Class of '18 nattering as they head in different directions.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

Hope this works. On phone with dodgy signal.

Sorry I am very late to this, but OYBBK, did say I could join on another thread.
Have lurked on at other times. Not RTFT yet, up to page 20, you all seem so nice and supportive. Congratulations to all your DC and their amazing achievements.
My DS1 is off to University of Lincoln, Criminology degree, he would like to be a police officer/prison officer.
He had an unconditional offer, though got his predicted CCC, the criminology A level in 1 year, at C.
MN is scary, I am his dad, sorry, between us his mum and we have 1 O level and 5 GCSE's, loads of CSE's, we are and have been clueless.
It been a rubbish 14 months, DS had a breakdown, horrible chemistry teacher year 12, completely lost chemistry, A/s levels of CEE, sixth took all summer before they accepted him back. Went missing, twice, CAMHS involvement. Finally we seemed to be winning again and a very close family friend dies in RTA, on way to meeting DW, after spending a weekend sorting out our inherited fish pond. Now we are trying to sort out DW's great aunties DH, who has Parkinson's at 90. It never stops does it.

We have mainly bought every thing for Ds. He has spent last 18 months volunteering with local police cadets. Got 3 interviews, but no job, but has delivered phonebooks, worked on painting fences and cutting lawns, and goes with some money. He has been secretly nervous and anxious, he attacks his fingers, making nail bed bleed when worried, but he has met his 5 flatmates on FB, met 60 Criminology students online from 1st to 3rd years, on freshers FB and thank god met a old mate from rugby who is also going to Lincoln. He suddenly seems so much happier.
God it scary, and you never stop loving and worrying for them do you, even at 18, he still our little boy, just hope he has the time of this life!

Sorry it long, no one really to say it all to in RL.
I am sorry to gate-crash and will return to catching up with thread.
God luck to all your DC.

Welcome user and wow you have been through a very hard time. There are a few of us on here who have DCs who have been through periods of high anxiety / self harm. I hope CAMHS were better in your area than they were for us. I won't get started on what I think of them.

I hope your DS settles quickly into uni life and that life is much kinder to all of you from now on

user another parent hoping this is going to be a fresh start after a rocky Sixth Form experience.
I'm sending my son off with strict instructions to take a 1000iu vitamin d tablet every day, or failing that a 10,000 once a week, because he has suffered from Vitamin D defiency in the past, and his anxiety/low energy/confusion peaked at that point (although we didn't know it was contributing)
Son achieved 2 Cs in A levels and I distinction* in Btec, and we are very relieved and so is he! Off to a well regarded ex-poly in South east to do Music in a beautiful beautiful city so he is very excited and meeting lots of freshers online already.
I'm finding myself worrying about lots of little things, but the main thing is I worry about his health and stability, and I cannot now influence that except to prod him and offer him fresh veg/unwelcome advice.
today I found myself worrying about the Tv licence and the library access...and had to force myself not to go out and do a big grocery shop on his behalf (which I would be carting in a knapsack all the way on the train so doubly silly) Worrying whether he will know to buy good quality oil not contaminated cheap veg oil. Silly worries really. And whether he needs a teapot that is going spare..or should I send him a warm jumper in the post, because he will never buy one himself..

I spoke to someone today whose son went to Swansea to Engineering last year (a rockclimber by preference so more dangerous you cannot think of) She said after about a month of her ringing her son up and asking how things were going he just said. Mum Please Stop. I will ring YOU.

Hey, you found us User :) welcome to our crew!

Hi User! Welcome!! Sounds like you have had a tough time. Should have joined our little rollercoaster 2 years ago. We have been having a lovely ride of highs and lows!

Packing the car tonight. Hoping we have everything. Remembering they do have shops in Sheffield!

Just hoping hoping hoping DD2 enjoys the experience.

A week today DD will just be arriving at halls to unpack the small mountain of doom that has been growing in my sitting room! She is now totally bored of me shouting "Use a condom and don't do drugs" at regular intervals.

Had my pre-op yesterday that was all fine and had lovely meeting with my breast care nurse so I could talk through everything.

So this time next week I will be minus a boob and a daughter! Send chocolate and gin!!!

Good luck gnome

marmite - I'll be round as soon as I can find a poster called Gin to bring with me

User and nettles I'm another one whose teen had a horrible last year at school. She was off school for a whole term following low grade bullying by her "friendship" group. She ended up with quite severe social anxiety. Her course started this week (she is not in the UK) and so far it has been an extremely positive experience, she hasn't been this happy for years. I hope things work out for your teens too x

marmite I reckon you need a whole distillery turning up on your doorstep!

user1471450935 one of DD's friends is doing the same degree at Lincoln. They will probably meet.

Mistigirl I have walked in your shoes. DD had the same problem in year 10. Many people don't understand and completely underestimate what low level bullying and being ousted from a friendship group can do to a person's self esteem. In DD's case she was self harming and became borderline anorexic. I hope the fresh start for your DD continues in the same positive vein.

Good luck Gnome

And good luck to everyone esle's DC. Sorry if I have missed anyone out

DD has come back from inter railing and is supposed to be going to her accommodation next Wednesday. (They could pick any day from Wed to Sun). She has no realised that she doesn't have much time to get ready - and see everyone before she goes! You are supposed to be able to change the day on line, but something has gone wrong with hers and her status has changed to arrived which means she can't change it. She phoned this morning and they basically said because its gone wrong she can't officially change it, but she can come any day! I just hope its OK and they still let us unload etc! Why do these things make me panic so much!?

Hi user - onwards and upwards for your DS.

We're heading off tomorrow morning.
DS decided tonight would be a good night to go to a gig and he "might" meet friends in town afterwards as it is someone's birthday. We leave early as he decided the 9-10am slot was the perfect time to arrive. At least we're only about an hour away!

Hi,
I posted as user1471, didn't know you could change names, bit stupid of me , hope this is a more friendly name.
Trying to post and work at same time, so will catch up.
Chocolateworshipper CAMHS short answer NO they are rubbish
To all of you, thank you for the lovely welcome, I think I finally feel at home, only wished I joined earlier , , or which ever you find best.

DS still in bed following last nights Last Hurrah! (He got home at 5:30am!).
Longish list of things still to sort. Off on Sunday (early), but he's got a rugby match here on Saturday afternoon, so really needs to be all packed and ready by lunchtime tomorrow.
Decided to leave tv license until he is there, because if internet not good enough for steaming there is no point him having a license.
Welcome user. marmite I'll drink gin for you? Hope all goes well. cats hope your DD hears about apprenticeship soon. And to everyone else, courage!

I brought back tea towels (because everyone had taken some) and the under bed storage box because the bed is built in and you have to lift the mattress to get at the storage. He has gone out this morning to buy a mattress topper as the mattress is very thin, he also could do with a retractable pass holder for the door key/access fob. He probably needs to be locked out a few more times before he listens to me on that one.

There was an option of an upgrade on the internet speed for those who intend streaming/gaming, he tried to sort it before he went but ended up doing it after he go there when it turned out to be 10% cheaper.

Like your new outfit 2Boys :)

They are trying to squish everything in at the last moment aren't they. Hard to pack and say goodbye to friends all at once, especially if denial has been a part of it.

A retractable pass holder you say knitting....

OYBBK maybe not if you are in an old building but DS has a new block with automatic doors. You have to touch the fob to the pad to activate the doors and if it's round your neck you bend double. If it's not round your neck then you lock yourself out (if you are DS). I suggested that he fasten it to the belt loop on his trousers with a retractable (ski pass) fastener. What he ends up doing is up to him.

I shall examine dds locks with interest

OYBBK
Thank you sums up our family really, Cairn is 12 now, so may see out Ds1 at university!
Nettleskins and Mistigirl
Here's to new beginnings, it's so hard to see them struggle, especially as they try and navigate life for the first time. I hope your Ds settles in and your dd enjoys her new surroundings. I believe you said Paris, I am not jealous, honestly, I never been, closest was ring road (hell on 4 wheels) going to Disneyland Paris
Condoms Ds had 2 packs given by his mum, grannie found them, poor DW got 45 minute telling off for promoting underage sex, DW is 45 and Ds 18, FGS, but grannie wasn't best pleased and let us all know for sure!

LoniceraJaponica
Oh a fellow Criminologist and Lincolner too. they seem a rare bred on here. Ds has noticed 90%=+ of his course are girls, honestly chose it for it's content, and a open day he was only 1 of 2 boys out of 60 girls, and offers 1 of 4 boys out of 50. I sure he will meet your DD's friend.
To those who are on route good luck, GnomeDePlume Meadowhall, is a shopper's delight, spent many "happy" hours following DW around for Christmas shopping

Good luck Gnome and others going tomorrow or soon.

Welcome 2boys.

I am packing boxes of forgotten or didn't fit in stuff for both of them today.

2boys - do get your son to talk to tutors and the Uni counselling service about his past issues. He might not need them but asking for help early is key. I was at a conference at Lincoln Uni last year and very impressed, it's a lovely City and Steep street is!

My DD is going to apply for a job in Vermont (I've looked at emergency plane tickets just incase).

Well the horse has been settled into his new home. I am officially horseless for the first time in 26 years. I had a big cry as I got out of bed this morning but I am now knackered from clearing out his stable.

DD wants me to help her pack but is now fake tanning ready for a night out in the city for a friend's birthday. No doubt she will be ridiculously late home and we have the lunchtime slot for tomorrow.

She has asked me to make a banana tea bread.

user1471450935
I actually remember you, from a thread where we were both standing up for kids with middling grades who are going to non-Russell group universities. DS1 got BBC (higher than we were expecting) and is going to Leicester, but Lincoln was one of the places he applied to.

User
Sorry to hear about the tough time you’re having. Facebook is a wonderful place at times for students!
Dd has had such a tough year and is only just coming through the situation. I hope things improve family ways.
nettle
Dd had a vitamin D Deficiency and has to now take a multivitamin to prevent it returning. She’s also on vitamin B12 injections for the rest of her life