Thread 31 Covid Cohort - Hopping through Easter and Revision

[OrangeCinnamonCroissant]

This is a thread for supporting all young people post GCSEs 2020, regardless of their educational setting. It is respectfully requested that all are supportive and helpful to each other. If you want to start a debate, e.g state vs private, please don't within this thread. Please also be sensitive when responding to threads about grades.

Some of us have been here since first thread back in yr10, some will be new. Everyone has been friendly and helpful in the past. Everyone is welcome. It is hoped this will continue.

Our DS/DD may go down various paths (such as employment, apprenticeships, higher ed) We have decided for anyone interested they will most likely find us within the Further Ed board.

previous Thread 30

I've made this one a little bit earlier as things are so busy, at home and on thread, so please feel free to use up previous thread first

@mummyinbeds I'm also very impressed by your DD. Hope she has a fantastic time.

Mini trip to Iceland sounds great @EwwSprouts .

I think we are only going to be able to do a mini break this year so I need to get planning.

You can tell this new format isn't great as our posts have definitely slowed down recently.. Although to be fair I don't actually have anything new to say. Back to school tomorrow, I have a meeting with the SENDCO re DDs diagnosis and will be asking them to apply for extra time etc despite the deadline passing, I want them to at least try as it does mentioned late diagnosis in the criteria. I haven't slept for the fast few days running the conversation in my head! The info we've had looks great for uni - some really helpful suggestions from the Ed Psy on what help to ask for. Also suggested DD would really benefit from taking exams in another room where she is able to read aloud the questions, along with other help put in place for her daily living.

@Heifer Hope you can get extra time for your DD. If not, ask for rest breaks as they are centre awarded. There is no maximum for rest breaks so DD has been told she can take as many as she wants. She raises her hand, then note the time and turn the paper over. She then raises her hand again and starts work. For DD it gives her time to rest her eyes, but its also good thinking time!

DS has had two results back from history and economics recent 'more mocks' or whatever they are. Both A*s so that's hopeful.

Bletchley style Escape room all booked for Friday , followed by Nando's, then DH taking him to pub for a beer.

Student finance done.

The majority of my year 13s are still bewilderingly apathetic! Actually, there are extremes , as some are working very hard so I shall focus on them, instead of stressing myself! I was reading some excellent notes and mindmaps and felt so sad that these hardworking students will be judged on their ability to regurgitate stuff under tight time constraints. It really does not suit many learners, especially not in subjects that require thoughtful analysis, or remembering ONS stats - let's face it, in the real world, everyone would look those up when they needed them!!

Re new Mumsnet, I can't post at all on app. V annoying.

@Piggywaspushed . That sounds a lovely birthday for your boy.
@Heifer I’m glad you found the assessment useful. You know your stuff and have the evidence to support your position so I’m sure you will win with the senior. Our girl was due to begin the assessment process for Autism/ADHD after Christmas but the psychologist is unwell. They have identified another now so we should start soon, but it will definitely be too late for adjustments. I am a bit ambivalent. She’s very avoidant and delayed in her emotional development.She’s searching for an identity that will explain her discomfort, but sometimes she sees things that no one else can see, and she definitely adopts little quirks and then draws our attention to them.
We’ve got the History NEA getting finished today. I wonder if she will ask me to read it. She’s veering towards Exeter now, I think she was worried that I wanted her to go to Warwick, so was able to reassure her that we will support whatever choice she makes. I also told her that she doesn’t owe us anything, that if she wants to come here for the holidays, that will be fine, but equally fine if she doesn’t. I think it’s been a worry for her.

I've resorted to going desktop on the mobile and zooming in a bit.

Dd upstairs tidying her room. I cant see how she has managed to revise in there. Our cycles have converged so we are within a week of each other DH has escaped to football. I'm trying out our shared Oovi (TENS machine) on sofa. I do actually think it is working !

I bought Dd a heated blanket/fleece for uni the other day it was on special offer through wowcher and is rather good. We have nothing to do uni wise apart from wait. Finance sorted, confirmed and filed. Offer accepted. Accommodation applied for and room allocated.

We just need to get through to the end of June.

I completely sympathise @Alsoplayspiccolo DH shocked me by saying he thinks our relationship will be much better after Dd leaves as she takes up so much mental space. It sounds terrible ...I kind of see what he means. We pootle along now and spend a lot of time worrying and talking about her, her reactions, her mental health etc. Oh god that sounds awful , it's not like all these problems will stop , rather that she will have to.start showing up for herself when we are not immediately accessible to rant at ,or blame.

I hope this thread continues after results and into whatever awaits them in September, I'm sure there will be many trials and tribulations (and triumphs!) to share..

Both DC are out today, so not much revision in evidence, in spite of DD's tears last night at how much she has to do 🤨

I have made an Amazon list of stuff for uni (not that I will get it from Amazon necessarily but useful to put it there as I think of things). I'm not buying anything until after results, nowhere near optimistic enough for that!

No revision done here this weekend I don’t think, or very little anyway. But to be fair he’s had a busy weekend with stuff planned months ago.

Relationships seem to be better now we have backed off. Fingers crossed he respects that and does the work himself.

I’m not buying anything until after results day. I have seen things on Facebook with people getting all sorts of stuff, planning cushions etc. It did confuse me, we don’t even know where they are going to be in most cases. And I’m pretty convinced DS would laugh at me if I presented him with cushions!!

DD not revising much either this weekend. Her attitude has been she's tired after week back at school and would rather rest. All they are doing in revising at school so I'm shutting up and leaving her to decide on how to spend her time.

Dd is out today too and had a party last night so doubt she’s done any revision.

We got the house on the market and had lots of viewings yesterday, resulting in several offers, so now we need to get on with viewing and making offers! I honestly don’t have much headspace for the kids’ exams so I’m hoping they’ll just get on with it.

Both kids have gone totally nocturnal so school tomorrow will be a shock! Dd came in about 3am after a party and ds was still on his Xbox downstairs. He’d forgotten she was out, so as she came through the door she was greeted by him brandishing a baseball bat 😂At least we know we’ve got protection if we’re broken into 😂

I’m always bemused at how much stuff some families seem to buy for their kids going off. Almost trying to duplicate absolutely everything they have access to at home…

I always go for the minimum/practical stuff and let them add to it once they move in. When Dd finally finished uni it took 2 trips to bring everything home & she had already disposed of a lot to charity shops etc.

Ds1 has a lot less stuff thankfully.

@crazycrofter A hot property market in your area! We await tales of the quirks in homes you view.

DS is not a stuff person. Even better my parents sold their caravan last year so have spare cutlery, blankets etc and have said he can take any of it.

Thanks @Wheresthebeach They did allow her to take rest breaks during her last set of mocks, although said she could leave the room. This caused some stress as she wasn't always comfortable doing that in front of 200 other students (GCSE's also in the same room) I didn't know she could just take a rest without leaving - I will discuss with Senco this morning. The Pys Ed also suggested I ask for another room so she could read out lout - but I can't see the school being able to do that, more staffing issues surely. If she can get extra time that will be enough for DD I think.

@Piggywaspushed That sounds a great bday for your DS and fantastic results. His hard work is obviously paying off.

Good plan to focus on students working hard rather than stressing although I'm guessing some may step up to the plate now the exams are actually this term!...

@Zebracat Thanks for your kind words. It's such a mindfield! Sorry to hear your girl's assessment has been delayed. My DD was so relieved she was diagnosed for Dyslexia as it meant she could ignore the potential ASD route. I felt she went out of her way to hide it rather than embrase it and find out what help she get potentially get. She baffles me sometimes :-) Your girl has a lot of things to cope with and it sounds like you are all doing brilliantly.

Did she finish her History? It's good that you can talk to her about letting her know it's her decision where to go, when to come home etc - it's the same with us tbh, ie it's the same with biologicial teenagers :-)

@OrangeCinnamonCroissant "We just need to get through to the end of June" - you make that sound so easy ;-)

Blanket sounds good, I bought an electric one for me and DD to share on the sofa but she doesn't like it as says it's too heavy (it wasn't even a weighted one)...

@singingstones I really hope this thread continues too, it's be so helpful, and fun.

@crazycrofter oh House Porn :-) Well done on selling your house so quickly - let the fun begin of finding a new home. Is everyone on board with moving?

Re buying stuff - I've bought a few bits. But as DD is catered it means less stuff. I think I will save my money for when DD asks for new cloths for uni (it's bound to happen) She mentioned she plans to wear trackies/leggins/sweatshirts etc which is odd as she never leaves the house wearing them normally except for sport!

Hope everyone has a good week. I still haven't finished our accounts along with video analysis for DDs A level PE. I am so behind.... Time to get off MN..

I really enjoyed going to buy stuff with my DS when he started uni 2 years ago. It was a lovely bonding experience, and gave him the opportunity to ask lots of questions in a round about way. If I asked do you need an X, he could ask why would I need it/could I use it for Y/would a Z be better/what's one of those then without looking silly!

We only went for cheap stuff - mix of supermarket, IKEA, Dunelm and Argos, and quite a lot of Amazon, but to be fair to him bar one cereal bowl and a glass it has all lasted two years now, one in halls and one in a shared house.

Hi all I am having a nightmare posting on here at the moment. I have all teens back in school tomorrow thank God. The responsibility of waking them up for the ADHD meds. run & ensuring they revise is exhausting. I have 3 doing exams over the next few weeks & my wine consumption has gone up this holiday.

@Heufer

Yes do keep the thread going. I'm on a university one. I joined it when ds1 was year 13 he is now just finishing year 3 of university. I hope someone starts one when ds3 is year 10 or 11 too. It's great to hear from others with dc's the same age.

I'm away staying with dm on the south coast, she's just come out of hospital after an op. It's lovely to see the sea. Im going out of my mind stuck indoors most of the day. She just spends her days in front of the tv. I've been on a 4 mile walk and will do another later. So I've not been at home for the return to school. I hope ds2 got up. He didn't have to go in until 11am.

I'm waiting to see what ds1 brings home before buying university stuff for ds2. I will wait until results day too. We already have plenty of single bedding from ds1's first year.

Yes do keep the thread going. I'm on a university one. I joined it when ds1 was year 13 he is now just finishing year 3 of university. I hope someone starts one when ds3 is year 10 or 11 too. It's great to hear from others with dc's the same age.

I'm away staying with dm on the south coast, she's just come out of hospital after an op. It's lovely to see the sea. Im going out of my mind stuck indoors most of the day. She just spends her days in front of the tv. I've been on a 4 mile walk and will do another later. So I've not been at home for the return to school. I hope ds2 got up. He didn't have to go in until 11am.

I'm waiting to see what ds1 brings home before buying university stuff for ds2. I will wait until results day too. We already have plenty of single bedding from ds1's first year.

DD and I went to a Louis Tomlinson concert on Friday, postponed for over two years because of Covid. We now both have Covid 😭 I'm really hoping DS doesn't catch it again but at least if he did, he'd have to stay in and possibly do some revision.

Sorry to hear about covid @mummyinbeds . We’re just about over it now, thankfully.

In terms of buying stuff for uni, I’m struggling to think what they need, over and above what they already have? I get the need for pots and pans if you’re self-catered, but otherwise?? Can anyone enlighten me? Dd can take a few of the mugs she already has and a bowl for ice cream or whatever. She has bedding. What am I missing?

@crazycrofter DD1 took everything but the kitchen sink.
New bedding, duvet & pillows, blanket, rug, fluffy cushions, fairy lights, lamp, laundry basket, drawers, several kitchen utensils [ everyone had a ikea grater so there were 8 in one cupboard], tupperware. We unloaded it all in the heaviest rain storm in christendom. It would have been far more sensible to have half the amount & i'm sure ds1 will have much less as a minimalist.
@mummyinbeds sorry you've managed to pick up Covid .I hope you feel better soon.
@Heifer i'm glad your dd has been finally diagnosed with dyslexia and will qualify for some extra time, even if you don't manage to get that sorted for the summer exams. It will definitely hold her in good stead for the future.
@Zebracat sorry your dds assessment has been delayed.
I would love to keep this thread going too.Albeit at times i've been an infrequent & somewhat absent poster.

@crazycrofter I'm a bit stumped on what DS might need too. He can just take his 'stuff'. Mug, bowl and spoon should satisfy his culinary needs 🤣 He has bought himself a plastic plant and a cushion from IKEA but already has them in his room. I might stock him up with a terms worth of toiletries.

mummy sorry to hear about Covid. Hope it's mild.

I suspect DD will be the 'kitchen sink' sort esp with cooking items.

Yes to keeping the thread going, it would be lovely.

Am sulking - eating dinner last night there was a big cracking noise and part of a molar broke off. Dentist can't see me today but have an appointment for tomorrow. Am sulking...a lot.