DD and her friends secured their house yesterday. There are 5 of them, and a new house came on, and they dashed over to see it, and then straight on to the Letting Agents to confirm they wanted to take it. As they were filling out the forms another group came in wanting the same property, and both groups' details were sent to the Landlord who confirmed they'd let it to DD and her friends. Small matter of immediate deposit of £430 plus agent's fee of £180 (per person). She's given our names and details as guarantors, and says it will just be for her room, not for the whole house! Presume we'll get something through the post soon and will need to check it carefully. She's in Catered Halls this year, which she has really been enjoying, but this should be much cheaper even though it still seems quite expensive.
That sounds about right for what DS was doing in the summer last year, he left it until late and then just slotted in with whoever, and it has worked very well for their household. I wasn't surprised they asked him for a retainer, just that he had to do it so early. The whole thing has been interesting to watch.
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Higher education
EMPTY NEST SUPPORT THREAD - PART 4
madeinkent · 29/01/2015 13:15
Best wishes to everyone having their students home for Easter and 
to those who won't meet up.
Isthiscorrect What a worry. I do hope he is ok? Have a wonderful time in London.
I have DS home now for Easter. Interesting how our family of four got used to being a three and is now back to the old four again.
DS has already been home for nearly 2 weeks (missing uni) due to postgrad interviews timed to make it impossible to go back and forth to his uni 6 hours plus away by train. Has bagged places from both his interviews so far and has an interview at Oxford on Thursday 
so fingers crossed for a 100% success rate.
Enjoy your time together everyone.
DDs home on Thursday for 3 wks and she's hoping to work as many shifts as possible because she's found out where she's going next year and she'll be bankrupt by Christmas based on previous trips She'll be in the one place I didn't want her to be but claims she picked the uni based on the course 
The academic year starts 1st Sept and she's trying to find out when she can move into halls so we can book flights. I've already started stocking up on deoderant because she reckons you can't buy it there and you're not allowed to send aerosols through the post.
Isthis I hope DS is on the mend.
DD3: came home late on Monday. She spent all day yesterday finishing off a programming assignment. Got very stressed as bits of it kept not working. She finally finished and submitted it just before midnight. So stress over for now 
Dd came home yesterday. Had been to stay with a flat mate for three days enroute. Now upset that she didn't come straight home.
She is quite wobbly at the moment. She likes her course, but it is very heavy work wise. She works incredibly hard, I think probably too hard so she isn't allowing herself many breaks.
She is finding living with others 24/7 hard work , especially with pyschogirl in the flat!
She had a mega meltdown this morning. Took her shopping once she had stopped crying. She has also put on weight so is upset about that.
She says she is just letting out all the frustrations of the term but I am emotionally exhausted and worried about her.
She is out with old school friends tonight so hopefully will feel better after that.
I think she feels that uni should be more fun and friendships easier. She is also stressed about her loans, despite us being able to comfortably support her.
Oh and she has just been diagnosed as dyslexic.
This is the hardest bit of parenting so far
An hoping that she will get some more support. Trouble is she is shit at asking for help or for advice. She does talk to myself and DH but sometimes knowing how she is feeling is so hard. She also has a tendency to paint everything black when things don't got right and she can be intolerant of others who don't put the effort in- am trying to get her to realise that this is life and she needs to let things go over her head at times!
Friday I agree about it being the hardest part of parenting. When they were little we could fix almost everything. DDs issue has, IMO, been handled incorrectly by the uni, based on when I've been involved in similar proceedings and reading their own policy, but she refuses to let me draft an appeal or complain to the board of govs even though some of the sanctions may impact on her chosen career 
Hi Needmoresleep A very insightful post. it is probably worth looking back and giving praise for all the achievements of the last year I'll do that.
In my case I think DS has loved the academic challenges and has been very lucky in that his campus location and compatible flatmates have cushioned him in the transition from home to university. Year 2 will be another challenge to him because he has to live some distance away off campus which he is not looking forward to.
Anyway it's my birthday today and I have both DS at home and flowers and chocolate . They even got up before lunch.
from me as well!
I know of twins both on the same course at the same University. One is having a ball. The other is coping with the work, but has yet to find the additional resource to engage fully with other aspects of University life. I suspect one of the advantages of taking a gap year is you can use it to develop independance and maturity and so avoid having everything hit you at once. All the same they really have achieved so much, and I am really enjoying the different relationship with a grown up son. And though I think he will do OK in his first year exams, its useful that they only contribute a miniscule amount to the final degree.
Feeling more positive after a lovely day at exhibitions in London with DD.
As said above she has achieved an awful lot this year but was feeling overwhelmed by her life at present.
I can remember feeling the same but I didn't talk to my parents about my worries, so I should be glad she talks to me
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DS came home last week, having turned 20 during the previous week. We wanted to do something silly while he still can, so took him to the Warner Bros. Studios, as he grew up with Harry potter being read to him at night from about 5. With the nastier bits omitted, of course. He loved it, we kept it a surprise until we drove through the gates almost.
But we have to take him back this Sunday, as he has to go on a course on Monday. Not everyone celebrates Easter, it would seem. Never mind, it's been a good week and I still can't get over him putting all his lunchtime sandwich making stuff back in the fridge when he's finished! He even wipes his shoes now too! It's amazing what a difference monthly landlord inspections make. Every parent should encourage their child to rent from an agency with monthly inspections. I thoroughly recommend it.
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