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University 2020 :10: Empty nests warm vests and covid tests: uni parents 2020

963 replies

sammyjoanne · 22/10/2020 19:10

Carry on from MilicentMartha's University 9 thead
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/a4025020-University-2020-9-And-theyre-off-making-hay-while-the-sun-shines?msgid=101075411#101075411

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sammyjoanne · 05/12/2020 13:55

All back home nowSmile . Set off at 7, got there for half 9. Stopped for a Greggs on campus for brekkie. Loaded up and back for 1.15pm . Not a single bit of traffic, I was shocked not to see any. Glad she’s back . She busy chatting with dd2 and unpacking so I’m settled with a brew and a bit of tv. BrewBrew hope everyone else’s uni journeys go well Grin

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specialted · 05/12/2020 14:47

@sammyjoanne glad you had a good journey, bet it's lovely to have dd home. Looking forward to our Lancaster trip tomorrow

choirmumoftwo · 05/12/2020 14:49

Lancaster on Wednesday for us. She'll be the last one in her house!!

mumsneedwine · 05/12/2020 15:03

Bristol one coming home tomorrow. Nottingham one not decided yet. She is happy in her house writing her dissertation thing and has her car so can leave when she wants. Both going back when they can. Bristol have been amazing and given discount on halls for this term and January is rent free. Even if you are there.
Be so nice to have them back.

SusannahSophia · 05/12/2020 16:42

DS had his flat Christmas dinner yesterday. It looked lovely! They did a secret Santa as well. They’ve all tested negative and are coming home in the next couple of days. Can’t wait! Xmas Smile

Manchester have given them a 30% discount on their accommodation. He’s got a medic in his flat, who’ll have to go back early Jan, so I expect the rest will join her then, tbh.

Ironoaks · 05/12/2020 16:44

DS is home! He packed minimally: his laptop, his calculators, four lever-arch files full of course notes, several rather hefty textbooks and a small bag of laundry.

He was quite chatty on the way home, and we got an insight into his daily routine. He sets his alarm for 7am every single day. Six days a week he gets up straight away and starts watching lectures at 8am, so that he can finish them by 10am and start doing problem sheets, making revision notes etc. This leaves the afternoons free for practicals. On Sundays he still sets his alarm for 7am but allows himself a lie-in until 8 o'clock.

He is up to date on the term's 96 (!) lectures but has some tutorial work, a lab report and some revision planned.

SusannahSophia · 05/12/2020 16:47

Sounds pretty intensive, Ironoaks! I hope DS is as informative.

mumsneedwine · 05/12/2020 16:52

DD still has 2 more weeks of term so lectures from home. And exams when she gets back. They are having a bit of a flat party tonight as all had 2 negative tests.

FleeceNavidadToEwe · 05/12/2020 19:09

DS arrives back by train tomorrow evening. Seeing how much course stuff Ironoaks’ DS has brought, I’m worried now how much he’s going to bring. He has to cross London on the tube Xmas Hmm

He has a cricket bat and other stuff to take back in January, so will offer to drive him, and have a cheeky overnight somewhere, Covid permitting.

They had Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and today was Boxing Day with a Covid test thrown in (fingers crossed it was negative - the first one was).

FleeceNavidadToEwe · 05/12/2020 21:59

‘Tis Shauna in festive name change mode btw 🐑

Cleebope2 · 05/12/2020 22:21

My dd 18 is first year at uni in Bournemouth. They had a lovely Christmas dinner in her flat of 7 in halls 3 days ago. Then one flat mate killed himself last night. Now all have gone home except dd who has a flight back booked for Tuesday. She’s on her own. It’s devastating. I’m not sure the uni or halls support is up to scratch. This whole term has been hugely stressful .

TheDrsDocMartens · 05/12/2020 22:27

Oh my that’s beyond awful.
How they must have felt, and your poor dd.

Ironoaks · 05/12/2020 22:33

@Cleebope2 - so sad to hear that. What a shock for them all, and how unimaginably painful for his family.

specialted · 05/12/2020 22:52

@Cleebope2 how very very sad for all involved. I hope your dd gets the support she needs.

SusannahSophia · 05/12/2020 22:55

Oh my goodness, Cleebope that’s so sad. His poor family. So hard for your DD on her own after that.

sammyjoanne · 05/12/2020 22:56

@specialted and @choirmumoftwo hope all goes well with picking up your DC :) we have watched home alone with pizza.
@ironoaks sounds like hes done well setting his alarm that time and got into a good routine :)

@Cleebope2 oh wow, im so sorry to hear this, what awful news. Your daughter bless her. If she cant get out any earlier, hope there is someone there who can keep an eye on her.

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Nettleskeins · 06/12/2020 00:07

Cleebope, that is terrible, truly terrible. They say that some people become cheerful once their mind is made up about the plan to commit suicide, there is nothing she could have done to know in advance or prevent it, less in fact than a family member, who would have been similarly powerless even when teens commit suicide at home. And often you don't even know your flatmates in halls that well, despite casual socialising with them, ds1 certainly didn't.
Ds2 is back safely on the train, a small suitcase filled entirely with laundry and his laptop. He said he hadn't manage to contact the disability service about his dyslexia or arrange to have his broken (apparently) blind mended, and has spent the last month peering out of a sliver of window at the County Oak. He said the townhouses at least had 'curtains"..Shock
It has really made me think how easy it has been for there to be serious "gaps' when you aren't able to visit or check on a student who to all intents and purposes seems ,'fine". And ds2 is very well and jolly but it is quite worrying how they had to 'manage" without any guidance or physical oversight for so long. He hasn't cooked much at all, happily trots to Aldi for ready meals and extras, lots of karaoke in the flat, rap and Les mis apparently. Very thin and feels cold in our draughty old house now. Problems with history referencing A 50 page doc he couldn't understand sent to explain it. Says there is lots of work to do over next week now that he is home, no meetings with old friends this coming week as a result.

Nettleskeins · 06/12/2020 00:10

I'm not sure WHY the disability service didn't follow up at all, considering he had been flagged up before he went as having ASD. But HE hadn't obviously felt the need , which is part of problem..

FleeceNavidadToEwe · 06/12/2020 07:24

@Cleebope2 , devastating for all involved, I am so sorry.

sammyjoanne · 06/12/2020 15:47

@Nettleskeins DD also has a lot of work to do with some problem sheets and her lectures this week. The porters or accommodation manager should be able to help with his blind. When DD first arrived they had an issue with one of the fridges not working, so her flat mate was told they had to contact via the internet on the grizedale website which they did and it got sorted. www.lancaster.ac.uk/county/contact/ is the link for county, so they might be able to help with that. Not sure on how the disability system works with dyslexia students and how they are being monitored. Oooglyboogly might know :)

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specialted · 06/12/2020 17:38

Had a good journey collecting ds. Enjoyed chatting to a couple of his flat mates outside, they were very friendly. Ds very animated and happy the whole way home, so lovely to have him back. He was so pleased to have a shower in a very clean bathroom!
@Nettleskeins ds emailed disability support to make sure he gets extra time etc, they were very helpful and set out a really good support package for him. Maybe your ds just needs to email and touch base with them.

sammyjoanne · 06/12/2020 17:48

@specialted wish there was a like button on your last comment :)
Glad you had a good journey

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Nettleskeins · 06/12/2020 18:34

We filled in all the disability stuff in August at the uni request, but the dyslexia assessment was being arranged on campus. With D's appearing happy and organised and organising his own affairs I didn't micromanage any aspect of his contact with the disabjty service, assuming they would follow up. Apparently he got an email which required he press a button and having pressed wrong button he then got confused and gave up.
Essentially everything being online was completely overload as far as admin was concerned.
A phone call or a second email to check he was alright wouldn't have gone amiss for a student with an ASC who had already told them he had difficulties with "organising".

Nettleskeins · 06/12/2020 18:36

But luckily we set him up with Dragon ourselves before he left...maybe that is all that would have been offered.

Ironoaks · 06/12/2020 19:42

@Nettleskeins DS doesn't have dyslexia but has ASD and some other SEN which make handwriting difficult. I guided him through the DSA application process, and he had Dragon set up and trained to his voice before he left. His college have been helpful about allocating him suitable accommodation etc, but the onus does seem to be on DS to take the initiative in getting things organised. His next task is to get exam arrangements put in place for mock exams in January.

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