GCSE Results next week- making it special

Doing something nice for your dc on a day they're anxious about and celebrating or commiserating with them isn't "taking over". That's such a weird thing to say.

Why are parents taking over these occasions?

Because we want to celebrate our children's achievements after a fucking awful time (or be there to commiserate and support as necessary)?

Because our kids want us to be there? My DD was gutted that her dad has put a camping trip before being there for her --although it's fairly typical of his fuckwittery), so I'm damned if I'm not going to make it as special as possible for her.

I chatted to her about what she wanted before making any firm plans, and she'll be having friends over in the evening.

Why are parents taking over these occasions?

3 teens all waiting results in the same day - I fully expect them to go with friends and celebrate or commiserate accordingly.

We can work through next steps after that.

Not sure whether making a big fuss is a good idea, especially if your DS isn't showing much interest.

We'd planned a meal out when DD got her results a few years ago. In the end one of her planned A level subjects came back at a worse than expected grade, we had to drive to school to discuss with her teacher and then lodge an appeal. All very stressful and we ended up with pizza at home.

DH and I are both working this Results Day. Whenever DS wakes up he'll be able to log in and see his results. I can probably access them too but will resist the urge until he's seen them.

I don't know what his plans are after that. If he wants to go to a friend's house to celebrate that's ok, if he wants to stay home we'll have his favourite sushi. I'm letting him decide (after a very tough year) though I have bought him a new graphic novel regardless of grades.

I did balloons for his last day at school, which went down like a lead one....

Ds struggled with his work - he has ASD but got no support from school (a whole other rant I won't bore you with!). He worked so hard for his exams, and it wasn't easy. It wasn't easy for any of the kids this year as they missed so much school due to covid.

We are going to give him a gift before his results. He really wants a computer that's being released in December (he's pre ordered it and is hoping he saves enough by the time he has to pay for it!) So we will probably give him some money towards that.

We don't actually know if he'll get the results he needs. He needs one subject to be higher than his predicted grades to get into his first choice sixth form. It could go either way! We will go out for lunch too, to celebrate the end of his exams and the next chapter! Am trying to put the emphasis on the effort and time spent, and not on exam grades.

Thank you @MydogWillow.

Tbh after I posted I thought I'd probably come back to pile on saying I was being over the top.

It's probably a bit indulgent but she's my only my one and has had to fend for herself a lot over the last 18 months so if I can't do it now 🤷‍♀️

We've been given predicted grades and advised that short of a catastrophe they are likely to be accurate or higher so hoping we won't have any surprises. DD has worked her arse off and deserves to do well.

Results day in person can be a real challenge for some students, especially for those not getting expected top grades,

Our experience of A levels last year was that they all met up afterwards anyway - just not at school.

Maybe the way forward could be to offer both options.

We celebrated before results day. We wanted to celebrate and reward DD's effort and hard work, rather than the grades.

Obviously when she got her grades we said well done. We went out for a nice meal as a family - but would have done so regardless of grades.

@MintyCedric

I'm hoping to make it really special for DD as she's had a bloody awful 18 months with Covid, my dad being terminally ill and then passing away halfway through exam fortnight and her dad's usual thoughtless bullshittery (he's off on holiday on Monday...could've changed his plans as camping but cba ).

So...we're off to get her results mid morning, then I've booked a table at her favourite Italian restaurant for lunch. My mum is meeting us there then we'll go back to hers and I'm making a special cake for her and probably a few balloons.

I've bought her a bracelet that she's wanted for over a year...she won't get much for her birthday next month but it means she'll be able to wear it to her prom.

Her Godmother who we haven't seen for four years is coming to stay for the weekend so we're going out for brunch with her and her other two godmothers on Sunday.

Your plans sound wonderful.

I'm hoping to make it really special for DD as she's had a bloody awful 18 months with Covid, my dad being terminally ill and then passing away halfway through exam fortnight and her dad's usual thoughtless bullshittery (he's off on holiday on Monday...could've changed his plans as camping but cba ).

So...we're off to get her results mid morning, then I've booked a table at her favourite Italian restaurant for lunch. My mum is meeting us there then we'll go back to hers and I'm making a special cake for her and probably a few balloons.

I've bought her a bracelet that she's wanted for over a year...she won't get much for her birthday next month but it means she'll be able to wear it to her prom.

Her Godmother who we haven't seen for four years is coming to stay for the weekend so we're going out for brunch with her and her other two godmothers on Sunday.

*jumper = number!!

Ours have been online for a jumper of years pre dating covid as there is no need to come in to collect a piece of paper which can easily be emailed. It never stops the kids meeting up to have fun and celebrate. It also means that those who get a shock result get it privately. The school is still available for support by phone or even may ask those who want to to come in for support. It also means they get them as soon as the embargo is opened.

In person collection here but staggered times alphabetically. The teachers are on hand for support and to help with 6th form/college questions.

Online here too which I think is a shame - yet another experience they miss out on.

The country is meant to have opened up.
People can go to football matches etc etc.
Why shouldn't the pupils be able to go in, be congratulated by staff, celebrate with their friends, have that experience?
(Especially as so many missed out on leavers assemblies and proms.)

I am surprised anyone is going in to school for this. Its all online around here

We are all on annual leave, offered DD a lift to school. Have been told in no uncertain terms that we are not to take dd into school and that she just wants to go get results and enrol for 6th form.

It is by no means a foregone conclusion so i am a little anxious. She's worked so hard and deserves a place but is dyslexic and despite doing amazingly well with support in place she may just miss the grades, so were on tenterhooks.

I have taken the day off work and so has DDs BFs mum.
Once they get their results we are all going for lunch. No card or pressie

Balloons are a bad idea if you mean helium balloons - landfill and waste of a valuable resource.

DS2 gets his A level results on Tues and is going out (either way!) as of course they are pretty much all 18 (one friend is 18 on results day!).

We will go out for a family meal during the week I think.

I think DC won't want to plan anything until they have the results in their hands.
We didn't plan anything 6 years ago for DD1, but went on an impromptu shopping trip plus meal in evening.
This year I'm anticipating a take away as DD2 won't want to go out. We'll be proud whatever as she couldn't have done more than she managed, at one point it looked like she wouldn't be able to sit anything at all.

Ooh that's a thought. DD has A level results due on Tuesday; but is overseas starting a gap year and unfortunately in (covid quarantine) isolation till 24 hours after she'll get her results. She's getting lots of phone chats with us and with more local relatives, but I'm sure she'd appreciate something being delivered - on the day would mean she had it in advance of viewing results early evening in her time zone.