GCSE supporting - to half term, and beyond!

@filchards my brother was like that he flunked his exams my parents despaired with him (definitely had a undiagnosed adhd mind) but was very IT smart luckily my mum got him to apply for an apprentice type position for IT programmers this was 35yrs ago. He got 98% in the aptitude test as he the hacked system once employed 😂he had a brilliant career there & then his own IT company- as hard as it is to stand back maybe it’s what he needs to figure it out?? Not easy parenting though! My youngest is autistic and going to be a nightmare at exam time if she gets there.

Thanks for the new thread. Ds is having a break with ex until tomorrow then hopefully back with a desire to revise as nothing got done at all last week

We found DD a gorgeous black velvet jumpsuit at a local vintage retailer. She is so not a girly type, has rarely ever worn a dress, so this suits her down to the ground. Not quite sure how she will accessorise, especially shoes as she has an incredibly high arch & instep, so sandals rarely fit.
Quite surprised she actually wants to go to prom, as she isn't into regular teen socialising - much rather go for a walk with her mates!
Outfit is pretty much like this:

I've just stomped off after a face-off re revision (lack of). Refuses to make a plan. Procrastinates. Laughs it off. Blames it on his adhd.

I've composed a message which I'll send every day:

'Your life, your choice but also up to you to live with the consequences'

I've seriously had enough now. Maybe it'd be better for him not to attempt A levels and a degree as he's bone idle. I also don't want to listen to him moaning when he gets poor results and can't do what he wants to do next. I don't want it to be my problem anymore.

DS2 still has 10 exams. He chilled yesterday, went to work today and has 2 in-school session during half term.
Just hope he’s going to revise during all the bits in between!

His school isn’t putting on a prom because (so he says 🤨) at last year’s, a Year 11 was discovered snorting coke.
Anyway, a few of the parents have organised an event at a local hotel but DS2 doesn’t seem interested in going.

My DS goes to a school where 90% of them stay on for the sixth form, and they don't have a prom!

Place making for round 2. Ds not at all interested in the prom, 10 down, 12 to go. No revision for the bank holiday, will be back to school for booster lessons next week though. Predicted good results, so super stressed trying to achieve

Re heels. DD1 was delighted I'd made her get some fold up ballet slippers too. By the end of the night all the girls had their heels off, most were in bare feet, but DD wasn't. This kind of thing, though I think ours were cheaper:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/After-Party-Pumps-Foldable-Carrier/dp/B072LQ8HG8/ref=sr_1_5?crid=1RQ7TPZZY9ST4&keywords=fold+up+ballet+pumps&qid=1685282329&sprefix=fold+up+ballet+pumps%2Caps%2C95&sr=8-5

Dds prom dress from JJs House too. She's wearing her converse with hers.

Prom is on the 25th, so we could easily buy and return something. He has a smartish shirt so he'd just need trousers and a jacket, which I guess he's going to need for interviews, weddings etc. at some point anyway.

We don't have a prom dress for DD yet.
I ordered one of the trial dresses from JJ House but she thought it was too simple.
I have decided to leave it until after exams to sort the dress out.
Shopping is stressful for her as she has body image issues. She will need bigger sizes and this means a lot of searching around.
Prom dress shopping will be a lot of tears for her and me..
I don't want her to be depressed during this time.
Hopefully we will find something she likes eventually. Fingers crossed

Dd has prom dress from local store that does reduced occasion wear about £130 in including alterations. Shoes form dune on discount. Her bf's have now decided not to go so she's currently going alone and meeting others there. Just trying to encourage her to text another friend to see if they can fit her in. Luckily Ds works at the venue and is likely to be on that night so can keep an eye out.

What date is the prom? If you buy one in the next week and he decides not to go, will it be within 28 days to return it?

DD has only done 10 exams - a huge 13 to go so officially not half way through - eurghh.

She is starting revision again tomorrow as the week they go back she has 7 exams including a paper from all 3 of her A level choices so its going to be an important week.

Shoes for prom are the really tricky bit. DD is quite alternative too and she has a black long fitted dress.

At the moment she is saying she will wear converse or DMS.

Sandals a complete no!

@minisnowballs I’ve just taken back some silver heels to new look they were really nice & bargain £25 with the online discount but she’s decided nude heels will look better with her dress. So now waiting on those from asos hopefully they fit as only £20.
no revision happening here I’m not worried as she really needed a break l. we’ve away for a couple of nights then she’ll have to get back to it Thursday.

I don't know whether to buy my DS a suit or something for prom. He was up for it when it was first announced, but he and his girlfriend have split up since then and his best friend isn't going, so he's dithering about whether or not to go at all. I think he should - lots of his other friends are going and they're all single - but he's not really fussed. I've paid for the blooming ticket now though.

yes. Ended up buying new online. Delivery was a few weeks. Is she not wanting to get one yet?

We haven't sorted anything for DS yet for prom - they don't confirm till next week and don't hand out tickets for another three.

Hopefully Ds will be easier than finding a dress.

DS did a very small amount of revision yesterday and it now power washing the decking - so it will be a while before he gets to anything else today. He's got 8 left 6 in first week - weekend then next and then an entire week before last maths one.

So impressed by all these focused sportspeople! 12 down 13 to go on the exams here. We are in France at the girls’s
grandma’s so revision is happening in the sunshine in between swims… I’m only slightly nervous about potential eurostar disasters on Saturday when we return but we have a day in hand…

prom dress here was bought from a charity shop, but we’ve had it altered for her by the very talented chap who runs the local dry cleaners. She looks brilliant and is so happy. but she will need silver heels apparently.

DD is quite alternative in style so I was v surprised when she wanted a traditional dress. She bought one from JJs and it is lovely. No revision yet this half term but I'm not mentioning it yet. She looked so tired after the second week. So far she's been v chilled (at least on the outside) but I think the second half is going to be trickier for her

DS seemed to really struggle mentally with the 2nd week and I can see it causing more upset if I try to encourage revision over half term, although he does need to do some. If I'm honest, I'm surprised at the lack of stamina and resilience - he was quite upbeat for the first week but a very grumpy angry teen by the second. Wondering if his age has something to do with it, not quite 16 and maybe immature- not that he'd agree! I'm not looking forward to a further 2 weeks & walking on eggshells.

DD bought a dress from Urban Outfitters over the Easter holidays (for £35). It looked nothing like a prom dress like you might see in traditional prom photos. But she was happy with it. Then she started to see photos of dresses other girls in her year group had bought which were more ‘prom-like’ and lost her nerve to wear the dress she had bought. So then we bought one from Etsy for about £40. At the moment she is planning on wearing it with her DMs. But I guess she might change her mind on that too.

DS is not quite half way yet. All has gone well (he thinks) so far apart from the ocr computer science, but after reading here I'm not too bothered about that. Another day off before back to revision tomorrow.