Thread 33 - Lovely Jubbly Jubilee Break, then back to Exams

[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. Possibly a move to Parent of Adult Children Board in future?
previous thread

Ds said OCR maths today was really hard. His friends thought so too. Any one else’s DC do OCR Maths today (pure & stats)? Most on here seem to be Edexcel.

Well done to all that sat papers today and @PaddingtonPaddington DD for being first over the finishing line ! ⭐️
Fingers crossed for your DS @Monkey2001 !

scabby1 DS sat OCR MEI which is a bit different l I did notice some people complaining that the regular OCR was very hard.

@OrangeCinnamonCroissant dd is my only too, and I'm single, so the house is going to feel very different. I know we've talked on this thread before about how our DC are a bit 'behind' in the independence stakes due to covid, maybe the same applies to some of us too! They've not had the opportunity to gradually gain more independence and we've not had that time to adjust to it.

I'm going to be doing some studying of my own too, an MSc that I've thought about for years but it never seemed the right time.

I have a couple of good friends locally but I don't live in the town where I grew up (although not too far away), so my family and a lot of older friends are not on the doorstep.

@Alsoplayspiccolo @Wheresthebeach I think I might feel a bit more emotional once the exam stresses are over, but even then the wait for results might make it difficult for it to seem completely real, so maybe it will come after that!

Dd seemed in a funny mood when I rang her at 4.30 after she hadn't text after her exam (maths edexcel), like she said she would as I was finishing work late today. She said the exam was fine, a bit more difficult than paper 1 but still okay overall. Then she wouldn't elaborate, she said she could remember any details (one whole hour after the exam finished!). She definitely is still saying it was fine now I'm home, but I don't know if maybe it wasn't as good as she'd hoped. Or maybe she's just tired.

I'm pleased to hear most found it okay to good!

I bought her a cake home after picking up on the funny mood and with some guilt about the lack of good revision snacks.

I'm going to find it really hard to switch off when waiting for results, but I really just want to enjoy the summer.

Well done to your DD Paddington for finishing.

This last week’s push is proving to be challenging. DD is totally spent. I haven’t got into detail of what’s being sat for each paper (clearly clueless, there was a 20% NEA section plus 3 papers for her history) they’ve all done so well to keep going.

Glad to hear I’m not the only one with the ‘but you only need an A’ mantra!

@Volterra yes, I’ve just gone onto the student room and the general consensus is that it was much harder than paper 1 😬.

Can I have a quiet moment of motherly pride? DS1 (studying politics at uni) has been doing really well but I found out today that he got a first for his end of year feminist politics essay! Attaboy! I’ve raised a proper feminist! I’m so proud I almost cried 😁

Ah @Delphigirl how lovely

Glad the maths went well today. Interesting that OCR seemed hard.

@ealingwestmum Nowt like the ‘but you only need a A mantra’!
@Delphigirl shout it from the roof tops!!
Well done to your lad! ⭐️

All power to his embow delphi!

DS1 is trying to apply for a job, and they have asked for his NI issue date and expiry... that's not a thing, is it??

Thanks everyone!

NI expiry? Surely it expires when you die?!

@Piggywaspushed i don’t think NI numbers ever expire, they’re with you for life!

Well done to your ds @Delphigirl - you should be very proud!

DS has gone out to see some friends - apart from seeing his girlfriend last weekend he seems to have been in the house constantly for ever. He has driven so no drinking either.

Only two exams left 😊

Yes, that's what I thought crazy!

The letter has no date on it either for 'issue'.

That's brilliant news @DelphiGirl.
Am i the only one saying ' you only need a B ' 😁
@ealingwestmum it sounds like a very heavy week for your dd.
How many more exams does she have?
@mango0 you always write so beautifully about yourself & your daughter.

dd2 has been home from boarding school today to discuss her holiday funding with dh. I'm still ill so she's been thoughtfully leaving food & cups of tea outside my room.
Dh & ds2 tend to forget these things. She's also been making chocolate chip cookies for her boarding friends as presents. So the house smells like a home.

@Cantonet - I see your B and raise (lower?) you a “you only need a C in Chemistry and Biology” 🤣

@Piggywaspushed i always think with forms, if in doubt write ‘TBC’ 😂

Ooh I do love a young man who completely gets being a feminist is not confirmed to women only! Be super proud DelphiGirl!

Only 3 to go Cantonet. Think it’s the poetry for Eng Lit that’s finishing her off…

Confined 🙄

Congrats to all those with good news.

Ds was more worried about his Religion and ethics exam this morn. than he's been about the others, he said the questions can be difficult to understand. But apparently it went well.

When ds1 went to university I wasn't upset at all. But I did have 2 ds's at home. So that probably helps. I did worry about him though. He was awful at keeping in contact. I won't worry about ds2 because he's very confident in himself and just gets on with life, I know he will be fine. Ds1 and ds3 are both sensitive. Ds1 is moving back from university this week. So when ds2 goes, I'll still have 2 at home. As for ds3 he is flipping hard work, I am counting down the days until he goes to university. He's year 8 so I have a long wait! But if the older 2 have moved out by then, it will be strange.

I realised this week that we will be on holiday on results day. Not Ds as he's not coming with us. But I know what he's like. He won't tell me results or whether he has a university place. I asked him what he will do if he doesn't get a place. I asked about clearing. But his insurance wants BCC he said if he doesn't get those grades then no point in going to university. Maybe that's a good point.

One more exam to go in 2 weeks. So tomorrow Ds is taking a break and we are heading out clothes shopping. Ds wants to find clothes for university, we struggle to find clothes small enough, so I'm hoping we might find something heading to the city, we haven't got the shops for many years.

@shim@Shimy @Heifer how was core maths today?

I did write a long message about how horrendous DD found it but it disappeared. In short, she thinks she'll be lucky to get a D 🙁

I’m not sure how I will feel when DS goes in Sept. We have had some practice with him boarding weekly since Sept (I did cry the first night after dropping him off but neither he or DD know that) but it will be weird not having him back at weekends. I think it will be worse when (if) DD goes in two years and then they are both gone.

I will be a bit emotional about them both leaving their schools finally in the next couple of weeks too (DD is almost certain she’s going to college instead of staying now). I am enjoying spending less time taxiing them around to sports etc now, but OTOH I miss all the other parents I got to know through those sports too. I will also be standing down from two committees related to their activities this year. However I am sure I will have no difficulty filling my time, I have a good circle of friends locally and we are all making up for lost covid time with lots of socialising now. My allotment is looking better than it ever has because I have more free time to tend it. I will do more gym and fitness classes and I have applied to be a school governor as I am giving up the other volunteer roles.

@Monkey2001 That opportunity sounds made for him. Fingers crossed!

@PaddingtonPaddington First across the line! Congratulations. We're definitely stragglers with biology next Friday.

@Fruitybasket Glad she made it in. She will know she absolutely tried. 2% does seem a bit stingy.

DS had maths today and says it was harder than paper 1.

Snacks here are quantity over quality. Biscuits, haribo, cuppa soup. I have made an effort to do a cooked breakfast some days to ensure he's out of bed by the time I go to work.

@Delphigirl Now that is an awesome mother's achievement!! Congratulations.

I've no idea where I look on wiwikau but I don't see these threads?!! Tbh I do get the whole emotional thing though. I will be dreadful and I know I will cry lots. I get upset even thinking about it.
I do know that I'd be gutted though if she decided not to go away. It's the right choice for her but I will definitely have attachment issues!