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Original poster

5 weeks of GCSE gloominess?

69 replies

CocktailRarebit · 16/05/2019 16:18

Its started off well, a bit of excitement for a couple of days, if only for the novelty Smile.

But last two days of DS16 returning from school - a misery festival of questions answered wrongly, revised the wrong things, yada yada yada.

I know I'm supposed to be the selfless cheerleader or mute adult listener therapist, but isn't it all a bit wearing? Plus whatever I say seems to annoy him more Confused.

Still 4 weeks of this to go Shock.

Any advice?

OP posts:
mbosnz · 16/05/2019 16:21
Wine
BigusBumus · 16/05/2019 16:21

No advice, but I can sympathise. I have 2 DSs doing it at the moment. It was Chemistry today, their worst subject and they ahve gone into town after so i haven't seen them yet. I tried to phone to find out how it was and neither answered their phone.

This evening will be fun then. Sad

DerrenBrownings · 16/05/2019 16:22

Just smile and nod, console, congratulate and give him nice nutritional food in between all that (or whoever cooks for him!)

Rufusthebewilderedreindeer · 16/05/2019 16:50

cocktail

This doesn’t seem to be happening with ds2...nothing really phases him

But last year dd was a different story

She would come home with all these horror stories about misreading the question or not understanding the questions

I did try very hard to be supportive and to say that as long as she tried her hardest that everything would be fine...wrong comment. Or that if everyone found it hard then the grade boundaries would change....wrong comment. I said try not to worry it....wrong comment

Spent the whole of the holidays being positive and chirpy when ever the subject came up...nearly threw up on results day! I was so pleased and relieved with her results that a few tears fell

AND APPARENTLY MY WORDS OF COMFORT AND LOVE MEANT THAT I HAD NEVER BELIEVED IN HER!!!

You can’t actually win Wine

Londonmummy66 · 16/05/2019 16:58

I sympathize as I'm in the same boat - I think we just have to accept that nothing we say will be right - just keep on feeding them, not complaining about the state of their room, hugs when necessary and - yes lots of wine for us.

I can't imagine how awful results day will be.

DesparateDino · 16/05/2019 17:02

I know it's hell isn't it. We went through it a year ago and it still gives me nightmares. Then they worry all summer about the results.

Just listen to them rant that's all you can do.

Gin Wine

Doyouthinktheysaurus · 16/05/2019 17:02

It's a torrid time. I can get nothing out of Ds1 at all, except for him to say he doesn't want talk about it!

Not sure what's worse really. He says he doesn't want to think about it or talk about it which I kind of get, but it's hard to know how things are going when they won't communicate.

He has had his wobbly moments before the exams started and whenever I've tried to offer support, I've been told that whatever I'm saying sounds rehearsed and false🤨

Foslady · 16/05/2019 17:06

We had sociology and biology on Tuesday as the first exam day - both wanted to be taken at a level and that morning the damn cat disappeared!!!!

MakeMineALarge1 · 16/05/2019 17:07

Does it ever get any bloody easier, mines at uni, if she gets a bad essay result, I say the wrong thing and there's tears, now she is is doing work experience and she is still no bloody better!

mbosnz · 16/05/2019 17:08

A mother's place is ALWAYS in the wrong - and if anything is upsetting them, it's ALWAYS OUR FAULT!!! (Even if it's GCSE's over which we have no control. . .)

Original poster
CocktailRarebit · 16/05/2019 18:03

Thanks, all spot on.
Star

OP posts:
PotteringAlong · 16/05/2019 18:10

If it’s any help year 11 in my school seemed very positive when they came out of chemistry this morning...!

www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-48269031/stevenage-pupil-taking-gcses-using-eye-movement

Show them this link and then duck and pour a large glass of wine Grin

LadyRannaldini · 16/05/2019 22:54

Don't knock it, I need to mark them to pay for my flight!

SachaStark · 16/05/2019 23:01

OP, if it makes you feel better: I’m a year 11 tutor, so I get 27 of them, FRESH out of those exams, every day!

I’ve already lost count of how many water bottles, black pens, bananas and cereal bars I’ve handed out this week. Plus the crying fits 😢

However, we did have a morning dance party in the tutor room today to get them woken up properly before the science exam. Such a laugh!

I love them all, but my goodness, it’s going to be a long couple of months. You have my sympathies, OP, we’ll get through it in the end.

MakeMineALarge1 · 17/05/2019 08:53

@LadyRanaldinni haha

Foslady · 20/05/2019 16:21

So one weekin how’s everyone fairing? After a worried weekend this morning’s Sociology paper 2 went well, hopefully normalnormsl service will resume......

scaryteacher · 20/05/2019 16:55

When ds was doing his IGCSEs I was marking GCSEs, so it was all good fun. It did seem to go on for ever though.

Thankfully, ds has done his MA, so that part of motherhood is over, unless he does a PhD!

Doyouthinktheysaurus · 21/05/2019 20:29

It does seem to be going on forever. Halfway through week 2, one week off then another week and a half to go😫

TBF ds1 is very independent and is clearly doing ok as we haven't had any meltdowns yet I just wish he would let us know a bit more about how it's all going though. I get a quick 10 second 'it was alright' before he's reached his limit of parental contact and I'm sent on my way🤣

I hope everyone else is coping ok. Week off next week😎

BlueJava · 21/05/2019 20:33

I feel for you! Although when mine did their GCSEs I was concerned about them being more interested in the memes of the exam questions circulating on social media than revising for the next one.

If they particularly complain I will sit down and say "Sorry, but all exams really need is work and preparation, so this shows you need to get on it for the next one!"

sarahC40 · 21/05/2019 20:37

Feel your pain, people. Try being a teacher where you are surrounded by this angst all day, with one ds having a meltdown over a levels 'he never wanted to take' (My fault, obvs) and my d's taking GCSE- I can hear him practising Black Sabbath's crazy train right now - apparently useful revision for physics.

Serin · 21/05/2019 20:40

God I feel your pain. We had GCSEs last year and the year before. This year and next year it's A Levels.
3 DC in 4 years!
When they were babies I thought that was the hard bit Hmm
Good luck to all of them and "this too shall pass".

Neapolitanicecream · 21/05/2019 20:43

What have your kids got lined up for the long summer? Need some ideas for them to look forward to 😀

Doyouthinktheysaurus · 21/05/2019 20:49

I think you might win @sarahC40 Sounds challenging🤣

This is our first of 4 years of exams, DS1 GCSE's followed next year by DS2 and then A levels for one and then the other. I might just leave home before then!

DS1 is a dream really, he is always revising and is incredibly motivated. I predict struggles next year with Uber laid back DS2 who never seems to do any homework.

Greenfield19 · 21/05/2019 20:49

My sister was the same as this the whole way through uni as well ... just to warn you Grin

freddiethegreat · 21/05/2019 21:06

Mine is in free fall. Totally. I have gone past anything much except day by day damage limitation and hoping he avoids a) arrest and b) disqualification. And I am not joking! His SLT key contact is a bloody hero.