University Students at Home

[applesnotoranges]

Anybody else struggling with having their university students at home. My ds does not know if or when his exams will be, he says he has no work to do and therefore lolling about most of the time which is fine except if I ask him to do something. He forgets, leaves things for me to and basically treats me like the maid. I've had it out with him a couple of times but it doesn't seem to make any difference. Atmosphere at home is now quite frosty. I know I should try to be the bigger person but honestly I am working from home and quite exhausted. Please let me know it's not only me.

My dd has been back for three weeks now.

She's not done a bit of cleaning or tidying but she is making her own meals.

Last night she was chatting to mates on the phone all night, her room is next to mine.

I am really irritable this morning so words will be had before the day is out.

I know we're both in the same boat,I'm furloughed and she has lost her entire base of friends and routine but I'm not her maid and I'm not being kept awake all night either so she can stick to her virtual uni life!

I love having mine home, but the uncertainty re exams is making him tetchy. He isn't coping well with the revision in a very full and noisy house and not knowing how/when assessment will take place.

And the amount food they are all getting through is astronomical!

I just feel like mine is so bloody ungrateful. Everything is provided – everything is done. I don't ask him to do any cleaning. He does the food shopping which I am thankful for. Apart from that seems to treat the place like a hotel

I was so relieved to have mine here initially - he was refusing to come and states were really restricting travel, lots of flights were being cancelled (we are in Australia) and I was worried he would be stuck there by himself for a prolonged lockdown.

He still has lectures and tutorials online, but the rest of the time lays around being lazy and surly and obnoxious to his siblings. I am rather looking forward to things going back to normal I must admit!

There are two solutions which work wonders I find:

1. Cut the plug off the router. Might not work for physics students who know how to put it back on. But good for all other subjects.

1. Post pictures of them as toddlers all over social media, accidentally tagging them.

Can they help with local voluntary groups.

Apart from being useful for their own sanity, it could well be the first question in a grad interview in 3 years time is "how did you cope with isloation during the Coronavirus outbreak? "

Most of my cohort (I'm a mature student) seem to be sharing memes around everywhere and watching really trashy quiz shows. The hilarity when we unexpectedly found one of our lecturers on one of them (doing very badly) kept us going for a good few days.

We still have assignments to do, implemented in place of the cancelled exams.

No it's not just you if that makes you feel any saner. Felt relieved to have mine back from uni as people in the flat at uni were self isolating with symptoms. But the 100% nocturnal behaviour and inability to lift a finger is really grating. While I am the busiest I've ever been and exhausted due to work. Torn between really losing my cool and having it out (and feeling that I've turned into my mum which I swore I wouldn't do with talk of 'treating place like a hotel etc') and rising above it and letting it go with the thought that we are trapped in the house together for goodness knows how many more weeks. Has definitely disappointed me and I'm
Not sure it's strengthened our relationship tbh. Feel pretty sad about it. And am trying not to fester a load of anger at the same time as trying to keep healthy.

Can they help with local voluntary groups

I'll happily admit, for selfish reasons, I don't want mine volunteering. I'm high risk but not shielding and I get stressed enough about dh going to work Monday to Friday as it is.

Mine is mostly in her room revising for the exam and doing her dissertation, other than that she sits in the garden reading. She occasionally complains about the housework not being done how she wants it done.....but hey ho.

Think yourself lucky, mine has not come home 😟 although I know there would be loads of bickering between him and DH if he was here!

Thats OK is you are self isolating and at risk. I understand.

I'm confused that so many UK university students have no work to do. Aren't they being set any? Don't they have online lectures to attend?

I have DD and her boyfriend at home from college - they're at two different US universities. They're working their arses off. Regular Zoom classes, loads of work being set and expected to be handed in. Exams are now optional but they're still being given as much work to do as before, if not more.

Don't get me wrong. I am very happy to have him at home and I'm so glad that he is safe. To be fair he has applied for some jobs at supermarkets and other things. Unfortunately nobody is getting back to him. I do understand it is difficult for them but a little bit of consideration would be nice.

Mine may be home at the end of her rental contract in June. If lockdown continues and none of us out then we are going to rent somewhere short term. House is too small for so many of us in constantly.

@HoldmyLobster its Easter, so no they don't have online lectures but should be either revising or doing assignments. However some unis have given extensions or have no detriment policies that say that students can't be marked down for their whole year grade even if they do badly on this last set of exams/assignments so in some cases there may not be a lot of motivation.

I'm confused that so many UK university students have no work to do

My uni only teaches 2/3 terms - the final term is a few remaining assessment deadlines and then exams. My course have swapped the bulk of our exams for assignments instead which were released before the holidays so I've done them and submitted. Would only have one exam remaining but I've deferred some work to August so I can focus on the kids right now.

Mine is doing his dissertation and applying for jobs.

I do feel for this cohort of graduates going out into the world of work.

It's the Easter holidays so no formal lectures.

I have my dissertation, and three assignments to finish. I'm finding it a real struggle to get motivated because it all seems a bit pointless due to the situation.

DS has loads of uni work to do but is really struggling due to house being full and noisy (younger sibling). Situation not helped by his uni staff striking before the outbreak so he feels he is missing lots of key info. Has had no live online lectures or tutorials, yet still expected to complete assignments, even though he hasn't actually received much teaching.

Has had no live online lectures or tutorials, yet still expected to complete assignments, even though he hasn't actually received much teaching

This is what I'm really astonished by. DD has live or recorded lectures to watch every day.

You’re working, he’s not. No excuse for not pitching in fully with housework. It’s shit for everyone. He should be trying to make your life easier not harder.

Mine has moved in with my 82 yo mum to isolate with her. Mum is having chemo and needs someone to drive her too and from appointments. I’m doing all the shopping etc for the both of them. She’s got all her stuff there and luckily mum has a big house so she’s got space. They seem to be getting on really well but I’ve asked mum to teach her how to clean a bathroom properly having seen the state of her en-suite at uni!

I also have no live lectures or any set work. Everything has been posted to Canvas and we're being left to get on with it. The last time I had a proper lecture was before everywhere closed.

Mine had a supermarket job within 48hrs of coming home. Very very lucky, a short walk away and the other adults (parents and sister) are all wfh so relieves the broadband pressure. Another university child is still there- final year and dissertations.