Year 13 support thread - The End.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

Not the end of the threads, just this chapter of life. We'll keep going, don't worry!

However! Not to be used until this one is done

Step is so pressurized. Even if thinks don’t go well and she goes to her insurance offer she will always know Cambridge wanted her. Not many of us can say why about ourselves (speaking for myself).

I'm not sure she would see it that way

Sending lots of positive vibes your way Kitten Such a lot is hinging on the tests, it's no wonder anxiety & doubt are creeping back in for your DD on the evening of it all. All you can do is try to calm her down for tomorrow's exam & try to reassure her - the mind can play horrible tricks on us, making us doubt ourselves.

Thanks Lashings, she was at the point where she didn't want me around, didn't want a hug or calming words, I just had to leave her to it.
She's normally an early sleeper, so fingers crossed she's managed to go off. She has to be up at 6.

All the best to your DD oybbk. Hoping it goes well for her. I'm just so glad DS's offer doesn't include STEP. No idea if he will make it though anyway...

Thinking of you Kitten, and your DD. It's such an immense amount of pressure and so so hard to watch our babies go through it.
I think the whole A level/UCAS process is cruel and too pressured anyway - STEP is just a whole other level of evil!
I have no doubt whatsoever that your DD will get what she needs - she's so talented and so so hardworking.
I know it's hard to stop the fear creeping in, but at least after tomorrow that part at least will be done and the end will be in sight for her.
I'll be rooting for her again tomorrow and sending huge positive vibes - to you too.
Try to enjoy your shopping and treat yourself to something special - you deserve it!

DS2 has just had a needs assessment for DSA. I went with him as he wouldn't have said much on his own. It was quite informal. The assessor was looking at what assistive software they could provide, none in DS's case. I'm just awaiting the report but the gist will be he's eligible for mentoring at 2 hours a week. They only fund level 3 and 4 help, which is outside lectures/lessons trying to help them become more independent. What my DS needs is support in lessons, prompting him and making sure he's on task. Level 1 or 2, which isn't funded. They describe it as a 'note taker' and are encouraging the use of lecture capture and assistive software for voice recognition etc instead. Not really set up for my DS's needs, rather disappointing. The college learning support funding isn't set up for higher education, they expect DSA to fund support.

I think DS2 is going to struggle but I can't really see an alternative for him. Getting to talk to someone at the college is proving difficult.

Hopefully your DS's university will be a bit more helpful.

Thank you so much Lobster and Panda, you've got me sniveling a bit. I really hope she realises her dream. She has worked so hard for this and for a long time. Once tomorrow is done, the rest should be ok. I'll report back after breakfast.

OYBBK, hopefully she's just catastrophising and preparing herself for possible disappointment. STEP is so difficult but she's got every chance, She coped brilliantly with STEP2. All you can do is reassure her that however she does, you know she's worked amazingly hard and you are proud of her, (obviously but she may have forgotten that and is worried about disappointing everyone.) 🍀

Thank you EllenJane that's really helpful, especially the information about the different levels.

Sending calming vibes to your dd OYBBK. And to you.

I'm sure she will pull it out if the bag. An extra special cooked breakfast will of course help her on her way.

I've taken the bull by the proverbial and booked a holiday for next Easter based on DD's first choice Uni term dates. . Don't mess with my plans Destiny.

We have the advantage that both firm choice and insurance choice (which is unconditional) both start on the same day in September. They're also both in the same direction. So we'll probably be driving him up the M1 on the third Saturday in September; it's just a matter of where we drop him off.

Ah OYBBK its so hard seeing them like this isn't it.

Sending positive vibes for tomorrow.

I hope she's had a good night's sleep Kitten, I hope you have too. If you are the kind of person that can think of 147 ways a situation can go wrong then deep down you know that usually things work out better than you expected because you know you look for the worst case scenarios. You've had years of seeing that the real event is usually better than you imagined it and you can use that to talk yourself down. They can imagine the catastrophe but don't yet have enough experience to assess how probable it is.

|It may indeed be a stinker of a paper but if it is then it's going to be a stinker for everyone.

Good luck to your DD Kitten

You're all so lovely, thank you :)

dd slept well and woke up seemingly all cheery (albeit with a bit of an edge) Unlike her Mum. I had imaginings of her lying there tense with worry. I'm very glad she didn't but argh!

knitting you are spot on with the psychology of it.

I've sent her off with a really intriguing maths puzzle for her to figure out and tell me how it works and another good breakfast in her belly.

In the mean time I've woken up with a sore throat and raging earache which explains my catastrophising, I always get like that just before I come down with something.

So I have to now keep myself occupied for the next 6 hours. When do the shops open?

Kitten So glad she seemed happier this morning
Sorry to hear you've got the lurgy though
At least it's nearly the end of exams so slightly less panic about germs!
DD seems to be coming down with something similar - packed her off to bed with a sore throat and ear ache last night. She just needs to get through C4 tomorrow then she can rest, rest and more rest!

Kitten you sound like an amazing mum. Good luck to your dd and hope you shake off the lurgy quickly

So glad she is better this morning Kitten.
I hope you can rest today and start to feel better soon.

Good luck little kitten, we are all rooting for you

Kitten forget the shopping trip, drag everything out from under the sink, rationalise it and put it back wondering why you have four tins of Brasso and three lots of Febreeze. Repeat with the under stairs cupboard and any other glory holes you have. After the first half hour you will be muttering so much that you will have forgotten what it was you were distracting yourself from.

Good luck to everyone with exams today, it's not long now until the finish (except for Downeyhouse who has ages yet but the advantage of speedy results)

you guys are making me laugh. Actually, clearing out cupboards is a splendid idea.

oh no Lobster. Perhaps its an internet virus :( I hope your dd makes a speedy recovery.

Kitten best of luck to your DD today & all other DC today!

After feeling exhausted last weekend I have had a horrid earache, headache, dizzy & throat thing this week - is it doing the rounds then? I just put it down to all the exam stress, but think maybe viral now? Feel rotten & floored by it whatever it is.

Thinking of you and your DD today OYBBK! Hope it goes well for her. Such a long struggle for her! Also good luck with the bikini shopping if you get there!

kitten and lashings I'm recovering from an inner ear infection and throat infection which I managed to get back-to-back.

I think the stress of supporting children through public exams had taken its toll without me realising; I ended up quite run down and more susceptible to viruses.