May the Fledglings Fly with you

[EspeciallyDistracted]

Hello everyone, and welcome to the May Flylady thread! I have shamelessly copied the OP from the April thread, thank you Sing

We welcome newbies and returnees - if you are curious about the system feel free to ask questions or lurk! We do follow it, erm, loosely to say the least. So there is a lot of chat about random life stuff as well as housework, decluttering and organising.

A key element of flylady is not being a perfectionist!
I don’t think the regulars would mind me saying that most of us here are not naturals at housekeeping etc, so please don’t feel we are some intimidating group who demand perfectly shined sinks. We are human. We fall off the wagon. We commiserate and help each other climb back on, and we stock the virtual naughty corner with snacks and blankets for the days when adulting is just too hard.

So, the system:
🔹Some baby steps which are designed to help you build up a routine.
🔹Daily missions to help with sprucing up particular areas in the zones, for example the first zone of the month is the entry/porch and dining room if you have one.
🔹Try and do 15 minutes decluttering a day. It didn’t get cluttered in a week so it will take a lot longer to clear it!
🔹Daily focuses to help shape the week.
🔹Here on the thread many of us post to do lists, but also “ta da” lists of things we’ve achieved that day.
🔹We also recommend the Power of Three technique - if you’re overwhelmed with too much to do, just pick three things and don’t think about the rest.

Anyway, I will post some links each day (hopefully) but whether you follow the system or not - many of us just take the bits we like or build our own flylady style system to suit our own lives - do join in if you want a place to chat about keeping a house and family running!

Well, inspired by Courante, I got off my bottom and did the Porch Zone. 3 hours of general gardening later, the front of the house looks spiffy (if you don't inspect the paintwork too closely...) and I'm in a heap. Well, I say that, I'm in a bath, washing off the itches.

Ditzy a name change is a good start!

Duet I agree with Ditzy - noise cancelling headphones may be what your DP needs to use to study in "silence".

Right, still have dinner to cook, after dinner and evening routines to do... But first, 40 mins with my book I think.

Ha, that's a much friendlier response than the last lot used to give. It was a Wordpress blog (remember) and the blogger used to change any post claiming First to "Boobies!" Or was that a tale told of a different blog? Can't quite remember. Anyway the Blue-Footed Booby became our mascot.

YesTaDa
annual meeting - went fine though it was discovered that owing to copy-paste errors I had missed two people off the list of PCC members, including the curate
found H's refereeing trousers (had a sudden thought and looked behind the fold-up bed in the wardrobe cupboard. They had fallen off)
sewed up a hole in a sweatshirt
washed up from dinner (duck legs and asparagus)

TaDa
did an exercise session even though the class was not on today
did the ironing, including karate outfits
burnt the first lot of chickpeas (pressure cooker loses ridiculous amounts of water, weight has never sat properly)
made a delicious chickpea and cauliflower curry
forced to the conclusion that curry is better without the garam masala we've been buying (pity I didn't decide that before buying the next bag...)
watched the Nick Knowles programme (ta Sing, hadn't realised series 2 had started)
no karate after all because instructor ended up going somewhere

ToDo
get turkey pieces out of freezer
prep oats

ToMorrow
interim shop
finish book (The Colour of Heaven) and write review for thread
make more baklava balls (need to find something delicious that H doesn't like...)
some flying

@GreenWillowAndCatkins There's a DP bashing shovel? Fantastic!

I did the living room too in the end. Somehow we ended up buying a jet wash too and had to cut the hedge to find the tap. Productive day I think!

For the record, he is lovely. Just a scumbag. My scumbag 😂

@Courante is he watching anything good? Did the package come?

@DitzyBluebells he was meant to go to the library last week but then he decided not to as it's a very kid friendly library and probably worse than the house. Fair enough I think. This week we went shopping instead so I didn't mind. Today he didn't seem to mind the destruction so all good. It's a good username. Did you get anything else done or is it a tomorrow job?

He studies online so there are videos to listen to. Unfortunately we are apparently louder.

I'll read the rest of the thread later. Currently playing taxi for my dad from Heathrow to the midland and back down to lower than the midlands. 😬🤪😴

Merry the wordpress blog 🤣 i remember them.

I too watched the Nick Knowles Big House Clearout series 2 and I loved it. He is so kind and caring towards the family. I also love the designer he works with - he so thoughtful with his lovely house make over. I remember him from changing rooms in the 90s and he had fab designs then too. I watched it to give me imspiration to declutter my home.

Blue- awww thank you x

Sing- awww thanks, you sound amazing too since you started your job! Your meal plan sounds a fab idea!

Tadas-
🏡colum addition h/w with ds done. My mental capacity was shaken. 😑
🏡dd aged 5 did not want to listen to mummy - that mummy does 'know' what a fucking timeline is ! 🤯
🏡in my endevour to be the worlds most organised/happy/educational mummy 🤮- the rest of the decluttering did not happen. (Nope I cant have it all.)
🏡spent a 1 hour mapping out all the kids after school clubs (seriously wanted to hit dh with the spade if he rolled his eyes or sighed one more time because I asked him to book football club for the kids.)

🏡dh took kids to park and i cycled to the park- i havent cycled since before Christmas. (Trying to make this my healthy routine.)

Kids are in bed asleep and I am going to miss them so much while they are at school- dont want them to go. Wish they had another day at home with me. I wish i sat down and played lego or something with them. Never mind, tomorrow is another day.

Please can I join??
I haven't tried flylady before, I've done (very loosely) Tomm and was getting on well with that but then I had a baby...
My gorgeous little girl is 6m now and still doesn't really know much about sleeping at night or napping independently in the day. As a result I do a mad dash around the house between 8-10 at night where I attempt to do laundry, washing up etc.
Dusting the mantel piece seems like a hazy memory to me now but I'm determined to get back on the wagon now and get the house to a slightly less embarrassing state without paying someone else to do it for me. Any tips welcome! I can just about hoover with DD in a carrier.
Please explain tadas etc as I am a completely clueless about how this works 🙏

Vio of course you can join us. Ta-da's is just your list of what you've achieved, it helps on those days where you think you've done nothing but when you write it down you can see that's not true. I started FlyLady 3 months ago and I would say the website felt quite daunting at first, I'm still at the stage of exploring it. I haven't signed up for the FlyLady emails either. But don't worry because the wonderful thread leaders here post links every day that tells you what to do. You can adapt the FlyLady system to suit you. I started with the weekly home blessings (cleaning!), built a morning and evening routine, then tried to get to grips with the baby steps and the basic weekly plan. But you can start wherever suits you, the main thing is to do something.

😍 Merry's blue footed bird.

Duet thanks, I did get some things done eventually. Going to be late to bed though, again. But at least I'm prepped for tomorrow.

😂 at the queue for the shovel!

Ta-da's:

🌿 Morning routine (halfway through the afternoon 🤦 but still..)
🌿 Went to the local shop.
🌿 Took some clothes to the clothes bank.
🌿 Home blessings done.
🌿 Weekly plan done.
🌿 Gathered up all the recycling scattered about and put that out.
🌿 Went to the park this evening.

Today's FlyLady website reading session uncovered a rather sweet story. How to make over a house in less than a week. It's called "Worried and in crisis! Help!" if anyone wants to seek it out.

Welcome vio! 💐

Merry 😁 I love blue footed boobies, they are one of my favourite birds!!!

TBH my relaxing day wasn’t all that relaxing. Cagletini has been in a horrible mood all day, and took ages to sleep.

It’s also sinking in that DD1 is starting at her new school tomorrow. 😬😩

Time to help her finish getting her stuff ready. She’s so nervous.

Welcome to all the new Fledglings, good to have you on board.

@Vio112 tadas are the past tense of To Dos, so we might start the day with a To Do list and hopefully end it with a Tada! list of things we have achieved.

@Duettino yes, the Fledglings shovel comes in handy, we do have quite a lot of collective frustration with our loved ones on the thread.

@Courante - great start! Well done on the zone work

@MagnoliatheMagnificent do join us, the more the merrier.

Well, I neglected my own zone 1 today, but did start a pile of stuff for my next tip visit on Friday and did some serious deep cleaning in the master bedroom, with a small amount of help from DH before he decided to clear off on yet another bike ride and leave me to it. Back to work and school tomorrow, counting down the days till exams start (we’ve got GCSEs and A levels this term so I may need gin).

<stocks up naughty corner booze stash>

DD1 is going to bed a bit happier I think. I helped her put together a lunch (she will be getting FSM but they don’t set up the thumbprint thing till she’s there tomorrow) and that distracted her a bit. Then we just spent a while listening to music together 🥰

Best sleep now so I can be up with her. She’s not decided yet if she wants one of us to walk part or all of the way with her.

Surprisingly enough I had some energy & motivation when I got home tonight from work, so I have some ta das!
☀️ put away random stuff from the kitchen counters (food/ drinks that belong in the pantry downstairs)
⛅️ sorted through some papers/ mail, threw a bunch away
🌧 finished loading DW after dinner (leftovers) as DS had already rotated it
⛈️ sat down and relaxed, that stuff didn't take long, but I've procrastinated over it
🌤 had a long talk with DH about a job change for him

Soon be in bed, but have a long list of to Dos I wrote out at work, then left there 🤦‍♀️

Welcome to the newbies! Sorry I didn't get all of your names 😔

Sing I'm sure DD will be fine, but I understand that she would be feeling scared going to a new school.
I don't remember who exactly it was that said their morning routine is having tea/ breakfast outside willow? but that sounds like a fantastic idea. When it's summer here I like to take my coffee out to the swing outside, it's relaxing. (On my days off of course)

I really need to sleep, but want to drop my to Dos here while I can remember them (ready for the morning):
☕️ take dog to groomers (anal glands again 🤮)
☕️ give dog a bath afterwards
☕️ wash dogs bedding
☕️ wash our bedding
☕️ clean windows & doors in all entryways
☕️ wash floor mat by the main (side) door
☕️ make ranch dressing
☕️ cook hard boiled eggs
☕️ make fat head dough for low carb pizza
☕️ cook bacon
☕️ bleach bathrooms

I'm sure there may have been more on my list, but that'll do. I know there's a lot there, but some of those things are really quick jobs or can be done simultaneously.
Off to sleep 😴

🍒👋 to everyone

Hazel- hope you have a good sleep.

Cour- did i say welcome? If not, welcome.
Vio- welcome! 6m baby awww! Enjoy the baby cuddles! I miss them.

Morning all,

We are staying in Zone 1 today

flylady.net/c/fp.php?tzm=-60

Our mission is to declutter the dining room table/other flat surfaces. Tuesday is Plan and Play Day, links to the various pages are in the Flight Plan link above.

Morning!
Welcome, Vio, another thread baby, how lovely! I found Flylady when DS2 (now 19) was 4 months old and it saved my sanity. Although I'm still here chatting and working on getting it right!

Duet you may have to join the queue for the Fledglings' Shovel. My DH, lovely though he is, has had quite the weekend and broken the stylus on my turntable. "Hopping mad" doesn't even begin to cover it.

That's a big list, Hazel, don't wear yourself out! Is Tuesday the day you don't work? I've forgotten again.

Dancing sounds like you're getting really on top of things! I was reading a thread the other day and someone said for her first six months on MN she believed DH stood for Dick Head and I wondered if that would resonate with you... 😁.

Sing good luck to DD today.

Back to the grindstone today. Aiming for:
🐑 Morning routine
🐑 Actual work finishing a report
🐑 Lots of that pesky Life Admin that apparently only takes an hour a year, or whatever - sorting out tennis for DS3, booking medical appointments for DD, aligning the diaries etc
🐑 Take DS3 to the dentist as lunchtime
🐑 Pilates at 6 for me
🐑 Afternoon, post-dinner and evening routines
🐑 Clear flat surfaces in the music room as we don't have a dining room
🐑 Do Zone cleaning in the hall.

Going to be busy!

🍒👋 to Red, Mc, Bean, Up, That, Hills, zoo, Ditzy, Fly, foxes, Chic, SC (if you're lurking) Courante, Magnificent, pudding, MrsTidy, merry and everyone else.

BloomingHazel - my friends DH does the anal glands on their golden retriever about once a month, saves them a fortune! I got to watch the other day... 🥴
And thanks for the welcome, I'm hoping you'll all help me achieve great things!

Morning all. DD1 was in quite a state this morning. Such a difference from when she was so excited to start last time. 😞

Staff meeting in 10 mins, got Cagletini and DS in the living room with me as DS is upstairs on an important call. Hopefully play dough will entertain her for a while then it’s Netflix to the rescue

Welcome Magnolia, Courante and Vio. Lovely to have you with us.

My first was a non-sleeper Vio, and remember the struggle to get anything done. I started flylady when she was about the same age and it worked well. It’s easier when they go to school if you don’t then go and have another one and go back to square one. Thankfully this one sleeps.

I’m impressed with your lunch box organisation Dancing. My DD aged 5 rarely listens to Mummy. I clearly know nothing, and if I hear “but Mammy! <little foot stamp> I’m just (thing I’ve told her not to do)” again I think I might LMS. I aspire to be one of those lovely calm, patient, enthusiastic DMs but I fear I fail miserably at it

The cigarettes would drive me potty Duet, well done for not committing murder. My DH vapes, and while he is banished to the garage to do so, I constantly find the little plastic rings that peel of the lids of his vape juice. I think the cats scoot them about. They give me the rage. Just put them in the bin!

Sorry you didn’t get the relaxing day you’d hoped for Sing. Hope DD’s day goes well.

I hope that to do list is for a day off Hazel!

Not many ta Das to report so far:
✅ everyone fed and dressed, DD1 at school on time.
✅ DW emptied
✅beds made
✅sent email to dance teacher
✅cancelled a membership I’ve been meaning to sort for 6 months 🙄

Today I plan to set up the new WiFi booster thing, do some zone work and the mission, and watch some Bridgerton.

Morning again (just about). Staff meeting was good (new starter who I helped interview was there too so that was nice) and the boss likes my idea for changing something going forward too.

Am in a bit of a flap though, as it was horrible seeing DD1 so upset and scared this morning, and DH’s phone call was stressful and important (PIP assessment). Have got some work to do, and really need to edit my essay, but can’t focus.

DH is about to leave with the younger two (DS has chemistry) so at least I’ll have some quiet time for a bit. Will have lunch (I have a ready meal in the fridge and will add a salad) first then watch tv for a bit for distraction.

@SingToTheSky why was DD1 so upset this morning? DD and I sometimes have bad mornings and there is an issue of an unerring sadness she spirals into.

Funny that flylady is talking dining rooms today. I think I will leave that to DP. I will do the floor so it looks cleaner tho.

I was annoyed last night. I came home after 11.30pm after being on the road from 2.45pm to find the car washing bucket in the middle of the road next to DPs car, the connectors for the hose on the outside windowsill, the hose off but still connected and the garden waste bag on the drive. The jet was was inside the door with the secateurs but not put away. I will sort that out tonight or after lunch. Normally DP goes to the office on a Tuesday so it's my opportunity to blitz. No such luck today and we are both out tomorrow. Hectic day at work today and I'm finding it hard to hide my annoyance at the place.

Tada's
DD showered, fed, dressed and at school on time with a packed lunch.

That's it 😂 I was too tired to get up at 5 for the gym and work has been a chaotic mess where I haven't met my morning targets.

Ah yes I should’ve explained, forgot we are on a new thread! DD1 has started a new school today. She’s autistic with high anxiety and had an awful time at her previous secondary - she was barely attending for the last few months. Thankfully she got a place at this one, and much as it does seem a lot nicer with more supportive staff she is painfully aware that she loved her old school when she started and then it all went horribly wrong with bullying etc. She’s in Year 10 now, so the pressure is really on especially as she already struggles academically due to various SN and now she’s missed lots too.

I just can’t focus at all 😣 the next few days are really busy so I should really be fitting in other stuff today but my brain isn’t working.

Right. C’mon sing. Episode finished and no time for another before maths at 2 (which I have to admit I had forgotten about until my alarm went off at 1!). Not exactly feeling in the headspace for it right now but last week I started a fairly easy-to-teach topic so that’s something.

Going to take some beta blockers in a mo and try to do some other bits before the lesson:

po3.1
❗️LOL
❗️Write up the week on the board because no, I didn’t do it yesterday FFS
❗️Get the files ready for the lesson

🤞 DD had a good day today on her 1st day at a new school Sing
Magnolia I will continue to pay the $15 every 6 weeks (was every 3 weeks in the winter). That is something I couldn't do myself, plus they trim her nails as well. I was traumatised when I trimmed my 1st dogs nails too short and made them bleed. That was probably 14 years ago, and still can't bring myself to do them again.
Duettino I would kill DH! It shouldn't fall to you to clean up after his mess, but I do get why you just get on with it.
willow, Up & Sing yes! Tuesday is my day off. The one guaranteed day I have each week.

I need to cook DH his eggs for the week, just got done with my 1st cup of coffee. Oh and we woke up to snow this morning 🌨❄️🤬