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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

Uni Freshers 2016 (second thread)

862 replies

soapybox · 13/10/2016 12:27

A new thread!

OP posts:
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11
lovelybangers · 13/10/2016 12:55

Nice to hear that the boys have been helpful. I hope my DS does the same.

OhFuds · 13/10/2016 12:59

Marking place!

Hoping I have a happier DD by the end of this thread.

And it's lovely to read about how the boy's are looking out for others.

thepurplehen · 13/10/2016 14:02

Squirrils - I agree that young males are not always treated as well as they could be. I have a DS and a DSD who are the same age. People say things to DS, that they would never dream of saying to DSD despite displaying the same behaviour!

hellsbells99 · 13/10/2016 14:50

Thanks for the new thread!

Naughtytummy · 13/10/2016 15:00

New thread and still limited contact with DS2.
DS1 is now at the same uni and has seen DS2 in passing, when I asked how he was, DS1 said "alive"
Boys!
Going to try and ring over the weekend, it's been two weeks I want to hear his voice.

Squirrills · 13/10/2016 15:04

Grin at "alive".

EllenJanethickerknickers · 13/10/2016 17:04

Oh good, new thread, thanks soapybox just in time.

We're going up to visit on Saturday. DS1 will be 2 weeks in. So looking forward to it. I'm trying to keep messaging down to a reasonable level, enough to let him know I'm here if necessary and thinking about him, but not so much I'm stalking him. Grin

Sorry to hear about poorly DC. I can remember when my friend was really quite ill with nasty tonsillitis at uni, we didn't know what to do. We informed the hall staff in the end and they took her away to stay in the university medical centre for a few days. It was staffed by nurses and was like a mini hospital. Because that was my only experience I kind've assumed all universities did something similar. There must be a need, I'd have thought.

Leeds2 · 13/10/2016 17:25

Also sorry that so many DC seem to be quite seriously ill. Hopefully, all are on the mend soon.

OhFuds · 13/10/2016 18:16

My DD is home tomorrow for the weekend. This is the 2nd visit since she started on 3rd September and I visited last Sunday, does that sound like too many visits? I think coming home just makes her miss home even more.

Coconutty · 13/10/2016 18:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

hellsbells99 · 13/10/2016 18:43

OhFuds - my DD is coming home on Saturday for a night. But I am away and DH is working all weekend. She is going out for a friend's birthday. Hopefully I will get to see her Sunday afternoon for a couple of hours.
I think they just like to know that home is still 'home'. We have said to both DDs that they can come home whenever they like so hopefully they don't feel 'pressure' on them that they have to stay at university.

Cherryburn · 13/10/2016 19:42

DD seems to have settled really well so far. Have heard from her by text most days and she's called a couple of times. She too has come down with 'freshers flu' though and is holed up in her room tonight having handed in her first essay today (she went a week past Sunday). Has freshers flu always been a thing? I really don't remember everyone getting ill when I went (30 years ago-eek!)

Leeds2 · 13/10/2016 20:42

I started uni in 1984 I don't remember people being ill either. But it does seem be the case these days.

GRW · 13/10/2016 20:52

My DD informed me today that she has been ill with flu like symptoms for a couple of days. She has still gone to all her lectures after dosing herself up with paracetamol, so I don't think she's too unwell. I feel reassured that she had her meningitis jab. I hope everyone's DC who have been unwell get better soon.

homebythesea · 13/10/2016 23:18

Sadly we will be seeing DS sooner than we thought as his lovely Granny (and my lovely MIL) died yesterday (not unexpected) and so we will gather for the funeral next week (hundreds of miles away for everyone). I will have to send him yet another suit!

I'm still revelling in the quality of the communication we have had since he's been away. Maybe it's distance and/or being on the phone (as opposed to face to face) that allows him to feel comfortable talking about various things that we've never really discussed before - long may it continue

BennyTheBall · 13/10/2016 23:23

I started uni in 1988, and I definitely don't remember anyone being ill.

My ds has come home this evening. It's totally weird - he has become a bloke overnight. He is very thin. I had warned him not to get fat, so he has clearly taken me seriously Blush

He's happily regaling us with horrendous drunken stories and alarming photos - this is the boy who had had about 7 alcoholic drinks his whole life, and 6 of them were at his leavers' ball!

clam · 13/10/2016 23:27

Dd went back today. She's better than she was, but still sounds as if she has a golf ball stuck in her throat. She was determined to go, however, as she has lectures she doesn't want to miss and some sort of function tomorrow night. She took a tray of cakes back for her flatmates, as a thank you to them for being so lovely and looking after her when she was feeling so rough.

granarybeck · 13/10/2016 23:33

Thanks for starting a new thread soapybox When I started the thread I wasn't sure anyone would reply! It's been such a nice source of auppprt just to read people experiencing such similar feelings and the little details.

I'm going to see DD this weekend at Warwick, which will be two weeks in and am so excitedSmile She seems to be settling in well but will just be nice to see her and have a face to face catch up.

Hope the poorly dcs start to get better soon. My two have both had the fresher's flu but, touch wood, not as bad as some.

hellsbells99 · 13/10/2016 23:48

Sorry to hear about your MIL homebythesea Flowers

Original poster
soapybox · 14/10/2016 00:12

I am sorry about your MIL homebythesea but glad you will be seeing your DS.

Granarybeck - I lurk far more than I post these days but I have found the Freshers threads such a comfort as we all get used to our children fleeing the nest so a big thank you for getting us all going!

This weekend is four weeks since DD went and by far the longest we have ever gone without seeing her. My DS is away on a CCF camp this weekend and so DH and I are making the most of our new found freedom and going on a city break!

Then next weekend we are all going to Leeds to see DD! I cannot wait!

OP posts:
granarybeck · 14/10/2016 06:12

soapybox same here, I joined MN about 12 yrs ago when it was so much smaller, as were my children! But it's funny how I do pop back at key times like this.

Have a wonderful weekend, we may as well enjoy the perks of our own newfound freedoms just as our dcs are! I bet your DD is looking forward to then seeing you as much as you are the week after.

Coconutty · 14/10/2016 06:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LIZS · 14/10/2016 07:10

Ds got one textbook from a third year but his course is very topical based so really needs latest editions. He's eyeing up one on Amazon but it is still £25. Fortunately much is available online too.

granarybeck · 14/10/2016 07:20

Coconutty my DD said her uni did a second hand book fair (poss by subject). She got some a really good price but also said it was really useful to speak to students about which books they'd used through the three years/were worth buying

homebythesea · 14/10/2016 07:20

Thanks all

On textbooks DS has used his course Facebook page to seek out some of them, so maybe worth trying that? Otherwise Amazon or even eBay might come up with some bargains? I agree they are ridiculously priced (as they always have been). People will say use the library but DS said that most of his textbooks are already signed out so there's always the risk you can't get the book you need when you need it

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