Class of '18 nervously waiting.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

They've left college, now we are trying not to think about a certain date.

Ah phew TheThird!

GnomedePlume we've already requested a replacement on his behalf. I think we'll keep hold of the spare for now.

DH and I are both very organised when it comes to important documents and paperwork. DS2 (16) is the same. DS1: not so much.

It's moments like this when I cannot quite see how DS1 is going to manage on his own.

TheThirdOfHerName sorry, wasnt intending to teach granny to suck eggs! I just worry when people assume that insurance will cover everything. We lived in NL for a while. The cost of the plastic surgeon to repair DS' finger after a minor domestic accident was frightening: €2k and that was no need for major surgery.

GnomedePlume
Better that you said something I already knew than if you hadn't said anything and I didn't know.

TheThird feeling similar to you with the how will he manage on his own worries. Talking with DH about DS2 hopefully going away to uni, and I'm worrying about will he settle in, will he make good friends. DH said he's more thinking will he remember to wash? To eat? To know where on earth his wallet or ID documents are? Only problem is those thoughts have given me even more to worry about now!

Had a fun half hour reading excerpts of this thread to my ds.

His comments were

What’s a collapsible laundry basket?

Why are they buying glasses and plates? (He is in catered halls had not actually thought that self catering required equipment).

No point taking a tool kit I can’t fix anything!

A 4 page list? I would love to read it I was thinking of jotting ideas on a post it!

I don’t need a (drunken) drying rack that is what radiators are for.

I like the idea of a medicine box though but can you write down what medicine if for what illness!

Hello everyone; just checking back in after getting back from holidays for the last couple of weeks. Feel like we’ve come crashing back down to earth with a bit of a bump with R-day looming large now. Really wish I hadn’t read the other results themed thread just before trying to get some sleep!

We’ve not starting list writing or shopping yet. I think the list will be very different depending on firm or insurance so that’s too stressful and anxiety-inducing to think about right now.

Sending hugs, to all of my fellow sufferers, especially those of you with more than just this to worry about right now.

We’ve planned to visit family and stay over this coming weekend and the next as a bit of a diversion. I’m not sure we’ll be great company!

I have to say, I would be a nervous wreck if DS hadn't been planning on a gap year this year! I feel I'm slightly ahead with bedding, towels and a drunken rail (DS had to do all his own laundry in his final year at boarding school and soon discovered his favorite t shirts were getting small when tumble dried). But he is no where near ready for the big wide world yet.

hey just signing in finally!
I never realised what an adictive personality dd has, yesterday she played tetris for 6 hours straight listening to the same 3 songs over and over (two modern ones i don't know and hot stuff by donna summers).

as we are flying from China to UK we will shop for university items when we arrive. I was in catered halls for first year (back in the 1980s) but Warwick is all self catering so lots to organise. Ds has organised some things to take - sewing kit and a complete medical kit.
I think food will be the main issue - balancing his budget with his expectations. He thinks feta cheese and Serrano ham are essential ingredients! Dh suggested replacing Serrano ham with spam...

When DD started her first job in a butty shop she asked me "What is Spam?".

Her current favourite meal is (wild) Salmon, Asparagus, Anchovies and cherry tomatoes and thinks she will probably live off that at Uni.

With both our boys we kitted them out fairly comprehensively and generously when they went off to Uni - clothes, kitchen stuff, bedding, stationery, etc. But the agreement was that after that they were "on their own" in terms of restocking replacements. I feel this was a good approach because it encourages them to:

• take care of their stuff and not misplace it^
• budget carefully and spend money wisely
• take advantage of money earning possibilities during vacations and other times.

^I've heard horror stories about boarding schools and halls of residence at the end of term, when valuable belongings are just abandoned by spoiled kids who know mummy/daddy will fund replacements in the holidays. 😡

We’ve not done much buying yet. Our philosophy is that dh and dc can hit the local Ikea, Asda living, dunelm etc when they get there to get all,the essentials, once they know what they need. I have bought some clothes though, and plan to give him a box of goodies, a bit like a Christmas stocking.

My parents didn’t drive, so dm and carried my stuff on a train to uni.

Roisin that is a good point I must remember to make to dd. She does take care of her stuff, but to save upset it's better to be explicit.

dds firm seem to have a lot organised for them as soon as they arrive and it's (tiny) city centre, so I don't think there would be much opportunity to go shopping on arrival.

I feel less anxious after going on a stress binge yesterday. Thanks for the opportunity to vent :)

A friends dc did not seem ready at all to go last year. We all had doubts that they would survive as they seemed very young. But they thrived rather than survived. That was reassuring.

Good tip Roisin. I live in a university city and am saddened by the piles of rubbish left outside student houses at the end of the academic year. Our church gets given a fair bit of stuff that was left in halls, to pass on to some of the vulnerable people we work with.

I.hope DS has more environmental conscience than to dump duvets, pots and pans etc in the rubbish instead of taking them home, or donating if no longer needed.

we've just had a row with dd about the Reading Festival [if only ds1 wanted to go but he doesn't). She wants to go camping for the three day event. She has only just decided she wants to go. We don't want to spend the money or worry. She says everyone is going. We said why didn't you mention this before? (I suspect no-one she knows is going just one or two people)

Puts our worries about ds into perspective, she is catching up FAST..and he hasn't even done half the things she wants to do.

Sewing, medical kits, drying racks..I think ds is going to get on a bus and come home rather than tackle these things in situ. The bus is only an hour away from home..

We've paid the accommodation, there is no way of getting out of uni now..And it is third party hosted so quite difficult to get a refund. I've said if he fails to get better than a U he will have to do the Foundation Humanities Course instead of A level retakes.

travel anxiety beginning to kick in again despite yesterday's soothing words to myself.
I've found a cat feeder.
I've washed some clothes.
no EHIC cards for two kids. Travel insurance in place
kids' rooms disgusting chaos but can be left.
kitchen tidyish.
I suppose as long as I empty the bins there is nothing to fear about going away for 8 days. Garden no doubt will dry up but I suppose it is good for the plants to get their roots down.
Results seem like something to look forward, I'll be back then!!! Safe in my own house...

the problem about duvets and pans is if they are burnt or scratched or dirty. charity shops don't want them in that state, and it costs a lot to wash a duvet and dry it in a hurry, and transport it if you dont have a car, and I suspect for most it is then cheaper just to dump and buy a new one of equal cheapness. If there was a place to put scrap metal or recyclable textiles rather than clean usuable ones then it would be different. Councils should consider this in student towns. We are lucky because if we leave metal outside the house, scrap merchants will just come round on regular basis cruising in search of things like old radiators and take pans, pipes etc too. But no-one wants old smelly duvets.

The Ikea blue bags are great for laundry

Nettle I think there are a fair few DC on here going to the Leeds festival - my own included! But she did decide a while ago. I'm tring no to think about the worrying.

I hate leaving the house to go on holiday too!

Nettle raspberryripple

My three are all going to Leeds Fest - DS18 from Wednesday morning (but apparently he is coming home each day for a shower and food....) DD19 for the weekend and DS17 for the Saturday. I'm trying to block that out of my mind as well as R-Day. Having a house that we are still renovating is helping to distract me.

DS1 is going to Reading festival.
DS2 is not (not his cup of tea at all).

I told DD a while ago there were a few Mumsnet DC going, she reckoned they should have a meet up and discuss the Mums!