Year 11 GCSE support thread 6 - exams and proms

Hope all the travelling teens go well and safely.

Here DD and I went shopping this morning and found her some prom stilts shoes, then I used MILs sewing machine to take up her prom dress. She and her friend seem to be sorting out booking make up and hair, so just a clutch to find her now I think
She has a Taster day tomorrow for her no.1 choice sixth form tomorrow and seems a bit anxious, but has said she is meeting her friend outside the pub to walk there, so fingers crossed.

Another one here whose teen is flying by themselves tomorrow. I have told DS1 that if he hasn't sorted out his room before he goes away, that gives me permission to enter, wearing a bio-hazard suit and deal with everything as I see fit. Cue much huffing and puffing by DS, followed by crashing and banging within the room which I'm hoping may be him actually addressing his floordrobe.

DS2 is already overseas on a school trip, so tomorrow I will come home to an empty house.

I've tried to put a prom pic on my profile but it's showing as a blue question mark. If you can see it, dd is the one in the gold sequins.

Safe journey and good luck to those travelling.

For the first time in 16 years my dd's room looks beautiful. We have emptied, painted and renovated and her new furniture looks amazing. Think beach / coastal theme. Not one piece of mess in site. Bliss.

If she has flown a fair bit T&T am sure she'll be fine. I think. We wouldn't have gone for UM if it had been a straightforward European flight even with DD'S lack of flying.

She has arrived safely but is shattered so trying to get some rest before she starts classes on Monday. Not a lot of sleep for DH and I either with the storm and waiting to check she landed safely. One more night at first host family then off to the main one who have wifi thank goodness.

That sounds entirely reasonable Errol ! I promised not to tidy DD'S room. DH says he promised no such thing...

DH has taken DD. Waking up to a thunderstorm doesn't auger too well but the organiser is vastly experienced. Meanwhile, I've been busy working on the presumption that if a teenager requests you wash its bedding while they're away, that is carte blanche to bundle all the bits of paper off the floor, remove other detritus and vacuum.

Interesting to see all the info re flying. DD is flying on her own to Spain next w/e. We chose not to use the UM service so she has to negotiate Heathrow and Madrid airports on her own (help!).

We will see her through security, and she is being met at Madrid, and we have flown a reasonable amount, so hopefully she will be OK! They have promised that on the return journey they will also stay with her for check-in and until security.

Good Luck to your DD Errol. I remember DS doing his on his birthday!

Just winding down, got to get up early to deliver DD to her school by 7:45 with her enormous rucksack. She's done virtually no walking since last year but she has the confidence of youth fortunately!

Great advice from your granny Woolly

I've just been looking at the official Prom pics, they all look so confident - I know I wasn't at that age!

Thank you all. She did look lovely - 16 year olds all seem to be beautiful/handsome these days.

Sugar hope you can relax soon.

Canny that sounds like an amazing work experience for your DD. I think the big thing that struck me about starting my first job was the amount of standing. My granny always said buy the best bed and the best pair of shoes you can afford - if you're not in one, then you're in the other.

DS's prom tonight. He looked great. And that's his last school event. Sigh.

Seen it now - she looks fab Woolly

Still can't see Woolly's photo. I'll fire up the laptop in a minute and see if that works!

Woolly, awww

SugarPlum, fingers crossed.

I can see her now Woolly, she looks lovely It must be so lovely to see her like that given what she went though recently.

Great to hear about the work experiences, sounds like it is helping focus their minds a bit.

MissClemency, she can't fly direct so has a European connection (landing shortly) and a wait for a good few hours till the connecting flight. With her Airline you can be an Uccompanied Minor up to 17 if you pay extra. If she was an experienced flyer we might not have done it but she doesn't remember flying so it seemed a bit much. Plus if for any reason she misses a connection they will get her on next flight, even if it means Business Class apparently. So she basically doesn't need to worry (and hopefully we don't either).

Rather stressful time earlier as Language School hadn't responded to my email asking for confiirmatiom that it was still the same person who they had originally advised would be doing Airport pick up. They only came back to me once DD and DH were enroute to Airport and person has changed. I was then texting this through to DH and not gettung a reply so wasn't sure if he had what he needed to check her in as they will only release her to named person with photo ID. He did and all was well, he said he is impressed with how smoothly it went. Early night for us if we can as up at 3.30am but she won't be arriving until gone Midnight so doubt we'll sleep.

Woolly - gorgeous photo!
DD coming to the end of her first weeks work experience with very sore feet.She has been watching operations and listening to consultations all week and all that standing around is painful ( even though she is in scrubs and crocs).Its interesting to see her looking all grown up in a blouse and jacket every morning though and to hear the ethical issues she's rationalising.