Class of '18 nervously waiting.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

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

Welcome Lily :)

I should have said at the start of this thread, but was in a rush. We are really fortunate to have among us people whose dc are looking at a wide variety of 'life options' (what an awful term). Some are off to university, some apprenticeships and some entering the world of paid work. Everyone is welcome. We are still all parents looking at our dc stepping out into the adult world. So welcome lurkers :)

I just saw your post on the other thread @derekthe1adyhamster That's quite a worry. It will be good if your ds can manage to stick it out. He might find this a good opportunity to get some insight into himself
maybe.

So my thoughts tonight are on condoms. To pack them or not?

I asked ds several weeks ago what he thought of parents slipping them into Uni suitcases and his take was “well having your tactic approval would be the best
Contraception”.

He has never had a proper relationship. But is very popular with the girls who he finds terrifying..... so far!

However as he is already alluding to wanting to enjoy his “best years” at Uni so am thinking I will pack some for him for any heat of the moment encounters.

We all know how hormones work and how there is a point of no return! So am thinking I will pack some even if he ends up binning or giving away the “mom endorsed” ones and gets his own.

Just don’t want him having issues.

Welcome Lilly.

I think there might be ample opportunities for free condoms in Freshers week Downey.
It's important to encourage safe sex, but it will be very safe indeed if her reaches for the condoms his Mum packed for him

Hi, another lurker here! I welled up today in John Lewis at the 'off to university' signs in the bed linen department; I am not ready for this yet!

Welcome Leia!
oof that's tough.

I ended up with way more condoms than I needed throughout my entire uni degree. I wasn't t a good girl either! collected during freshers week. Many colors, flavors and patterns!

I encouraged my dc to sign up for a c card. They can go to any pharmacy in the scheme and get condoms for free. I suspect uni's will promote free contraception.

Ds1 was funny tonight--dd is competing at a seaside town next weekend and we had suggested making a day of it by heading to the beach for ice cream when she's finished. Ds1 tonight asked if we mind him going to a friends house for a party instead. We had a giggle and reminded him that as an adult he gets to choose. . I think his freedom is going to come as a bit of a shock.

I meant to say welcome to Lilly. Thank you for the list gnome.

Signing in. I've been without phone signal for a couple of days. First foray into camping this weekend. It certainly won't be happening again.

Nothing bought for DS yet - we are not going to until after results day.

Free condoms as freshers week you say?
Fantastic - no need to pack the passion killing mom endorsed ones then :))

I call that win win.

Hi All, mine is moving a way to,do an apprenticeship, so we have all the worries of them being away from home, without the relatively security that uni can bring. Ie. He will be fending for himself (although sharing digs with three others).

I’m torn between buying stuff for him, and letting him make decisions about what colour duvets, for example, he wants. Part of me what’s still,to be mum, but part of me want him to start being independent.

Petalflowers maybe buy him some of the boring-but-vital things that he wouldn't necessarily think of buying for himself (tin opener etc).

Well dd officially hates me and the reason she doesn't come home is because I am so horrible to her.

I'm struggling to remember when she hasn't come home. She stayed out at a friend's last night. Does that count?

She keeps saying 'well I'll soon be gone and you won't have to put up with me anymore'. I'm presuming it's like a reverse thread on here.

Oh Ursula! They are always the most horrid to the ones that love them most and will never turn them away. Apparently teenagers become more difficult to live with so it is easier for us to let them go.

Not much help when they are being horrid though.

Thanks. I feel like shit. And all I said was 'Where's my iPad?'

Sorry to hear this Ursula. Hopefully things will be back to normal very soon.

Our kids have had immense pressure to deal with over the last weeks and have had to be very reliant on our support. Now as they prepare to move on I am sure they must be feeling a ton of complicated emotions and some may be overwhelming difficult to cope with and hence they “hit out” at the ones they know they can do this safely with. I suspect an element of pulling away may be starting for mine too.

Reported the above post as spam.

I had the best part of three days away with no phone signal and intermittent wifi. When I was driving away, several miles down the sheep track that passed for a road, my phone set off with an epic performance of rings and beeps as the backlog hit. Should we ever want a MN retreat, three meals a day (two with puddings), morning coffee and afternoon tea both with home made biscuits I know the place.

DS is at a music summer school this week. He's been for the last five years with his dad so going on his own is another first for him. He said that it is "ok" and I'll settle for that. I'm on salads all week in an attempt to drop the pounds I brought home from the all inclusive in Greece and the rural retreat with the amazing food.

DS loves me very much at the moment, I suspect that this is down to the two days on his own last week. That would be "on his own" with the bathroom fitters all day and then my friend took him out for one evening but my mother still thought that I was totally unreasonable for leaving him.

DS has just set off on his pushbike. 170 miles over 2 days to visit family. He has never cycled that far before, or with his bike laden with tent etc. I think it will be more of a challenge than his gold d of e. As for me, I'm feeling a bit wobbly about his adult independence - will be good practice for September!

Wow Panda. Go your ds! That's quite some distance fully laden.

Ursula I think a lot go through that. I don't think your dd really feels that way, she's learning how to separate and some see it easier psychologically to do it with a guillotine rather than a gentle floating off. dd is convinced that I should turn her bedroom into a guest bedroom as it won't be hers any more. It's utter rot. It's hers as long as she needs it and I keep repeating that. This is her home as long as she wants.
It's scary leaving home and scary = odd reactions.

Thanks kitten. He is used to cycling in hilly conditions, this trip is pretty flat so should be OK....he has worked out places to.intersect the train if he has to!!