What can I do for DD’s first exam

[Confuzzleduzzled]

DD has her first GCSE on 11th May. I’m having surgery for breast cancer on 8th May. Under normal circumstances I would make a fuss of DD on her first exam. I’d get up early with her, make her a nice breakfast and drive her to school in time for the pre-exam revision session even though we live close enough to walk.
I have promised to get up early with her but obviously can’t drive and don’t know what else I will feel able to do.
Is there anything I could do? She likes being made a fuss of and would probably like something cute as a little good luck present. Not sure what though.

The advice from our school was to keep it as normal and low key as possible, so as not to freak out the child. I did get up, offered food breakfast, made sure she had lots of snacks. I did the good luck present a few days before as well. On the first morning keeping everything calm, so letting her walk and clear her head a bit is the best thing you can do regardless.

hope the treatment goes well

Make her a lovely breakfast treat? Could you get her a little good luck bear? A little good luck charm? Hope you feel better soon x

Gosh what a lot to be going through. How about ordering a fancy breakfast to be delivered rather than you making breakfast? Would she like an exam/school related Jellycat? They are popular again with teens round us but I know these things can really vary region to region!

I had surgery for a lump removal a year ago which may be different from what you are having but in case helpful to know by 3 days post-surgery I would have been fine to get up with DD and walk her to school, but I was also having two hour long naps at lunchtime so make sure you have time to rest after you drop her off.

Best of luck to you and your DD.

Obviously I don't know your daughter, but I would have hated a fuss on the morning of my exams. I liked everything to be the same as normal and to focus on keeping calm. And this was for all my exams from my mocks at school through to the final exams of my Masters degree and my PhD viva! Any extra attention would have felt like huge pressure to me. So it's definitely worth checking with your daughter how she feels.

Take care of yourself too - it sounds a really stressful time. I hope treatment goes well.

Inam sure you have, but do talk to the school/exams officer about special consideration for you DDs exams.

Honestly, focus on your recovery, that will be the best gift to her. Don't make the exams out to be a massive thing, just try to encourage good sleep, fresh air, healthy food. I wish you well at this challenging time for you.

You could get some brownies and balloons for her. Or whatever she likes.

DS did his GCSEs last year. Every exam day I made sure I didn’t go to work until he’d got on the bus (our rural bus service is about 95% reliable, but you don’t want the 5% to be on an exam day!), I’d give him a new pen, a bottle of water with the label taken off and a post-it with the exam name/location/table & time. I’d make sure I was around in the evenings, and that he ate well. He didn’t want a fuss. He’d done exams at the eve of Y10, Christmas of Y11 and just before Easter of Y11. He was quite used to it!

I hear what you’re all saying about not making a fuss on the day. It would have been a very small fuss. I think I’ll get her some good luck goodies in advance and just make sure I’m up and available for a chat in the morning.

Good luck with your surgery and your recovery @Confuzzleduzzled. I hope you and your DD have a lovely summer together after exams and surgery.

Oh good luck with both the exams and the cancer treatment. I think just try to be as available for her as possible. Get up with her, have breakfast with her. Make sure the morning is calm and quiet and she leaves for school on time. Rest during the day so that you are hopefully awake and not feeling too poorly to console her or celebrate with her when she get home. Make sure she rests after school, especially if she's another exam the next day. Maybe think of something you could do together - a movie perhaps even if you're snuggled on the sofa and she's in a chair next to you.

Do ask for special consideration.. it will likely only be 2% but that might be one or twno marks more.

Oh and good luck. I had a lumpectomy in 2017 and was up and about fairly quickly but lots of rest.

Are there any friends she can go with so she's not on her own?
Maybe a little good luck charm and then perhaps some relaxing type treats for you both - face masks and warming eye masks to recharge you both.
Good luck to you both