Fledglings assemble for the nurturing November thread!

[foxessocks]

Thank you to EerilyDeleted for being an excellent leader on the October thread! Time to put your feet up for a well earned rest now!

This is my first time running the thread so sorry if the links below don't work I'm learning as I go!! If they don't I'll come back and try again

If you are struggling with C.H.A.O.S. (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome) and S.T.U.F.F. (Something That Undermines Family Fun) then this is the thread where we (loosely) follow the step-by-step Flylady housekeeping system (in our own, unique, relaxed style) with lots of support and chatter along the way.

The FlyLady link is here Don't be put off by the twee language of the site – we all agree that the underlying system is very effective.

This little-and-often system is designed so that you can follow a series of steps and routines each day (which gradually become second nature) in zones of the house which are designated weekly; defining and minimising housework - which in theory should leave you with loads more time to do something more interesting instead.

At the same time it is intended to reduce that panicky "rabbit in headlights" feeling when you are overwhelmed and everything needs doing all at once. No problem if you miss a day or two; just jump right back in and it will all come around again next month.

It's up to you, but we advise not signing up to receive the Flylady e-mails as you will be swamped with marketing nonsense. All the information you need will be linked here on a daily basis.

From the first of the month, we will be following Flylady's steps and routines using a three-pronged approach (dependent on the stage everyone is at):

• start or repeat baby steps
• repeat baby steps + do 15 minutes a day decluttering in the current zone
• reinforce baby steps and do daily missions if you have finished decluttering.
• And if you are really enthusiastic and have finished decluttering - you can go on to detailed deep cleaning in each zone.

There are three key points to keep in mind throughout:

• No perfectionism allowed - this is harder than you would imagine and many of us on this thread struggle with this one.
• You are never behind - just start where you are and anything you do is progress.
• It didn't get into a mess overnight, it won't get tidy over night - accept it will take time to get on top of things and you will be happier.

If you are new; then trying to spend 15mins decluttering daily and doing the baby steps is a good way to start. Some of us (mentioning no names) can have scary looking ‘ta-da’ lists but don't let that worry you. Do what you can, anything is better than nothing, and don't judge yourself against others.

If all else fails, a brew + the power of three technique + a bit of support on here can work wonders.

Here's the launchpad for more experienced fledglings Launchpad.

Don’t let it put you off if we appear a bit cliquey, we really aren’t. Some of us have been on here for years – but all lurkers, intermittent returnees, oldies and newcomers very, very welcome.

SingToTheSky put together a 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!

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.

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.

Home Bleugh - Flylady's Home Blessing routine

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

And finally "The Naughty Corner" - this is for Fledglings who perhaps didn't get done what they had planned for the day but are in need of a comfy seat, pile of cushions, tasty snacks, stiff drink and friends to chat to

Good day folks. I’ve not been keeping up with to do or ta da lists - not even filled in yesterday’s habit tracker even though I was aware of doing things from it (not all the last few days though - it’s been tricky since DH’s hospital stuff although he seems a bit better now).

However I have been anti procrastinating today, sent some emails etc. So my brain feels a bit lighter. And I found the reward points I needed which means I have an extra £60 in vouchers so that’s exciting!

PO3.1
❗️Decide what DS is going to do for the afternoon (although I planned the whole week, it quickly became apparent it was unrealistic with aforementioned hospital stuff, so it’s been more of a pick n mix)
❗️Take parcels that just arrived upstairs, unpack and sort properly, dispose of packaging
❗️Take DD1’s drying out so I can move the laundry on, put another LOL in

Bower probably the same I as feel. Thank fuck i have escaped that hell hole! High school was horrific. College was better, Uni ok. I know the reasons why he is struggle and I actually think that with his choice for post 16 he will be a lot happier in that environment. He does have a good group of friends but will have to see how they manage to keep in contact and what new friends he finds along the way. so fucking glad not in high school in this day and age; dear god when did it become all about self set targets and goals? And stop being about the learning?

Thank you for the well wishes for the day. It has not been as horrific as it could have been but am about ready to grab a bath and decontaminate from being outside.

ta da
deal with drama
start new course
pop into work to pick up something I forgot
sort a load of technical problems
Sort a load of registration stuffs - ie ring a load of people and go Heeeeeeeeeelp, make it work, what did i do wrong

to do
medical appointment for teen
throw tea at the people (not literally promise - although it is tempting some days)
a load of washing up
put the rubbish out

I will be back for personals and stuffs, i am not technically here

Hills I was decluttering when I came across DDs old report pre GCSE. It was full of not fulfilling her potential, not asking for help, lethargic they would be surprised to see her now. Geography was very negative. I wouldn’t be surprised if DD has been to more countries and certainly more advantages than that teacher. Her dad was telling her I was reading bits out to him. So we never really know what is in store for them. She didn’t really like the school but I had wanted her to go to another so it doesn’t wash. I hope things work out for him.

Sing £60 how lovely.

Zoo hope you are feeling a bit better today. Watch your shoulder and arm when shopping. Carrying heavy shopping aggravates mine and you have a lot further to carry it. Get the zoolets to help out.

Merry lovely to see you popping in how are you?

Errand Day
Went to garden centre to buy pansies, violas and tulips but they didn’t have the tulips I wanted so I will wait. They have a small supermarket in since April so I wanted. vinegar and allspice for making chutney. Nope. They had organic cider vinegar which was about £3 a bottle and I needed two😳 no allspice and no sea salt. No port though lots of wine. No brandy bar two expensive bottles. DHs mum used to like brandy, the one she liked was £32 a bottle.
One present bought. Hotel chocolate and some wild flower seeds for my friend. The one we went to help in the garden. Had a look at a couple of other ideas. Tower air frier for DS3 maybe. He wanted one before then wasn’t sure. Some food gift boxes like pate and biscuits but I think I remember seeing them cheaper at Lakeland.

Flying po3
🍂washed up breakfast things
🍂 wiped cupboard fronts
🍂wiped all worktops

🍂fed hens
🍂Washing from yesterday on rack
🍂put towel & tea towel wash on

🍁wiped table
🍁measured out ingredients for chutney
🍁 finely chopped half the ingredients

🍂re organised flavours and colours in baking cupboard -whole shelf.
🍁prepare everything to make the chutney tomorrow.
🍂make veggie pasta for tea

Ooooh That makes her a big mug of her favourite brew. You are forgiven as long as you spill the beans...

Hiya everyone, I’ve only just got around to posting. Busy day today. I didn’t know Thursdays were errand day but I’m glad it is as my fridge was empty, I’m not joking, photo attached. I’ve stocked up now, was able to do it child free as I left Fred at my mum’s. I haven’t done a grocery shop on my own in months!.

mc I’m glad you’re day went well, the beginning of a routine is amazing! Freddie is still poorly, I’m in his room again tonight as he still isn’t settling but he had a nice day with my mum.

glittery he has a lovely day with my mum he was spoiled rotten. That’s so interesting that you’re a family historian! I really enjoy learning about our families history.

Ooh I may be merry is there both a castle and a cathedral on a very steep hill?

Hi Isabelle - my that cupboard is bare a la Mother Hubbard 😁 Making a food list here and checking it twice. Have someone (reputable) coming to quote for a new driveway tomorrow. We have a broken up path and two bushes which are lifting the old pavers. We have to walk across the grass to get to the front door. Needs doing but will be expensive.

Ta da:
🎉Walk in the park with a beastie.
🎉DW rotated
🎉LOLx1
🎉Hoovered downstairs and upstairs (but not the stairs - had baby in a sling and couldn't drag corded vacuum over the stairs whilst hoovering)
🎉 Bathroom blitzed
🎉Bedroom dusted and surfaces cleaned
🎉Found some mould on the wall in the entrance hall place between 2 doors 🤢 sorted that out with a mould spray (which is basically bleach). Tomorrow must change the dehumidifier thingy in there. It's full.
🎉Kitchen surfaces cleaned
🎉Recycling and normal rubbish out into bins outside.

Now I am hoping beastie will go to sleep ok, I need some sleep. But the house is looking better.

I've realised that I am tracking more and more aspects of my life. Feels like I've got an app for everything - calories counting, step counting, baby feeding tracking, baby nappy tracking, baby milestone tracking... I am getting a bit fed up of all this tracking, especially calorie counting (although I've only been doing it for few days 😂).

🍒👋To everyone!

Isabelle - that was what gave it away! I've lived in several places and this is the only one where you talk about "on the way up" to the cathedral

Evening all,

Well, quite a productive day today. Dropped DD at the station, stopped in town on the way back to fetch a parcel from the sorting office, then stopped at the allotment and spent 45 mins shovelling manure (it was very well rotted so no yuckiness). Home again for a quick shower and change then walked back into town to meet a friend for an outdoor coffee - it was so mild I was only wearing a teeshirt and not cold at all (I did take my coat but sat on it as the seats were damp).

Home again, the dreaded PIP assessment had arrived in the post so I bit the bullet and opened it straight away. It was a fair report (you hear some horror stories) and the scoring tallied with my estimates which means he should be eligible, just have to wait for the DWP to make a final decision.

Lunch, hoovering, a bit of crochet and telly watching, a few emails then after dinner DH and I went to Sainsburys to do the double up Nectar points thing, the store was practically empty. Came home with a kettle, some books and quite a lot of wine.

freaky it is very bare isn’t it! Full to the brim now though. Good luck with the quote tomorrow!

I’ve lived here since Fred was born merry and I still haven’t got used to that hill!.

Great going on the housework mc try and be easy on yourself, I know how stressful them newborn days can be!

Thanks glittery he had a lovely day! I’m sorry your day hasn’t been particularly as planned. I was a nightmare when it came to fractions, it caused many arguments between me and my mum.

Very productive day ED!, I’m glad to hear the PIP sounds positive

Lots of things done today in the Hazel household.
🦉 2 LOLs
🦉 DW rotated
🦉 Garage Swept after DH did oil change in it
🦉 Packed my bags for hotel stay
🦉 Workout done
🦉 Shower
🦉 Gym membership cancelled
🦉 Poor dog dropped off at ILs, she is so spoiled so she was very upset she couldn't come with us

We are currently on our way to the hotel, just a couple hours away from where we live. We're looking forward to a night away from home although I'm a little nervous about the changes due to Covid.

Isabelle that fridge really was bare!
That I saw you sneak in, and noticed the new username, I love it! No need to hide in the naughty corner though.
Sorry for no other personals, my hand is starting to cramp up and is hurting a lot.
🍒👋 to everyone.

Well yesterday didn't go to plan...
"D"p took dd2 n I to some shops we haven't been in many months(big sainsbo/m+s) as too far on foot to carry stuff home.all masked,windows of car open.was good to pick up supplies of things we've not had since lockdown 1.
Drop lil zoo at school
He suggested a walk at a country park,which dd2 loves.weayher was beautiful.park was heaving.nevef EVER have we had circle car parks try find a space!dd2 took lots photos walking round the reservoir and ds liked we saw flock Canadian geese flying,herons and the usual swans/ducks
Lunch made,he took some home as he has only been in my house short bursts masked.

My shoulders still dreadful,I tried ED stretch.it didn't feel deep enough but was an excellent start point(so thanks for that)I ended up on my bed on my tummy slowly easing it out to a 90o angle from body and try press shoulder down.lots clicking and grinding as worked thru other exercises but did help a bit

Major issue today has been camhs -dd2 does absolute best she can all of the time,pushing herself to exhaustion and fretting what others will think of her so when I realised she wouldn't be able to manage a zoom call with 10 po there families(parents and child on separate devices,it's CHAOS and she finds very hard best of times,even though we separate into child parent groups for part 2 hr session).I email key worker whom never listens and got snotty response about avoidance won't help and we needattend.she then email me asking if internet ok(last week virgin were in box top road 11am til mid day Friday meaning couldn't do group nor could DS do schoolwork so I rang both explaining and offering apologies
I email her after group ended state dsalso unable do necessary thing last week and she should know how much it matters to dd2 to be seen as hardworking etc.the only response was to an earlier email in which is asked about med side effects etc.she chew me out that shoilve listened to what doc had said.i did."side effects are very mild if at all and only last a free days" no mention SUICIDAL THOUGHTS being significant risk in teens(instructions for meds told us that) or how debilitated she would feel.we can contact gp for another med for anxiety control+a anti histamine that's used to help calm/sleep etc) why wasn't that offered first?I'm LIVID the way she talks to us.truhgerd huge panic in DD that lasted couple hr,then again into the night
Sorry for the ramble.im tired and fed up

Links for today flight plan
Declutter your purse and car day
Todays mission is sweep and mop your kitchen floor

Oh zoo I hope today brings a modicum of respite. What an awful day yesterday. 💐

And as it happens I have a kitchen floor that needs cleaning...the ironing is mostly done though...

Put that wine to good use after all that allotment digging ED 😁

Freaky* I just read that as you were going to iron the kitchen floor
Clearly lack of sleep means I'm not even remotely on the ball...

Tada
*Cats fed
*Wash on
*Harpic lav
*Check D's latest lesson timetable (email)and add to his whiteboard.why he needs attend KS3 English and phse who knows.no lessons pm
*Wash up
*Wake everyone
*Remind DD take meds
*Breakfast
*Wake D's again to eat breakfast
*Get dressed
*Walk lil zoo to school in pouring rain
*Avoid mad dog barking and jump up everyone on way back(owner wasn't try catch it,just shout at damn thing.it wasn't aggressive,just seemed over excited as tail was wagging and wasn't showing its teeth)
*Towels in drier
*More wash on
*Sweep kitchen floor
*Empty kitchen/bathroom.bins
*Poo pick littertrays
*S+s

Expecting SEN support call anytime now,so don't want start anything else
Need to do a major mould patrol today.how do I cope with the levels of excitement my day to day life brings?!

zoo weeps 🤣 and I always read that you've Harpiced the cats, poor buggers.

Wellies good on you for exercise day 5. Went for a walk this morning and have stretched. I'm turning into the tin Man.

I also have a kitchen floor that always needs cleaning, even just after I've done it it still looks like it needs cleaning ☹️ roll on my new kitchen!!
Having said that, I did actually mop the kitchen floor a few days ago so I'm going to focus on other things today (although the cat did leave muddy footprints so will have to wipe them up anyway I suppose )

Zoo hope the support call goes well today

Glittery well done on 5 days of exercise! That's great. I always start the week well but by Thursday/ Friday I've run out of steam. Does carrying ds home on my shoulders count do you think, he's extremely heavy?! 🤔😂

Ta das
Ironed dd outfit for school (non uniform day
School run
Hoovered downstairs
Tidied living room
Put some washing away
Hung washing up
Dishwasher loaded
Wiped sides
Brought cups downstairs
Played with ds and watched Mickey mouse with him 💗 love our Friday mornings together so much

To do
Some decluttering / cleaning in kitchen as haven't done much zone work this week and it needs it tbh
Put the rest of the washing away
Hang another load of washing up
Quick tidy upstairs

I'm feeling very tired today, i woke up two minutes before my alarm this morning and I was convinced it was the middle of the night still, I wasn't happy about getting up!

Zoo i always think you have far too much excitement going on at yours tbh. CAMHS - cant actually make hell stop useless. We probably need to go back and get another round from them but not going to happen on my watch. Speak to your doctor about the other option. Sorry DD is struggling with her meds and their approach so much.

ED i hope that things go ok for you with the pip. Glad that you feel the assessment is fair. That is a major step.

Glitter/Woolly oh that would bug me about the kitchen floor. I mean really? You couldn't sit on the door step and make the much go outside?

Foxes glad you are able to enjoy some time with Ds.

Got an email from school which want a meeting and i was racking my brain trying to figure out what area of the school the name was connected to. So apparently less than 3 weeks til GCSE mocks the SEN department need to discuss the teen. I mean they have only have 4 and a quarter years to figure out that his SN is going to impact his exams. Not like i have been telling them or anything.

I'm so tired. Pointy stick please?!

Since we got back from school run this afternoon I've just sat around , half heartedly online shopping but I keep putting things in baskets and not actually buying anything 🤦‍♀️ dd needs jumpers and I can't even make a decision on that even with her help (because she keeps choosing vv expensive options 😂)

Hills very frustrating about the school 🙄

hills given my much more limited experience with schools,I'm not particularly surprised but very frustrated for you.why would you know anything useful,you're just a parent that's been doing this and managing the quirks forever

SEN support are going to try referral to ED clinic for lil zoo.shes also keen get a TAF together,esp as school and camhs are both not really doing what's been asked of them.was nice to offload and I feel whiney doing it,but lighter afterwards...

Tada
Wipes all doors,knobs and frames
Wiped TV remotes
Wiped keys/bankcards

*3loads wash done,dry and put away
*Walk with dd2 as it brighten up(now thick cloud again)
*Clear and clean dining table
*Wash kitchen floor
*Wash living room floor
*Assemble cheap shoe rack
*Tidy hall
*Fetch lil zoo
*lunch
*Wash up
*Email her and dd2 heads of year for catch up/weekly updates

Dd2 says her friends are texting if have supply teachers to stay home not come in.their form tutors is down,along couple others,all 3 6thform student services staff are down...
School my son used attend now has just 32 of 300 year 11s in- rest self isolating or I'll

It's just not working in secondary schools...