A level results day 2026

Just wanted to thank everyone in this group who sent supportive messages after Results’ Day. It was a really hard week and it helped so much to read messages (to me and about others in a similar situation). The other parents I knew in my life were celebrating their children’s uni places and expected grades, so it felt lonely to be upset for my DD until I came on here.

Things have got much better. She found a great course through Clearing at a uni she had previously considered and is excited to start. The shock/disappointment of the grades is fading. Hope all the others whose children were struggling are feeling the same. ❤️

Pleased to hear that

That’s a wonderful update, @BreezyHare, so pleased for you and your DD! Come and join us on the Fledglings thread to share the excitement 🙂

@@Lemons1571 how's things now ? Are tou waiting till next year or did your dc find something?

Just dropped Dd off at Heathrow, feels like I’ve lost a limb. She was teary as I left her, which hasn’t helped, she was stressed, she’ll be absolutely fine and have a great time, but it’s really not easy this parenting lark is it?

Absolutely @wonderstuff . I hated leaving DD1 when she started, and she was only a couple of hours away by train. You absolutely want them to go and have a fabulous time and you keep a stiff upper lip so they don't see you're upset but inside I felt as if part of my heart was being ripped out.
Where has your DD gone and when will she be back?
And hurrah for mobile phones and facetime. When I left for university it was a payphone call once a week home (which you had to walk five minutes to another building to use) and one hall phone for incoming calls which was always engaged as it was shared between fifty people...

@Philandbill exactly! DH thinks I’m being silly (you’re not going to mope for 2 months are you?). She’s off to au pair in Madrid for 10 weeks, we’re going to visit in a few weeks, and I’m so proud of her going off and being independent, but I’m also a bit of a mess today! When did your Dd go? I’m sure I’ll be fine next week when I’m back at work, but today I’m finding tough!

We've got an 8 hour car trip on Sunday to drop dd3 off in Scotland. She's my last dc so I know I'm going to miss her loads. I think her term finishes about 22nd December so 3 and a half months.

Where is the fledglings thread? I haven’t been able to find it.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/higher_education/5567080-fledglings-2026-support-discussion-and-looking-after-each-other?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=app_share

@wonderstuff I don't think that you're being silly at all. It's lovely that you are going over to see her in a few weeks time. Is she hoping to improve her Spanish?
DD2 is staying local this year as she's doing an art foundation year and I'm glad of the bonus year with her at home before she heads off. DD1 has done two years of her degree then did an industry year so was away all of last summer to as she was working in her university city. Industry year ended at the start of July so she's been home this summer which I've enjoyed as she is good company.
I was reading another thread today about children growing up and somebody quoted this - Ships are safest in port but that's not what they are built for. It really resonated with me.

Well that’s set me off again! You’re right it’s very apt. Yes she did well at GCSE but didn’t do A-level so is going to take Spanish lessons while out there.

@wonderstuff aww I would be exactly the same as you. It is normal and does pass I promise (I have an older DD who spent 2 summers in USA coaching soccer whilst at uni, then went travelling years later for 10 months). Phones and social media make things so much easier now and I think I messaged DD almost as much whilst she was travelling as I do now she lives 10 minutes away! Madrid sounds wonderful for your DD and a great opportunity for you to get a break when you see her too.

I'll feel DD2 moving out more as she is my youngest, with a huge age gap between my DDs, so I have not had a child free house for over 30 years 😭. I do see the benefits logically when I am in an unemotional state but atm I am the opposite!

We're off on Friday to Scotland - 8hr drive from the south coast (without stops!) I am so excited for her, it's a wonderful uni - but SO FAR away! We've just booked her train home on 22nd December. Seems such a long time away. She is also my baby - the eldest one is 34 so it will be such a change to be just the two of us. Fingers crossed.

@Manthide Just spotted you on the Fledglings thread - we're off to St Andrews as well. I can't get over just how wonderful it is! DD is beside herself with excitement.

Wow my eldest is 34 too, 35 in October! I'll have to get dd3 to book her train home, it seems so long away. We're not going until Sunday though as dd3 is a procrastinator!