Year 11 GCSE support thread 4 - more exams

Nydj - Welcome! We have ASD in our family too, so I understand how much more challenging that makes everything. I think that if you have managed to keep your son's anxiety levels down, you are doing a great job. I know that sounds trite, but I mean it genuinely. Anxiety is such a major problem for anyone on the spectrum.

I can't believe you used to have a crush on Emlyn Hughes though! Really?? He always came across as a very nice bloke in our town when we were growing up. But fanciable? Really?

Thanks Juggling.

My God Switch, that is some holiday! My DS did his work experience during the Easter Holidays and I had to do a practice run with him to make sure he knew where he going, timescales etc. And that was just in Edinburgh, lol, but he has no common sense what so ever! I am so impressed with your DS, you should be proud you have a DS confident enough to take something that grown up on. Well done!

I have been following the threads on and off. It's a bit odd as ds is on the autistic spectrum so his approach to everything including revision is different to most of his peers. I am carefully treading the line between reminding him to at least do some revision and pushing him into anxiety - I think I am staying on the right side so far.

He is absolutely refusing to even contemplate going to the prom which makes me a bit sad - but in my heart I know that the noise would be too much for him.

switchitoff I had such a huge crush on Emyln Hughes - I used to watch question of sport just for him back in the day. I was devasted when I realised he was a Tory.

History tomorrow which I think my two have been revising today.

I'm sorry you miss him motherstongue and hope I didn't make it worse. Flying back to school in London does sound a bit grand?
No need to answer that BTW
Every sympathy for anyone who is away from their DC and missing them

dd says she has 12 left but ds and I think 11 as one is a double paper in same subject. Guess it depends how you count them. Anyway only just over half way here

Thank you littleham. I will be fine, I always feel sorry for myself when he goes away. I have my DD here though to keep my spirit up!

My DS has 13 exams left to do Doglover and finishes on 18th June before heading off to do Duke of Edinburgh. No respite!

Yes, you're right. It does sound like a gap year doesn't it? I think he may have taken it a little bit too much to heart when I said to him: you've got 12 weeks summer holiday this year, make sure you make the most of it!

That does all sound very, very exciting! Sounds like a gap year squished into a summer holiday! Hope he has a great time.

motherstongue - I can imagine that must be very hard for you and you are allowed to feel sorry for yourself.

spudmasher - DS has various lovely things organised for the summer holidays, but I think the three highlights will be:-

1. A one week study course on a university campus (very grown-up!)

1. A road trip across the USA. DS has never been to America before so it's very exciting.

1. Then, he will be flying to India by himself. Catching an internal flight across India by himself. Going to stay as a paying guest with a family he does not know. And doing two weeks' work experience with an international aid organisation. Did I mention he would be by himself???!!

Am I a bit anxious about it? Oh no, not me. I am as calm as a cucumber .

Our dd has 15, yes 15, exams left. Feel really sorry for her although I'm outwardly upbeat and cheerful.

Can't wait for 19th June,

That must be so difficult motherstongue. Sorry to be moaning about my dd. As you say we are really lucky.

Make sure you treat yourself in some way tomorrow.

Not grand at all Juggling. I miss him terribly when he is away and I am envious of all the mumsnetters on this thread who moan about the nagging to revise and being ate out of house and home! I get a text after each exam and worry from a distance. I am now officially feeling sorry for myself!!!

Wow, flying back to London sounds very grand and grown-up motherstongue

canny - you'll have the canniest canine for miles around after all that Latin grammar revision

dd had a wee panic about History earlier and told me she doesn't know anything - but I know that's not true and tried to tell her as much saying she doesn't have to know everything. She seems better now but I think may be tempted to stay up late for last minute cramming which isn't necessarily the best strategy as we all try to tell her. Sleep is good too!

But glad she had a bit of a break yesterday afternoon, think that did do her some good, especially seeing her friend too

Hello again everyone, been absent for a week as I've tried very hard not to think too much about GCSEs.

Officially the end of 1/2 term in our household tonight. DS just caught his flight back to London with an air of resignation. He only has history tomorrow and hasn't done much for it as he said he can't really revise for this particular paper! He has spent 1/2 term on Latin and Greek mostly and I certainly can't help with either of those!!!

HSM - I had a wee laugh re your post earlier about the Irn Bru and Tunnocks. My DS was traumatised when he realised he couldn't get Irn Bru at his London school but the local shop now gets it in for him. I sometimes make him Tablet as a Scottish treat (with instructions to immediately brush his teeth incase they fall out from the sugar overload!)

Dd has also revised all day in dd2's bed with dd2 and the dog - Latin grammar!I think she has the Latin Lit. exam tomorrow afternoon.She's going to be lonely as the twins are away all week on a school trip so only youngest Ds is left .Dd2 quite bizarrely is dd1's appendage - keeps her company in her office/junk room while she's studying ( usually painting her nails or on her tablet or something).

Oh yes to photos hopefully bigTillyMint! They hate it though don't they? My DD says I'm allowed to put one photo of her choice on Facebook of her in her prom get up .

Dying to know what switchitoff's DS is doing during his summer!

History most of the day chez spud. It's been quite funny- she's made up names to link each key person to people she knows/ famous people. Stupid little stories etc.

So the dress I ordered for DD has arrived. It is lovely, if a little tight around the boobage (of which DD has a lot) area. It has padding which I could remove (by undoing the lining, eek) which might help. It is also too long, but I should probably be able to take it up once she sorts her shoes/sandals.
It looks glam and floaty, but I can't change it and then send it back if it's not right.

Or does she go for my dress refitted, which is not so tight and is straighter with a split? I will see if she will agree to photos later.

She has been revising today, but is currently watching some shouty American women shit.

Hi reporting back (not Scouse or even Scouse ancestors). Half term has been nice, dd not revising as much as her friend. 5 exams left, starting on Tuesday. Peaceful so far.

dingit saying the name of that team is swearing

DS has gone off to his father's today, which is a relief because I don't know how much more of the moping, whinging, complaining and flying-off-the-handle-for-no-reason-at-all I could take.

He only has 2 weeks of exams left as he finishes on 12 June and then has the BEST summer holiday ever planned. I keep wanting to chat to him about it because I am vicariously excited for him, but am worried I'll distract him so am trying to keep my serious face on.

I have a real snotty little grot bags here today. Just 3 weeks to go if we don't all go mad!

TWF, DD seems to be in a rather grumpy mood - am leaving her in peace - she is revising! The next exams are the important ones for her, gulp.

Kids as gloomy as the weather here this morning.

I cooked a full English and we all went and walked the dogs on the rain. They seem a bit mire perky now.

I think revising is worse than the actual exams for them.