Fledglings are Marching into March (and tentatively inching closer to freedom): The March Flylady Thread

[StillUpholding]

Welcome fledglings old and new, to March’s Flylady thread!

For any newbies who have stumbled across us, we are following Flylady’s housework system which is based around routines and short bursts of activity to try to keep our houses and lives in order. (Sometimes we follow it more loosely than others). Feel free to join us, the more the merrier! We post our ‘ta da’ lists for motivation (no matter how long or short), and enjoy some random chatter along the way.

The link to Flylady’s ‘flying lessons’ is here . Have a read, and if you have any questions, just ask. You can sign up for emails but be warned there are lots so most of us rapidly unsubscribed.

I’ll be posting links daily to keep us all on track. Jump in wherever you are, remember you are never behind.

This is a long running thread and we’ve developed some lingo along the way:
LOL = load of laundry
S&S = swish and swipe, a quick daily clean of the toilet and sink
PO3 = power of 3. When motivation is on the low side or you’re overwhelmed just pick 3 things at a time and do them
DNLMS = did not lose my shit
Ned = our mythical mate who helps with the laundry (hasn’t paid a visit to me for a while)
Pointy stick —-> = for when a fledgling needs a motivational prod (we can be gentle if required)
The naughty corner = a relaxing haven where we hang out when motivation is low, we are on strike, or we need a rest and some TLC

I’ve just realised that it’ll be around a year since our lovely SC came up with the idea of the Keep Calm Corner (KCC) to keep us going in these strange times. I’ll try and keep the tradition going with little snippets of happy stories, memes, questions and distractions. Any contributions welcome as we enter what could be the final stretch to some sort of normality.

Thanks to ED for being a lovely thread leader for February and keeping us (mostly) on the straight and narrow, despite being very busy herself.

Right, quiet at the back there, have we got everyone? Let’s head into March...

Hope you feel better tomorrow Sing sounds a bit like I had.

Dancing you are not alone re lunch bags/ boxes. We had a few Science experiments. Routine was supposed to be in the door, shoes off ( into basket we had an Ikea double shoe rack but eventually older boys shoes were so large theirs fell off. DS1 10; DS2 12)
Then lunch boxes emptied and in the sink. If we were at some after school thing then it sometimes didn’t happen. I usually made them as they were having breakfast so that was when the realisation occurred. I had a spare box/ bag so sometimes hunted that out. I only had two three at a time as they didn’t take it to Secondary...not cool. So DS1&2 at Scottish school. DS1&2nd.DS2 &3 and baby bag for DD then later Ds1&2 at Secondary and Ds3&DD at Primary. Never had all of them at the same school due to age gaps.

I am not surprised some of you are nervous about school. We are in our own bubble at home and although it isn’t easy it is often more manageable. Maybe make Friday a let down day. Snacks, treats, baths/ showers and PJs early teenagers face packs, foot soaks and rubs, littlest favourite books. Favourite film.Favourite game. Unwind.

Spoke to my GP today. It was lovely to hear his voice and he gave me some time to ask as then to tell him about how I was. He had guessed I had resigned but it also gave me time to thank him for all his support and how much that meant to me.
So he says go for Gov. offer and that I shouldn’t have any reaction other than sore arm. So that’s good. I may take a day or two before I feel confident to ring. I will have to travel an hour to get to nearest.

MC bless you sorry that has happened. I had it with one of mine think it was DS3 it can make you feel quite 🤢 and painful. I used to stand in hot shower as the warm water running over boobs used to start it running. Cabbage leaves in bra used to be a thing. The coolness. Calendula cream for nipples if painful advice from commune mums.

Double would be interested in Breast feeding info like changes in advice. There is a space for a volunteer for breast feeding at our local hospital I was quite surprised to see that request. I trained as an NNEB so as well as feeding four I had to study it too. I was actually pregnant at the time. I was wondering how long it would take to get up to speed as I could work towards it and then when safe to do so I could apply.

I am looking for some voluntary work. Ideas so far animal refuge working with horses and donkeys. Young Carers group, this was planned for retirement but not sure if I am going to go ahead with it. Adults with learning difficulties at an open house which has gardening, cooking, art activities and they run a cafe. Beautiful spot in the country. The person in charge knows me. Riding for the Disabled I did two years in Scotland and a term here. Guide dogs if they extend services here. I have spoken to them about it. It may be co ordinating fundraising or more. St. Vincent de Paul’s at church. These are all ideas. I am thinking two on a weekly basis and maybe a third on an ad hoc basis like a cake stall.

I am trying to look forward so rushing into anything. Any ideas bearing in mind this is a rural county which doesn’t have the facilities of some.

Kitchen.
Went shopping yesterday. Said to DH when wiping down groceries ( oh how I hate that on big shop) “ Damn we should have cleaned fridge out.” So he decided to do it while I wiped shopping. Started being a bit hmm fed up/ clumsy/ fast grabbing not sure which but... a yell, a kerfuffle, noise and smash. He took a shelf out without removing double bottles layered told him NOT to do that before but as we know they know best/ don’t listen/ don’t take note so large bottle of NZ white wine fell and another cheaper one. DH grabbed the second one and saved it. So after cleaning up 🧹 the mess he had to 🧽 the floor.
So the fridge is done, the floor washed and I put the shopping away.
Wiped cupboards today. I gave Kitchen a good tidy on Sunday as neighbour who manages a cleaning company or a group of cleaners came around over a planning matter and was maybe coming back. Got me into action sometimes we just need the motivation.🤣 It was quite good but it was gleaming by the time I finished. DH doesn’t have the knack to finish off. Hot spot on table also cleared.😁
Cleaned sitting room today. Vacuumed, dusted re arranged a bit. Didn’t do hot spots small area on small table but needs sorting. I was interrupted by phone call.

Hens seem happy with greater area but DH had to put some wood on as wind blowing up underneath. May have to be a plan B

Right off to bed.

red given your skill set is say all of the options for volunteering would be wonderful match.my only caveat would be chose the sanctuary as one purely as animals need less mentally so you aren't overdoing the mental load of helping others❤️
Hope eat out to help out 🤣

Dd2 declared not safe share lil zoo now back at school and declared needed help moving all stuff under D's bed so could put her mattress in there.i needed that at 7pm
Shop all put away,few important bits couldn't get,so I need grab them today.
Lil zoo doing lessons 1+2 so will need drop her,grab shop the go get her as she isn't confident crossing the fields by herself.dd2 hasn't returned to school yet,that would erased the load some of the time as she does Flexi hours but as currently doesn't leave house by herself not an option.going to be a long,busy day as have IASS meeting pm(zoom) with update on D's EHCP

Morning....
I need to run downstairs and clean out the lunch bags and make their lunch and breakfast.

(Glad its not just me Red.)😊

I will be back later....

Morning all!

Dancing if my DC needed packed lunches we would definitely find ourselves in the same situation :o

Woke up before 7. Cagletini had a bad night with tummy ache (just counting my blessings that she didn’t throw up) so was in with us from half 10. Need a hot bath shortly.

Also best charge my phone as I have a charity calling me around 10 to interview for a testimonial (they were the ones who gave the Caglets some support sessions last year).

This is why i prefer the dc to have school dinners! I make one packed lunch a week as DD will not eat the school food on that day!

Rainy today. Cba getting wet. ☔

Red i read a thread on here a while back which made me think about volunteering, it was about lack of care on post natal wards due to understaffing. I would like to do something like that one day.

Red I'm guessing that they would want you to hold some sort of peer support training certificate? I looked into it a couple of years ago and there isn't the funding in my area so you have to self fund the training so I didn't do it. If you email the breastfeeding support network they will be able to tell you if they offer funding for training in your area. My stepdads mam used to volunteer in the hospital with the WVS. Not sure what she did but might be another thing to look at?

I always make packed lunches the night before because there's no way I'd get it done on a morning and on mornings I haven't I've just had to tell them to get a school dinner and I'll pay for it when I pick them up 🙈 £2.50 a day for dinners is way more then I spend making them a pack up so that's why mine don't have them regularly except DS3 because he's KS1 so gets them for free.

Seem to be chasing my tail this morning made the DC bacon and eggs and the big two are dressed but I'm really running late so must get on with especially since I have a mock exam this morning 😬

I’m caught up! But have promptly forgotten everything I wanted to say.

Hope you are feeling less anxious about the school run Dancing. You may well see that Dad again at some point in the future but I’d be absolutely amazed if he said anything to you, and the once the first time is over it’ll be fine

Hope Cagletini feels better today (and you continue to escape any sick)

One of my friend is a BFing peer supporter Red. Her course was funded a few years ago but it probably does vary widely (I know Double isn’t far from me). It was through a local BFing support group. You have so much to offer you’ll be an asset wherever you choose to volunteer!

Sorry schools returns have caused problems in your house Zoo. Hope all returnees are settling back into the routine. How’s things in the Tidy house? Hope LOs are ok as I know you weren’t looking forward to the return.

I’m feeling a bit under the weather this morning. Sore tummy and a bit sick, so I’m going to go easy on myself with aims for the day. I want some fresh air, get Mother’s Day gifts sorted, make a couple of phonecalls I’ve procrastinated over and do 15 mins in the kitchen.

So far I’ve made scrambled eggs, taken some salmon out of the freezer for tea, emptied the DW and put a LOL on. I’m having half an hour before I get us both ready. Anyone seen the pointy stick?

link for anyone that wants it. I don’t

I did BF peer support training when DS was a baby, the BF support club I had been to during the pregnancy (because I’d had such an awful time feeding DD1 and there was no support in my home town) offered a course and I leaped at the chance. Actually met someone there who eventually became one of my besties :o it was run by the local professional (I think she had been a midwife and health visitor) but the content was La Leche League. One of the others who had done the course previously (and so was helping run the club when I joined) is actually now a paid breastfeeding counsellor at the maternity unit - I made sure to see her when Cagletini was born :) she was absolutely made for that role.

It was a really rewarding thing and at the time as I’d barely had a “proper job” before having DD1 at 20 it was my first experience of something “for me” and I loved welcoming new mums, mopping up tears and supporting them. I also did one of the antenatal drop in sessions (like a job fair but for pregnancy/feeding etc) which was great. Unfortunately the group lost funding and then life was chaos when DH first got his back injury etc so I fell away from all that. I did go to another drop in when Cagletini arrived, and again 2 years later when I was at my wits end over her sleep but it was two professionals - who were absolutely brilliant I might add - and it didn’t look like training/volunteering was available anymore. Although I’m not sure I’d want to go back to that myself now, I kind of feel like my heart is telling me to volunteer in a more MH/autism type field IYSWIM.

Sorry I went awol and then the thread disappeared but I've found you!
We are getting back into a routine here.
I always have that issue with lunch boxes by the way! Dd has school dinners because she is in year 2 and gets it free, but ds has packed lunch on his nursery days. Today he told me I don't give him enough and everyone else has more but he brings half a sandwich back home usually so what he means is I don't give him enough treat stuff 😂

Sorry haven't managed to read through everything but hope you feel better soon still

My day off today , minimal ta da so far...
Dishwasher loaded
Cleaned up spilt coffee (whoops)
Made ds packed lunch
School run
Picked up contact lenses
Popped to shop
Dropped off bag of clothes to a friend of a friend

Teen hasn't eaten lunch for most of his high school carer. He just raids the cupboards when he gets home. He is like me and absolutely hates sandwiches but allergies means he can't eat school dinners. Ergo no lunch box here, just extra pots/pans/dishes.

today is not going to plan.

Ta das
Had a call from nursery, ds had a fall and banged his nose, could I come and get him as it was swelling up, walked up to nursery, ds seemed fine and decided he wanted to stay, nose already looked better 🤦‍♀️🤔🤷‍♀️😂
Cleaned coffee machine, microwave, toaster and kettle
Hoovered into corners of kitchen
Decluttered 1x kitchen cupboard
S&s bathroom
Quick tidy
1xLOL
Took recycling out
Emptied food waste bin
Watched MasterChef!
Checked we have stamps for mother's Day cards
Refilled toilet cleaner
Binned toilet brush because it broke
Checked recipe for tonight's dinner (chicken korma, it's a Tesco recipe I've used before, it's delicious and I swap half the chicken for roasted butternut squash 😋)

Need to collect the dc in a minute, I feel I have spent far too much time today walking around in the wind and the rain! 🌧️

Sorry your day isn't going to plan hills hope it improves

Sorry you're not having a good day hills.

Finally sorted myself out this morning and got the DC out on time (just)

Got home
LOL
Quick tidy round and sweep floors
Dishes
Ironing
Did exam
Had lunch
Did some reading for uni
Got sick of reading so cleaned kettle, toaster & microwave
Another LOL
Got snack ready for after school for DC

Now on school run and remembered to call into school office for nursery application

up hope you feel better
Foxes glad lil fix us ok,shame you trundled over there for nothing!
Sing did you train at a children's centre?that's what I did,with someone from la leche league,then we ran a group on Thursday afternoons,right after school.i adored be part of that group and we saw some mum's thru couple of babiesthen group ended as children's centres changed.was very sad when it came to an end,and think of some of our mum's sometimes
Hills sorry days crumby

Been chasing my tail here
Today i drop lil zoo
Collect D's from house
Head shops for bits dd1 couldn't get
Pop pet shop for birthday goodies for cossie and nelly(4today)they both getting a trifle rotund,so mix new toys to try and get lazy little sucker's moving as indoor kitties!
Wipe shop
Go loo
Go pick up lil zoo
Stand around waiting in freezing rain best part half hour
Walk back,by which time was 1145 and I hadn't stopped!
Supervise D's thru final lesson on morning as he's hating the change,computer died 10 mins in,I confess I didn't make him plug in mains and continue as was like watching teeth be pulled without anesthesia and was way below his capability...
Lunch
Call IASS- chasing up EHCP which taking FOREVER(process started well over a year ago) citing covid,long term staff illnesses and changes of staff.thats not D's fault,IASS go chase up the amended plan we were promised near month ago
Then I fell asleep.had over an hour,and still struggling with being awake.the pace clearly is hard now lil zoo back at school.i did 41/2 hrs walking yesterday,not incl moving indoors cleaning etc,same again today.im out of practise and need more sleep at nightime!!
To do
S+s
Help dd2 sort the space given for her stuff under D's bed,and the carnage of stacked stuff from D's that was under there
I've not had time do anything for myself today,nor yesterday

Its been 1 hour trying to get kids asleep.

Dont know if i can take much more...its so boring.....argh.......

I liked all the truthful lunchbox stuff. Am going to try get ds to hv more sch dinners.

Dd hates red things, beans, sauce of any colour. Packed lunches r the only way.

Love reading about the bf support groups as i was going to train ...but life got in way...then...surestart centres started to close. Such a shame.

Typing with one thumb...dd is lying on my other arm...telling me she is asleep.....arghhhhh!

Oh no dancing hope they’ve dropped off by now?!

Cagletini is definitely getting the hang of the bedtime routine now. It’s funny how I used to manage a decent one when the other two were little. Two of them at once! Bath stories turn lights off and they actually both went to sleep. Hard to believe that ever worked 😂 then DD1 started getting anxious at night, then meltdowns, and it all went to shit 😂 but anyway we are finally clawing it back now. I stayed in my bed once I’d moved Cagletini, and finished watching yesterday’s Unforgotten.

I’ve got into Unforgotten Sing, I’ve watched a few episodes of series 2 tonight.

Hope the DC have given in and gone to sleep Dancing.

How did the flower paint go Waders.

Hope DS’s nose is ok Foxes. Do you have a link for that recipe? We tend to make quite spicy curries but I think DD would enjoy a korma.

Hope the day improved Hills.

Busy day for you Zoo, I’m crossing my fingers you manage to catch a well earned break tomorrow.

I continued to feel a bit dodgy off and on during the day but a couple of paracetamol and plenty of water pulled me round this afternoon and I’m now feeling right as rain. But light on the ta das but I at least managed some:

😴 walk with DD
😴 got her to write her name in the Mother’s Day cards we made last week
😴 made 1 out of 2 of the phonecalls ive been avoiding
😴 swept kitchen floor
😴 made tea
😴 did some kids exercise videos on YouTube. I definitely found them tougher than DD
😴 did a 5 minute tidy upstairs
😴 face mask and eyebrows plucked

Tomorrow’s mission is cleaning big appliances. The fridge was done recently. The oven however...

still realfood.tesco.com/recipes/chicken-korma-curry.html

Hiya it’s been raining all day here and is really windy now. We jumped in some puddles and then had an indoor picnic but I am running out on ideas to entertain ourselves!.

zoo he’s definitely taught me a lot of patience😂 I hope you manage to find a good routine so you can get some more rest!

mc I definitely will send everything in emails from now on, just so I have proof I didn’t everything I could. He’s just enjoying his freedom but has forgotten that he’s a father🙄

Is behind her eyes any good sing I was thinking of watching it but I might get scared watching it on my own😂. I hope Cagletini is feeling better now! 💐

red I went to a young Carers group as a child and the people there were lovely❤️

still I hope that you’re feeling better now!💐

Sorry your day isn’t going to plan hills I hope that it got better!

foxes I’m glad to hear your little boy is okay!

I hope your DC have managed to get to sleep now dancing!

I’ve completed my first ta da list! It’s quite short because I want to ease myself in as I get burnt out very quickly😂

🐡Made beds
🐡Made breakfast
🐡Got DD and I dressed
🐡S&S
🐡Cleared Kitchen hotspots
🐡Made lunch and dinner
🐡Washed up

Dd finally went sleep and i fell asleep too so hence i am awake now.

Alohea- a indoor picnic sounds lovely!

Sing- weldone for getting in a routine with your dd.

-maybe i should try switching the light off a mebbe dd might fall asleep faster.

Red- those ideas for volunteering sound wonderful. I am really glad to hear you chatted to your Gp. They see this regularly with people that worked in schools. My Gp were very helpful.

Foxes- hope your ds nose is ok too.

Up- glad you are feeling abit better.

Waders- is it a STEM course you are following?

Double- did you say you had a online test? Goodluck if you did.

Zoo- thats a dizzying amount of stuff to do!

Tadas-
⛰Cleared 1/3of junk off dining room floor.
⛰ finally cleared junk off dining table so my tiny dd doesnt have to eye up a pile of junk while she eats her breakfast- incase it decides to topple onto her 🤦‍♀️
⛰wipe dining table
⛰got kids to help empty thier lunch boxes
⛰got them to help make sandwiches and pack all lunch things
⛰ds did a impression of a octopus out of water- because I told him to do above.
⛰got kids to help put oven food on and open a can of beans ( trying to stop them watching so much tv.!)
⛰ate dinner- still did not let them watch tv.
⛰6.45pm upstairs to prep for bedtime
⛰read two storybooks, they loved it. I must do this more often.

🍒👋to That, hazel, merry, tidy. Sc, chic and anyone else i have forgotton.

Octopus out of water 😂 love it

Sorry about the early start. Re lights DH installed a dimmer switch in our room. Once she’s ready for bed I put it on the lowest for stories, then turn that off and put my salt lamp on.

Cagletini was awake at 6. Gah. I know it’s not that bad really but I didn’t sleep well (she was up again - even with a proper nappy she now gets really upset if it’s wet at night) and she’s in a very cheeky mood already so I’m grumpy 😂 this is where I wish we had a tv in our room so I could stick something on for her 😂

She’s also a little bit sniffly. Nothing covidy so will still be going to nursery.

Morning ladies
DS woke me at 4 panicking had a numb hand(daft dolt was laying on it) and the wind howling and knocking bins down all night has ensured minimum sleep.bugger
Oh well I have a pack of crumpets,so that's first order of the day once fedn watered my furry overlords!

Wow zoo you had a busy day yesterday.

I had a mare getting the DC to bed last night as well dancing mine were still awake at 10.30! Mine is completely my own fault though because I've been really relaxed about bedtime when they were off school so now I'm imposing real bedtimes again there's resistance. I did have an exam yesterday it was only a mock. Oddly the multiple choice questions that I thought would be the easiest were the ones I struggled with most. I only need 40% to pass so I think I'll pass but I will clearly have a lot to revise for the real one.

I'd noticed that oven and fridge cleaning were on this weeks missions sing my plan is to save them for Sunday because I can't possibly be expected to do them on Mother's Day so DH will have to.

Sing my little one also hates being wet at night too. He will often shout us up to tell us he's wet. Doesn't help that I'm using rubbish Lidl nappies at the minute because I was too lazy to go to a shop that sells pampers.

I made ham sandwiches for the kids breakfast when I was making packed lunches yesterday in the hope that it will save me getting into the mad rush I had yesterday morning. I'm going to wake the DC up a bit earlier too. First though I'm giving myself 5 mins peace with my coffee.

Hope everyone has a good day.

I thought I was doing really well with my personals there and realised I tagged sing instead of up in one of them 🙈