Year 11 GCSE Exam Support Thread 2

sillygiraffe DS is the asme. Doing very very little but doing nothing when pushed.

Do you and your DH take good cop/ bad cop roles? We do --- I am good cop and can get more revision out of him than DH who is bad cop. He is currently staring at a maths revision book with the timer set for 15 mins; I don't think he is actually focussing on the book as he glances at the timer every few minutes. aaggghhh

After yesterday's blow up we seem to be back on track. He apologised last night after talking to some of his friends who told him their parents where just like me!! This morning he started at 10 and worked through till 12 on his English now hes having a break in the sun and said he'll be back to it at 2!

Sounds like your kids are sensible enough to leave with your neice, word. Hope you have a good trip!

DD is off for her one in-school revision day today, so I've taken the opportunity to do some hoovering. I've been using her need for work/sleep as an excuse not to do any since the hols started!

Sympathies to those whose DC are driving them potty. I know losing the plot isn't in the parenting manuals but I know I would be raging if it were mine!

The LA conundrum in Casa WF seems to be resolving. A sleep over was roundly dismissed as DD said they turn into non-sleep overs, but then DH was chatting to his neice on the phone and she was complaining that she can't revise at home (it's chaos central in their place) so he suggested she bunk at ours for a week.

She's 18 and very sensible/domesticated.

DH will be around most of the time I'm away (he works a few miles from the flat, or can work from home) except that one night, when the three of them should be fine.

I still feel a bit uncomfortable about abandoning ship at this time, but I know I'd be a fool not to go. I actually won't be in LA for long, but getting there and back takes the best part of two days. Anyhow I've booked tickets.

In the meantime, DC are doing well. Sticking to their schedules. DD told me that she's turned down an invitation to a party on Saturday night (saved me the trouble of saying no ). I was wondering what kind of parent agrees to let her DD throw a house party in the middle of revision. It's not the girl's birthday or anything. Some parents just can't stand to be the bad guy!

Sympathies from me too.
Whilst DD is trying to revise and is keen to do well, it is a bit like walking on eggshells here too - I just try to keep out of the way and be encouraging.

It is incredibly difficult to step back, isn't it!

sillygiraffe, the thing is, being angry and disappointed won't make them work.
I still am angry and disappointed, but don't show it.

I've taken her internet away and she hasn't done anything for the last week. Taking everything away won't help. It will make her resent me and not do anything to spite me and I want to keep talking to her.

I hope she will wake up soon.

She has actually asked for maths help today. Progress. I will try and persuade my maths teacher friend to tutor her.

Much sympathy from fellow lost it person .

We've had a major row this afternoon. as I was out first thing I texted about 10.30 are you revising? Got a text back just woken me up yeah ok I will.. got home at 12,30 and hes playing games on line. When I asked what he'd done he told me maths and Physics so DH asked to see what he'd done as both of those have past papers he's agreed to do, he mumbled about on line and nothing to show us; I'm afraid I lost it; told him I expected to see him doing at least 3 or 4 hours every day and I hadn't seen him do any English. He got really angry and was screaming how no one else is getting this much grief and I should just leave him to it, he did well in his mocks what more did I want?

So after telling him to calm down I told him again that all the nagging was for his own benefit and I also know for a fact that most of his friends mums are having the same conversations with his Friends. I explained that it's different being marked by an outside person who doesn't know you and your issues or way of working particularly his hand writing and number shapes are poor (he's dyslexic and dyspraxic) and whilst he had a scribe in English and geography ) but manages himself in maths and science's , I've marked past papers he's done and struggled to work out his numbers and he makes stupid mistakes cos he can't reread his own writing. after him huffing and growling through all this I told him he could just get on with it, if he wants to go to uni to do pharmacology then he has to get A's and B's to do the A levels he wants then he has to work he's got 34 days till first exam.

Not a good day and not proud of myself loosing it but...It might have worked, I went into the garden to just calm down and when I've come back in he's listen to An Inspector Calls on line and he's dug out his English notes from last year.

I need

What is DD wanting to do next year SG? Is she likely to get what she needs to get onto it? I suspect she knows full well she is driving you nuts remembering a few of my teenage moments.

I had a talk with DD not long ago saying I wasn't nagging but I just wanted her to be clear in her mind that she wouldn't regret using this time as she could be in a situation where her friemds were all doing the courses they wanted and she would have to do a level 2 course. Didn't have immediate effect but it percolated through. She is doing less than a fair few on here but is doing much more than she was.

Right now I think you have to look unconcerned. You can't make her so focus on yourself. Take yourself off for a bit, bury your head in books, do the garden, meet with friends. Do what you want to do much more and give yourself a bit of space .Others probably have better advice.

I am finding it hard not to be angry and disappointed with DD. So far these holidays she has done one day at school (RS) and was forced into an hour or so doing maths with her dad yesterday. She really does not care and its driving me nuts.

I just dont know what to do.

That is absolutely awful Auntpetunia WF do the sleepover. Life has to go on and it will be a night break for them plus something for you, do you all good. Sarum that is a tough day but as BTM, that will be 3 exams down.

DD hasn't done much the last few days but is planning in Geography later. She's at the table painting at the moment which hopefully bodes well for next year if she does Art.

I'm feeling better thanks and blood sugars looking a bit more normal. Gorgeous day here. I'm making new flower beds and a cutting patch for the summer, my bit of time away from it all.

Sillygiraffe, I'm in the same situation. I'd be glad to report that DD has done 2 hours of revision per day in the holidays.

I've backed off, given her her internet back, at least she can access revision stuff from the school website if she wants.

I've told her it's up to her, I have stopped being angry at her doing FA in her room all day. Made it clear she can come to me for help. For my part I won't ask her if she has done xyz, I will only ask what she has actually done for school.
Time will tell if she's a genius and doesn't need revision, or just being lazy and ultimately not very clever, stopping to work when it matters.

Somehow I always assumed she would be fine. She was always self motivated and very driven until last year.

My DS does more for school than she does, he's year 9. Hopefully he will remember what she is like now and won't behave the same way.

Tilly indeed, and best that way I think. I've not been and done the wake up call yet either, I think perhaps I should.

Word, I'd send them off on sleepovers if at all possible - no chance I'd miss out on a trip to LA!

Sarum, that is hard. But it is only one day and when it's done, it's 3 exams out of the way!

DD asked me to wake her at 10 if she wasn't already up. She doesn't look like she's about to jump out of bed!

DS has three exams at the same time, he says he has to stay in school and not see anybody until after school and then stay and do the exams then so he won't have any time relaxing with friends at break :(

Word another vote for a sleepover - it'd probably do them so good to be away with friends for a night.

I've been given bit of a conundrum today.

A work opportunity has come up. Something very exciting but I've been asked to fly out to LA for a few days.

Unfortunately DH will also be away for one of those nights. And my Mum who would normally grab the chance to be useful is on holiday.

I dunno what to do really. This is not a great time for this to come up, yet it might never come up again!

Quality v hours spent an issue in Chez Spud too.
DD seems to have learned every word of the Miss Saigon soundtrack today....not sure how much she knows of the Maths revision.

Another day another round of revision in Casa WF.

I was asked to make our Easter lunch an Easter dinner and have complied ( turkey in oven ).

I can't vouch for the quality of their revision but I can't question the quantity. Both getting their heads down. ( thigh currently playing footie in garden with DH).

auntpetunia - unbelievable to miss a school out!

SugarPlum Make sure you take it easy during this stressful time.

sillygiraffe All of mine have matured at different times and there isn't much you can do about it. I asked my dd if she was revising anything this morning and the reply came back as 'yes'. Poked my head round the corner to find her sitting in her wardrobe reading a vampire book. Sigh.

Oh and can I say as a result of reading this thread I asked DS about his drama gcse specifically the acting part of it as I wasn't aware he'd done it as it hadn't been mentioned.....It appears the examiner forgot about their school so didn't arrange to visit Despite teacher ringing every week. so teacher and head have said they will either record the acting and mark it and send it off or the person needs to come first week back. How ridiculous is that though to miss a school out completely. DS is not I'm the least bit bothered he said he knows his monologue he knows the group piece it'll be fine!

So glad I asked as now I can check with school when they are gonna do it.

Well day 2 of our easter holidays, we onlying broke up Thursday, and ds did nothing yesterday except watcheck DVDS and play on line games. Today however different set up, up at 8 am geography revision, via the books I've purchased as his teacher is rubbish, he's helped put the washing on the line and then done a chunk of geography bitesize to see what he'd learnt from the book. He's just informed me he's have 1.5 hrs of gaming and then he'll do some physics.!!

To say I am impressed is an understatement. Giraffe don't despair they are all different. I was like your dd and it didn't cause me and problems some kids get it with long slow and steady others do a last minute oh my god cram, as long as she gets enough to get to college /6th form hopefully she'll be ok.

Am off to potter in the garden and enjoy the sunshine.