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

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

Hope this works. On phone with dodgy signal.

Loving the quilt Watford

Ds bought the card game "Exploding Kittens" after he'd played it at a friend's house.

We're having an overnight in uni town next week. I booked it so he could see where everything was and I could look at car parks but when I booked it I had no idea it would be the week before he went for real.

I'm loving all the crafting. That quilt is lovely Watford

I also love people going to visit university towns. We aren't doing that. DD has been to her uni for study days from school, and I think she went to a competition there at some point as well. It's fairly close to us really, and she's got quite a few friends from school/band/church (not that we go to church any more) already there.

Hardwick, that's a seriously long drive. No way to do it by train? (Probably a silly question).

We had a long weekend in Paris during our holidays this year so DH and DS could see where DD will be living and studying. I've been a few times, when we were flat-hunting and to sign the rental contract, and I will accompany DD by train on Thursday to help her move all her stuff. We could do it by car but I'm not sure where we'd park and it's much quicker by TGV.

The drive time is often less to do with distance and more to do with standing in near stationary traffic. I am looking at you A1.

We drove to DD's uni after clearing to make sure she could see herself there, and try and reassure her. We had a walk round the buildings but obviously had no idea where accommodation was at that stage.

All these shops done! We have nothing, and DD still has 45 hours of shifts this week.

We still.have bought nothing at all, but then, accommodation still not confirmed. We are currently at my Dad's, and will raid his spare linen, towels, crockery etc., for anything DS may need. Putting up with my parents running a bed and breakfast all through my childhood, and having to be quiet, not use the upstairs bathroom, etc etc has to have some upside! I just hope there is some bedding DS likes amongst the 1970s florals! If not we will obviously buy new, but he is keen to reduce waste as am I!

That memory quilt is lovely!

How is the crochet coming along kitten?
DS's Tom Baker Dr. scarf is currently about 1 foot long, 11 feet to go in a month...will I make it??

We go a week on Wednesday. I think we have bought most things though some winter clothes she wanted aren't in stock yet.

She still has some things to learn how to do and I have been commissioned to write a detailed cook book, shopping list, meal planner for ds who will be fully self catering for the first time. He is autistic so I am quite pleased that he as got as far as thinking about it and deciding what he wants to cook.

I did two lines and undid one line today Panda

We've got just under 5 weeks which is half a uni term, so I've got loads of time yet.

Ds1 seems to be imploding today. He's obviously feeling all of the emotions about going away and it is manifesting itself in saying and doing things to upset everyone. Hopefully he'll work through it shortly before I kill him but he won't admit to there being a problem so we just have to wait it out. Its a good job we love him.

Loving the blankets, I think a memory blanket is an amazing idea and yours is brilliant.

We have been to Morrison's today. Bought her cleaning/store cupboard/toiletries. All marked and packed in big bags. Also packed bedding, towels, first aid kit and kitchen stuff. Just clothes/shoes and actual studying stationery, laptop etc to pack. DD goes on the 21st and my op is in the 19th so it is helping my mental state to get everything organised!

We have been to Morrison's today. Bought her cleaning/store cupboard/toiletries. All marked and packed in big bags. Also packed bedding, towels, first aid kit and kitchen stuff. Just clothes/shoes and actual studying stationery, laptop etc to pack. DD goes on the 21st and my op is in the 19th so it is helping my mental state to get everything organised!

Sorry! WiFi rubbish

Thank you for making me feel normal! I'm also on the FB group and have been a bit bemused by the stress levels of some of the parents. Maybe I'm helped by the fact that DS26 went some years ago so we've done it once but, even so, I'm not wailing and gnashing my teeth. Maybe it helps that DD has been on a couple of camp type things abroad, is now in Amsterdam with a friend and is actively looking forward to a new start!
I am a bit more worried about DD but I know she sees it as a fantastic opportunity to get to know new people and have lots of new experiences. She dug out the info on course modules and went through them - excited about all the things she can learn! She hadn't dared look at them in the past few months as she didn't think she'd get the grades.

The house will feel empty, I will miss the post school tea and biscuit routine, although that's really gone by the wayside anyway with study leave, exams and the long hols. I need to get my mojo back and start to do more things for myself. We get out of the habit of doing that as parents. I have anyway.

marmite hope that university preparations are working as a distraction for you.

We too did our kitchen store cupboard and household items shop today. We must all look like short-term preppers! We are planning for a crisis but not expecting it to last long!

Also stocked DD2 up with new pants, socks and jumpers. She is under strict instructions that these are for when term starts and not before.

DD gets lots of nice new socks. I get to have her cast offs.

I'm not shopping for the kitchen because they may or may not be cooking as a group. I'll leave him with some money and they can organise themselves for that first shop. He can take his toiletries from here and a few toilet rolls to get him started but I'd rather not pack and carry things that he can buy there.

Fabulous quilt. I wish I had thought of keeping items like nursery curtains to do that for DCs.

All DCs safely back from Leeds. DD and DS2 only went for Saturday - DD got a lift back with a friend at 2am. We collected DS2 at 8am yesterday after he had had 2 hours sleep in a friend's car. Arrived home only to get a call from DS1 who had been there since Wednesday to say he had had enough and wasn't feeling great so could we collect him! Lots of sleeping since then.

My DPs have driven up to take us out for lunch today. They brought with them a stash of stuff for DS for which he was suitably grateful.

Do any of your DCs have long term girlfriends and boyfriends who are going to different unis? DS1's girlfriend is going to Sheffield and I'm a little worried that since Results Day they do not appear to have spent any time apart at all. Is that not going to make it harder?

DD1 had a long-term BF. The relationship eventually foundered during placement year. If I am honest I know of very few LTRs which have survived much beyond first year even if at the same university. Many reasons for this, sometimes the relationship had run its course, sometimes it is just the distance.

This is why I was so pleased that DD and her boyfriend broke up at the start of the summer. Although I have to confess to missing him a bit.

One of her friends and her bf are going to the same university. Recipe for disaster in my book.

This is my main worry about DD. Her bf is going to university 5 hours away. I wish they would agree to part company now. I think he will feel like a kid in a sweetshop when he gets there, and DD will worry that he is having too much fun while she is moping at home on her own.

dd and her bf are going to different universities. I'm worried about how that's going to pan out.

DS safely back from Leeds quite early today. I think they just wanted to get home. Very stinky and muddy. He has been asleep since about 2pm.

ds has no gf and has bought nothing yet...
he is still in another country, and we are now absorbed by the Induction tasks for two lots of Sixth Forms. it is officially a nightmare, I'm relieved ds is not here or he would be another source of screaming Dd still doesn't know what A levels she wants to do. She said she looked at the Geography tasks and wanted to throw up.

Bad my cousin's daughter was Oxbridge and has kept her long term boyfriend who is also a different Oxbridge throughout, for four years. It is possible. Likewise I know someone whose gf went to uni first and he followed a year later, and they are still together four years later. Character will out! If they get on, they'll continue to get on.