Christmas half term - Year 13 (another original thread title!)

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

Carrying on from previous thread

I'm so rubbish with thread titles. Anyway...

This time last year there was lots of chat about tests/exams/mocks at this point. Are there fewer of them, or is everyone more chilled about them?

netflix

I also think his mother could look at remembering to change her NN before posting but actually I was thinking about bikes too .

Netflix I believe you can add to your choices any time until the deadline.

I'm shattered too - it's been a long first week back.
I wish I had a relaxing weekend ahead but we're away for a dance competition until Sunday night. The next 2 days will be very full on.

I'm already counting the hours to next weekend!

DD celebrated her place at Oxford today by getting her nose pierced!
I suppose I had to expect some act of rebellion from her at some point. Think I'd have preferred a tattoo though . .

Are you sure Lobster? DD had her nose pierced last year. I hate it, she knows I don't like it and she still keeps telling me she is getting a tattoo when she is 18. At least the piercing can be removed easily in the future.

Netflix, its very possible school didn't tell him. I mentioned it at DD's parent's evening last term, and was told it wasn't possible. It is.

I think you can also add them when UCAS extra opens at the end of February too, incidentally.

I prefer the no’s over a tattoo. Luckily dd1 is a wimp and doubt she’d puck up the courage for one. I’d like my nose done but I’m too wimpy too

Goodness Lobster

How do you blow your nose with a piercing?

I had my nose pierced when I was 18. It looked great but I developed an allergy to any jewellery other than gold, so stopped bothering because I lost then so often I couldn't afford to keep replacing them. Blowing your nose is easy, you just have to be careful not to pull your nose stud out and lose it. I wanted a tattoo at that age too, and I'm so glad I didn't get one as the hole in my nose is absolutely invisible now with no effort on my part whereas a tattoo would still be there (although possibly stretched out of all recognition after 2 children). I'd definitely prefer a piercing over a tattoo.

No tattoos or piercings other then lobe’s here
There not allowed at school so I suspect when she’s at uni she will rebel
She’s been out and celebrated mocks with cocktails and drank a lot of rum her throat is now sore...
She seems happy though

Haha, I was thinking a tiny tattoo somewhere unobtrusive!
My objection to the piercing was that it's on her face - so can't be hidden!
It's fine though, I don't mind really and if this is the extent of her rebellion I think we got off lightly!
DH was funny - he'd been sitting across from her at dinner for almost 2 hours before he noticed it!

I don't even have MY ears pierced. Dd (who is doing GSCEs) tried piercing her ears at Claire's with my blessing/agreement but they were so sore after a few weeks that she gave up. I think that has put her off even the tiniest decorative intervention! Tbh it is reassuring to read about the tattoos as a normal stage. Met a highly thoughtful hardworking academic girl in her 4th year doing dissertation on some obscure subject at uni, and her ears had about 10 earrings each..so I must be very blinkered as far as tattoos and piercing are concerned.

Ds1 has been telling me he has started enjoying Philip K Dick, to read, not just to watch! I'm so relieved he wants to read anything...we've sunk very low here in our expectations... Currently asleep again.

Dd meanwhile (15) has jumped out of bed saying she wants to make the "most of the day" and ds1 (15) is also busily engaged in planning his day.

My dd (13) would love to have her ears pierced but as she is involved in a very physical sport and trains twice a week she has put the idea on hold until she can take time off training.
In the meantime Claire's do a good range of magnetic earrings.

Ds1 hasn't broached either tattoos or piercings, saying that his dad has tattoos so getting them as a form of rebellion would be pointless!

I've sometimes vaguely considered getting a tattoo, on my ankle, but I have no idea why

DS1 hasn't expressed an interest in any tattoos or piercings, but is very concerned that Reading festival have not yet announced their line-up for 2018.

As a boarding school girl I had a million ear piercings by 16 as it was what we did in the evening due to extreme boredom. Ice cube to numb, contraband vodka to sterilise needle and a cork for the back to push the needle into. Escalated to nose piercing each other when living in nurses accommodation when we had better sterile technique and access to good kit .

Got a tattoo at 21 and was in my late 20's with two children before I let my parents see!

I don't even have my ears pierced. I can't say that I ever felt the need. I had a big selection of clip on earrings in my late twenties, I should see if I still have them lurking somewhere because I have short hair again now. Thinking about it - maybe not. The big hoops with swinging parrots in the middle might not cut it in my mid 50s (and certainly not when I am dressed to do battle in the bank all in black)

Had my first text from dd
Her teacher asked her had she revised she said no
And he said in that case I’m not bothered as I know this isn’t what your’re capable of and I know this isn’t a true reflection
Very very very bad result
But dd knew it so she isn’t upset or anything she knows what she needs to do
Onwards and upwards I suppose

still no news from two unis! (The RG ones...) every day ds comes back from school and I say, ANY NEWS? and he says...well I'd tell you if there was.. I need to start thinking about something else, this could go on for weeks/months

ds seems cheerful atm, which is good. I feel shattered/tired/worn out, it's a bit like Dorian Gray doing A levels and I'm the portrait

nettle
Dds history teacher said it’s at this time they plummet normally and morale sinks
DD is waiting to hear back from one more uni Goldsmiths

Dd had English back and she got 50/60 which is a B
History went worse then expected but she’s please

Is anyone else's dc beginning to look ahead at the changes next year and feeling apprehensive? Since dd got her final offer she's been worrying about leaving friends behind, the prospect of having to make new friends and I think the change in general. I really feel for her, it must be a massive thing to contemplate.

Nettle I am definitely his Dorian Gray, he said there were obviously some people who still hadn't sent their forms as there were tannoys calling people from his year to the office and teachers marching round looking for students all day today. I said "don't they have nagging and terrified mothers at home?" . I suppose some won't which is sad but it's not the sort of school generally that has under-invested parents!

Finally found out his predictions which was nice, absolutely stunned to see them at B/C/C although one is currently tracking low. I have to pinch myself to remember this is the same boy who started secondary school with massive SEN involvement and has been through a shit load of family horrors in that time too. Although I think my children are amongst the fortunate group who come out of their parents separating/divorcing happier.

He put an extra course on today as well, thanks for all the advice. No offers for us at all. But then they've only had his details one working day .

OYBBK I'm apprehensive! DS seems incredibly optimistic at the moment but he's not an over thinker generally. He polices parents his younger siblings with me and does household maintenance and the reaching for high things. I'm excited that he wants to go but it will be like losing an arm and chunk of my heart.

Dd is not worried she’s a little as she’ll be in London but she’s not concerned
I’m not sure if this is because she’s in boarding school so is well adjusted to living away or just her personality naturally?

Probably a mix of both Fantasy but I have to say being used to not living at home meant I rocked up to my first day at uni on my own and was quite bemused by my flatmates all having their families there unpacking with them and making tea. Although their parents helped me unload my car so that was a bonus!

Just got out DS' predictions list as I wanted a little happy and proud moment and realised that his Welsh Bacc is on there as well (equivalent to a full A level for Welsh uni's at least) and he's predicted a B, so that's B/B/C/C predictions overall. Will have to say he ambushed me with it at 7am this morning which is why I probably missed it, he needed me to sign the thing that said I'd got it. OMG! Is it too late for Champagne?

MrSlant that's absolutely brilliant, well done your DS! Get the champagne open, it's well deserved. What a lovely surprise!

DD is the opposite of apprehensive at the moment.
She is so excited and really can't wait.
She's been in full list writing mode and has listed everything she needs to pack, everything she needs to organise etc before she goes.
It's lovely to see her so enthusiastic but I'm still very much in denial mode - can't bear to think about it yet.

I do think the reality and nerves will set in at some point for her, but for now I am enjoying her happiness and excitement.