the bus and go swimming at the local pool.

Am I allowed to run randomly up to strangers and hug them or is that a bit much?

KCC - to see my son 3,to go and stay in Scotland to see my sisters, nephews and nieces. Then go to Australia and see my other sister and cousins and then to NZ to see DD and partner, DH cousin and my ex colleague who has settled there.

MC I am doing just that. I have decluttered a small pile. DH went shopping and bought me a bottle of Pimms. He also made me a sandwich.

Quick question regarding laundry. Got a new dress (which quickly became my favourite) and on the care label it's says to wash with non bio detergent, as well as usual 30 degree wash and no tumble dry. The problem is that I don't have non bio powder. What would happen if I wash it with normal one? The dress is 100% viscose

princes you take care of yourself. We'll be here when you need us 💜

merry I hadn't seen that meme before, I love it!

zoo that's quite a list for a short amount of time. I'm glad DD2 seems to be in a better, more productive, mood this morning for you. Hopefully it continued for the rest of the day.

Meg I try to balance everything out, just need some more alone time though I think. There are days that I wish I had a personal chef, to make sure I meet all my macros and the right amount of calories, without having to do anything. Sometimes I just don't have the energy after work - that can be dangerous. Hopefully it'll get easier for you with some lists of food and recipes that I hope they will give you.

Up your addition of yoga reminded me that I didn't add that to my ta da list for Tuesday! Still not doing it routinely though.

bower Hopefully your DS and dsis will both be OK.

sing getting the list written down is half of the battle, I find. Even when it comes to my days off. If there are things I want to achieve I write it down and it seems less overwhelming.

I'm sure there's more of you I haven't mentioned, but I'm running out of time on my lunch break. 🍒👋 to the rest of you.

Work today, then I plan on doing a little bit of clearing up around the house tonight and relaxing. I also plan on sleeping in tomorrow as I'm so tired by the end of the week.

MC I think over time it would damage the fabric, perhaps sooner if it is bamboo viscose. Do you have woolite that you could use?

Lisette thank you. I've ran out of all delicate washing liquid, and keep forgetting to buy more (don't have many delicates to wash in the summer...). Looks like I need to leave that wash until after I do a supermarket run.

Ta da:
🎉S&S
🎉Quick tidy and declutter in hotspots
🎉Half decided on photo frames (so maybe this one is half of a 'ta da')

Late night for me! Just going to post my last ta da’s and then off to bed and will catch up with everyone tomorrow. Goodnight lovelies!

✅Had chips for tea
✅Put DC to bed
✅Evening skin care routine
✅S&S

My brains like fudge so sorry lack personals

Morning all. Bit gutted to be posting already, but I am up with the toddler. She didn’t nap yesterday and ended up asleep not long after 6pm, and I felt ill so went to bed and I was actually asleep by 7 I think 😱 I didn’t sleep straight through but when I heard she was awake (due to a random burst of rain I think) I came down and sent DH back to bed.

ta da from yesterday
🍳booked breakfast and went out as a family!!!
🥓took Cagletini to the park while DH took DSD for a blood test
🥐zoom meeting with DS
🍳printed some maths for DD1 (DH sat with her to do it though)
🥓reminded her to clear up her stuff
🥐actually prioritised sleep!!!

I love the idea of a post-pandemic dinner party. I also realised one thing I’d do would be to take Cagletini to playgroup.

I was glad to hear that the masks in cinemas will be compulsory everywhere except your seat so I’m quite happy to put up with that for the sake of seeing a film at some point! Will keep checking the website for showings.

I am very sleepy still so I’m not sure how much use I’ll make of the early start! I might laze with my kindle for a bit. The main thing is that I mustn’t just play on iPad games for ages, I even deleted one yesterday as I was getting hooked on it 😳

Morning all

Busy couple of days here

Not a fan of the hot weather

Already too hot in just my pjs (shorts and vest top) so not looking forward to the rest of the day!

Brief ta da from yesterday

💙 wash on x4
❤ washing dried on line / in dryer
🧡 pots washed multiple times
💜 bottles washed and sterilised
💚 everyone fed multiple times
💛 LR2 toys tidied and decluttered a bit
💙 LR2 swept
❤ rug hoovered
🧡 LR2 mopped
💜 kitchen swept
💚 Asda order finished
💛 Present for DN sorted
💙 table chairs and highchair scrubbed
❤ LR1 tidied after dc in bed
🧡 LR1 swept
💜 LR1 mopped
💚 random crap taken upstairs
💛 dc4 bed stripped and washed
💙 recycling out
❤ made lollies with dc
🧡 played board games with dc
💜 bathed dc

Not that brief actually