It's July, Fledglings are Flying towards Freedom (hopefully!)

[EverythingDelegated]

Hello and welcome to the July 2021 Fledgling Flylady Thread. Thank you Willow for an excellent pair of June threads. Welcome to one and all, old hands and newbies, lurkers and longtime posters and anyone in between. This thread keeps us vaguely on track with Flylady and is where we post our Ta Das and Yes Ta Das (what we did yesterday 😁), our To Dos and To Didn'ts, and discuss anything that comes to mind (often not housekeeping!).

The beauty of Flylady is that you are never behind, the whole system repeats every month, just jump in wherever. The aim is to gradually get into good habits and regular routines that keep the house ticking over rather than having a huge blitz on it.

To help you with this I'll be posting links to Flyady's Flight Plan and other useful parts of the website, which is updated daily, it's also good to go in and have a browse (some of it is a bit twee though). Do NOT sign up for the emails, you will be inundated.

The system divides the house up into weekly zones, then in each zone there will be timefor decluttering, a small daily task (the Mission) and each day of the week has a theme too (eg Errand Day). You can switch things around to suit your circumstances, there is a weekly Sneak Peek page to help you plan ahead. There are also 31 Babysteps, small daily habits to adopt (eg wearing shoes around the house if you'd rather not). Finally Flylady wants you to make time for you and your family, so weekends are more relaxed.

Jargon
Flylady (and the thread!) has a little bit of her own peculiar jargon it can help to know:
S&S - swish and swipe - a quick go round a bathroom or cloakroom to keep it acceptably fresh
LoL load of laundry. We are not collapsing into hysterical laughter over the state of our washing baskets
Hotspots any areas that tend to collect clutter no matter how often you clear them - mine is definitely the corner of the worksurface by the kitchen door, and the bookshelf at the bottom of the stairs
5 minute room rescue a quick whizz round any room to create a semblance of order
Weekly Home Blessing (often Home Bleugh here) - an hour a week to keep the house acceptable. I think this can only be done in an hour if you only have one bed in the house to change, so take it with a pinch of salt. I spread mine over the week as I cannot get it down to an hour and don't have an hour to give to it either.
Ned and Ted - imaginary friends often draughted in to assist with washing and ironing
BRC Bag, or box, of Random Crap
(D)LMS (Didn't) Lose My Shit - often a necessary acronym around spouses and teens!
Naughty Corner - the thread's imaginary space for rest and recuperation when it all gets too much. Often stocked with soft cushions, blankets, drinks and snacks. May or may not have a free bar, fire place, sunloungers, hot and cold running barmen etc.
Cherry waves 🍒👋 - lovely type for cheery wave that stuck!
All Fed and No One Dead - a good outcome to a busy day.

The beauty of Flylady is that is can be adapted to any household setup - lots of DC or just one, or none; a partner / spouse, or ex, or those going it alone; those working within or outside the home; shiftwork, you name it.

Our motto is No Fledgling Left Behind, so if you are a returner or a lurker, welcome on board, there is always space her for more Fledglings.

Dancing i have a spray called wee away, its actually for pet pee but i use on child pee

Thanks hills i will do that. ( i cud cry- nope pull up girl pants and scrub mattress instead- sob.)

Hills- wow 15hours, you must hv been shattered. i hope the pain killers work.

scrub? dear lord no. wet (as in virtually dripping) cloth, wipe over, leave to dry.

Absolutely and tbh i feel like i could just go back to sleep right now. I can't because i actually tried but yeah. the flare trunk has hit me and hit me hard.

That i love that spray idea. Glad you get a break from the school run for a little bit

Dancing White vinegar works to break it down too. Just don't soak the mattress too much or it won't dry! And then sprinkle with bicarb to remove smell and help to dry it up on the surface. Hoover once it's completely dry.

The get onto IKEA and buy a Gokart mattress protector!

I left DH to do kitchen cleaning this morning, I've not been down yet to see what he achieved. I've spent an hour on Cornish nationalism / identity and rebellion in the 19the century and then had to dash downstairs to help DS3 with some "fun" end of term maths that have caused tears and hysteria. 😖

Willow- oh dear- fun maths doesnt sound fun for your ds. I hope he is ok.

That- i think i need that spray.

Hills- its a memory foam mattress and i didnt realise how wee had come out....the mattress is more wet than before now. I scrubbed it. Then covered it in bicarb soda.

Willow- i forgot to put the 2 mattress protectors back on the mattress when they kept sliding off....🙈🙈🙈😱🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

Morning all!

I’ve found mattress protectors need replacing more often than thought - one of ours didn’t seem as waterproof anymore! Definitely worth getting more if they aren’t fitting right.

I can’t believe it’s 10am already. Not feeling very motivated today, and have been doomscrolling for ages. DH is in therapy on zoom. Cagletini has her nursery party this afternoon. DS has some work to finish up for end of term and DD1 is at school for a half day followed by a picnic with some friends.

There’s a home ed group who’ve been arranging park meets lately and I’ve not made it to any so far (partly due to location, and weather, and the fact DD1 and DH were isolating so I didn’t feel right going out and about for social stuff). But today it’s at the park by my house 🤣 so we will pop along.

po3.1
❗️Book dancing for today
❗️LOL
❗️See what’s happening with friend and if they’re coming to the park meet, or if they’re just coming round for maths

Oh yikes. Thankfully in this heat it shout dry quick!

I have had a quick soak with a new book (finished another 250pg book yesterday) whilst i was waiting for the nice strong prescription pain killers to kick in.

Next up clear the random crap that seems to have accumulated on my bedroom floor. This needs to be completed before lunch time (3pm latest)

This afternoon's job is to deep clean and move the furniture around so that the windows are available for their replacement.

And then return the stuff that has ended up everywhere around the house back to the room.

Ugh the heat 🥵😭 I thought the epic rainfall yesterday might have helped but the relief was short lived. Have been printing home ed and tutoring stuff and I’m sweating buckets 😳

po3.2
❗️Decide and print homework for maths pupil
❗️Cool shower and defrost and make sure DS gets ready to go too
❗️Head to the park and try not to melt

zoo there is no such thing as a cheese sandwich here (cold) if there is cold, un-melted cheese on a sandwich, it is with lunchmeat (like ham or bologne 🤢🤮) and usually mayo and mustard, or some other variation of that (those are good too, don't get me wrong). Over here though, butter on bread in a sandwich is unheard of, let alone uncooked cheese 🤷‍♀️ oh I miss being able to have a regular sandwich 😭

Gotta go, about to head to work
🍒👋 to everyone

Hello everyone. Still reading whilst doing minimal flying as I slowly melt. I'm covered in bruises on my legs and hips from bumping into things. My spatial awareness hits rock bottom when I am tired and I'm definitely tired from lack of sleep. I've also got heat rash on my hands, swollen feet and insect bites all over my arms.

Work has been busy but okay. I feel a little strange with my colleagues atm. Do you ever feel out of step with everyone? I do all the time but at the moment I feel excluded. We've had a few new starters and they've gelled really well with the rest of the team and with each other, which is great because we're a very small team and we need to get on. I only work part time so I'm missing out on a lot on what's happening work wise but I do feel there's a subtle undercurrent of something there of excluding me. Small things that add up. It sounds petty if I write it out but I am very sensitive to people's feelings and the general atmosphere. It's making me feel uncomfortable but I've reacted by taking a step back. I've also been very helpful and giving advice and back up but I don't seem to get much support back so I've stopped being so helpful because I I felt I was being taken for granted. Maybe that's the link?

Anyway, I'm rambling and being a bit negative. I apologise.

One more negative thing but a rite of passage: teenage DS told me he hated me. First time. Not sure if I should celebrate or commiserate. I asked him to do a job, which he was happily doing and then he hurt himself accidentally and then proceeded to hit the offending object and then really hurt himself and then blamed me. I told him that I could see he was in pain and angry but I was hurt that he chose to say those words. DS being DS was then beside himself and very sorry and it took ages to calm him down. Fun and games. He's been very clingy since this occurred last night.

Yup- i understand how you feel as had a similar situation at work many moons ago. Sorry to hear your ds said that to you, it must have hurt -- sometimes they dont think how much words hurt.
Sending you a big hug!

yupmy D's would be clingy like that.he berates himself if he talk To me incurt tones,but still currently polite.the girls both vile sometimes.parenting teens requires skin of a rhino...

Yup 💐

Had a lovely time at the park, felt like a proper “old times” home ed social meet. DS made some new friends too.

It really doesn’t feel like the last day of term as DD1 was off school until today. But DS got all his work done earlier and so we really are on summer holidays now. Yay! I have a LOT of prep to do for the next term though.

I need to get on with my next assignments, all three have been marked at last and I passed them all yay.

That is good news Sing well done

today is a struggle.

ta da
Move some stuff
make a plan
read some book
fry up for lunch
check on the garden
float about the internet
clear the random crap that is on my bedroom floor
empty the 2nd book case
move various bits of furniture out of the room
drink more water than my body quite knows what to do with
hoover my room
wash the floor
move the big pieces of furniture about
return the smaller pieces to the room
sort the recycling, gardening stuffs and black rubbish for going out
Water the garden
bring in the laundry
hang out the new batch

The house looks worse then when i started 5 days ago and it needs to look better by tomo night AND i have to run errands tomo

Well done everyone. I'm reading and intending to start flying as soon as I don't feel so knackered and hot. Did manage to go to the gym today.

Realised I've actually got a bit of end of year blues going on. Maybe also that I've been running on adrenaline and stuff and now come to halt with the holidays and feel really flat. Hopefully pick up soon.

Honey 💐

Bit of a shit mood here. The others are downstairs and I’ve just gone to bed as they’re annoying 🤣

Sing- hope going earlier to bed helped. I could have quite happily stayed in mine if i had a chance.

Here is been one of those dsys...🤯 (yesterday)

Dh pissy as kids watching cbeebies and not playing. We had words over txt...i told him he is acting odd.

I dragged double mattress downstairs to sitting room to dry in the full sun.
Feed kids- desparately low on shopping.
Decluttered, diffused sqabbles.
Dragged very heavy mattress upstairs. Ds who is 6 used his super strength to help get it upstairs. So grateful to him as he saved me from falling down the stairs.
I was so out of breath, it took 3 hours of me lying down to recover.

7pm took kids with me shopping for food.
Took them to my dads for picnic dinner.
I went for a bike ride.
Came back late 10pm ds had been crying all 2hours i was out. Dont know why my dad didnt ring me - i would be home in 20mins!
At my dads house (he has OCD) my dd projectiled from one end of utility room to the other and in wc. 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️
Sister showered my dd. Took me an hour to wipe and disinfect it all clean. Feel like screaming at universe....whyyyyyy!
Drove home at midnight and told dc they were absolute superstars for looking after each other and being brave for not crying too much while i tried to clear up ground Zero.
🤦‍♀️
I have had a short nap and now on alert if dd feels unwell (bowl is on standy.) Keeping thinking...cant have this mattress have more 'events' happening to it. 🤦‍♀️

Tadas
Reorganised ds clothes into canvas boxes.

Dd awake and requesting juice in her water bottle.

🍒👋everyone! Hoping for abit more sleep.

Asking the universe for a 'normal' day tomo.

Oh dancing that sounds like a rough day for everybody! I bet the heat is majorly to blame.

It was a full day of work again today (Thursday) with the only flying I did was get my clothes out ready for tomorrow and cleaned up kitchen/ rotated DW. Watched another movie tonight with DS.

I did forget to add my YesTaDas though:
🧚‍♀️ Worked full day (I work 10hr shifts so I can have Tuesdays off during the week)
🧚‍♀️ S&S both bathrooms
🧚‍♀️ Rotated DW

Another full day of work tomorrow, best be off to sleep or I'll be dragging tomorrow.
I hope everyone is staying cool

Dancing that sounds like an awful day, hope today is better and you got some sleep.

@Mc3209 you've not been on for a bit - hope McTiny is ok in the heat and your grandmother is on the mend.

Hazel I can't imagine not being able to have a cold cheese sandwich. I would never expect that to be such a difference between the UK and the US.

Hills I hope you get the house stuff you need to do, done today.

Sing did the bad mood lift? Sometimes people are just so damn peopley. DS3 has been talking at me about AD/DC (rock band, not electrical current) since 6.45am 😭.

🍒👋 to everyone else struggling with the heat. It is a delightful 14 degrees here this morning and forecast to not get above 24 degrees at all 🥳🎉. This is the kind of summer I can live with!

Today is the last day of term for DS3 and Then. We. Are. Done. I am so pleased, this last fortnight has been like pulling teeth. DD has been asked to work an extra shift 11-3 and all efforts today are focussed on making things ready for DS1 and partner to arrive tomorrow. I am so excited but also scared in case we frighten her off. DS1 is very much a product of this family and I fear she may find boyfriend to the power of 6 a bit overwhelming!

Right. Must get going.

Morning all, quick link dump, we are packing to come home.

Flight Plan is here. The mission is to remake your bed, do it really carefully, tuck in neatly, plump pillows, Febreze the mattress (apologies if this is all a bit much with the week you've had Dancing). I don't like Febreze myself but it si good to vacuum the mattress once in a while and I sometimes steam clean them too.

Not meant to get over 24C here either.

Slept like shit, so feel like shit this morning. I have errands to run this morning.
But there are much more that needs to be done and I just have no wish or energy. So whilst I am drinking my coffee and considering what clothes would be deemed as socially accessible, i suspect a list would be a good plan.

to do
wash 2 duvets
wash some pillows
wash a crap ton of bedding - someone it was clean but never got put away so it is full of dust
bring in the milk
hoover and steam clean my mattress
return the sewing table to my room
flip unit right side up so can put the plastic drawers away into it
put some hooks up.
remake my bed
figure out what furniture will need to be moved when they install the windows
come to terms with losing my blind and consider my curtain options. - replacing the thermal lining with black out lining etc (yes I have blind, screen and curtains currently)
make sure i have retrieved all the things I temporary put in other people's rooms
bring the bins in.
run the errands - quick top up food shop and to sort a new phone because yay technology?
ironing
unload, then reload and run dw
wash some pots
draw up a count down calendar so that I can mark off days until room can return to normal. I HATE the current layout.
pickup some batting so that i can sort the bug cover out
sort 5 boxes of random paperwork

At the moment i am seriously consider re arranging furniture back for 2 months because i hate this layout so much. It is not an easy move, and having to do it thrice is not great. but i need my bedroom to feel comfortable and not invoke feelings of hate.

I suppose, judging by that list, i should get washed up and going...

Morning all. DH has taken DD1 for blood tests (still couldn’t get an appt locally so it’s a long journey), I had over 9 hours sleep 😱 so feel a bit more human today. Have put a towel/bedding wash on.

Sorry about the awful day dancing 💐

po3.1
❗️Rotate DW
❗️Start filling in diary for summer holiday stuff
❗️Finish chapter of kindle book