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

[sammyjoanne]

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

I think I joined about 2010 or 2011 too, but obviously my DS is older than that. It's just funny to think that Mumsnet were a person it would now be almost old enough to graduate from university!

*if Mumsnet were a person

I think I hail back from 2011 or 12 - several of us here went through the secondary school application threads together!

So not quite when it were all green fields, but certainly when there were just a few major conurbations.

I joined in 2001 when dd2 was a baby. Then Re-registered in 2003. Had a lot of name changes as I’m not good at being anonymous. Much easier now MN is huge.

I Joined when DS1 was a baby to ask for sleep advice - he’s 21 now and sleeps very well!

DS2 seems to be getting on well - no isolation for him yet.

Very very sad to read of the death of student in Bristol , had heard of 1 in Manchester. Heartbreaking for their families.

@KingscoteStaff very jealous of your trip to Durham! I really want to go up but DH and my mum both say no, leave DS alone and don't cramp his style. I know he is really well, mentally and physically, but that doesn't stop me wanting a hug and ten minutes of silly chatter!

Ive only been on MN about 10 yrs, umpteen name changes and only came for the gossip and AIBU arguments
Stayed for the GCSE support and feminism board

[quote DadDadDad]@LIZS - your username caught my eye, because I remember we worked out a few years ago on a thread that yours is the MN username in longest continuous use, going back to the dawn around 2001 / 2002.

It's funny to think that those babies who were the first to raised by MNetters are now the ones at university. [/quote]
Lol, yes I joined back in the dark ages, when pg with dd! Lots of shared experiences , ups and downs, on here.

I remember worrying about DS starting secondary school and finding a very reassuring support thread started a couple of years before. The OP is actually on these threads, but I won't name them, as they and I have both changed usernames since.

Can I join? DD at a uni far from home. Has had a isolated due to a positive case in her hall flat, washing was tramped in the bath because they were denied access to washing machines, shared kitchen etc and worries over food deliveries, security stopping them leaving and refusing to enter block to deal with parties in other flats.

Teaching online is an unmitigated disaster.

I’m so worried.

Ugh. I’ve just typed a long post and lost it.

Can I join please.

Damn. There it is. (I did refresh. It wasn’t there!)

Welcome @Frdd
Sorry to hear that your DD is having a difficult time. How long does she have until she is allowed out again?

She’s allowed out today or tomorrow - but there’s nowhere for them to go to. Except Tesco’s for food.

I really feel for all the kids who are stuck in strange places is crappy rooms with people they don’t know getting everything online. So much for screen time limits.

@Frdd - I think with three posts in a row, you can consider yourself joined!

I'm sorry to hear of your worries. I think sometimes we worry more than our DS and DD do. Many of them will find the resilience to get through and being with others in the same boat will help - but that's not to dismiss those students who genuinely are struggling to stay positive at the moment.

Hi everyone. Just placemarking and catching up with the updates.

I joined when DS2 was a baby, he’s just turned 18 and completing UCAS for 2021 entry. Still use my original name but change for the Ed threads as there’s so much identifying detail posted. And DC have their own rules about social media (hidden away from nosey parents lol).

I am thankful that DS1 is having a great time, helped massively by being in a flat of 13 that get on well. He says there’s always someone up for doing something, be it watching a match on tv or doing an Aldi run.

He sent a selfie this week in honour of his first visit to his department - a tutorial for 35 in a 250 seat lecture theatre.

I only got a mobile phone in 2012 so I haven't quite been on here as long as many of you.

My favourite thread of all time was 'There is a little Korean lady sitting in my garden' (I think it is in Mumsnet Classics now). DH and I sat in an airport terminal reading the entire thread and had tears rolling down our face laughing. The other travellers must have thought we were very strange. It was better than any book we could have picked up from Italian equivalent to WH Smiths.

All and anyone welcome, Frdd and you don’t have to have been on MN forever! I’m sorry your DD has been struggling. At least she’ll be able to mix with her household now. My DS is in Manchester in tier 3 so he can’t do anything or go anywhere much, either. The one student bar nearby has closed. He’s getting on well enough with his flatmates but they wouldn’t be his natural friends. All his teaching is online, which is understandable with the case numbers up there. He’s trying to make the best of it, though. It’s still better than being stuck at home.

Kingscote is Durham only tier 2? Go quickly while you still can! I’m not planning to visit my DSes in Manchester because it’s tier 3, I can’t see how to do it within the guidance and law. I’m a bit jealous.

@LIZS and I were on the same thread through GCSEs, sixth form and university for my oldest DS who’s now 23. It’s still occasionally updated, though they’ve all graduated now.

Durham tier 2, and University numbers coming down slowly (not that I check them every morning...)

2 days of walking around Whitby, 1 day walking at Alnwick, outside dinner with the boy, Sainsbury’s run with the boy and home.

Well, that’s the plan today!

Oh - and welcome @Frdd!

Sounds lovely Kingscote. I hope the weather holds out for you.

@MillicentMartha ! Yes ds now 22 , graduated in 2019 with a first and is still one of the millions of young unemployed. Tbh I worry for the future of our freshers too, not only the disruption and impact on mh of the Covid situation but longer term opportunities for them during and after uni.

Just place marking - great to be on this thread

Update from the student who bailed out after two weeks 😀
DD loving doing her degree from home, working quite hard and enjoying doing online course.
I’m now torn between relief that she’s happy and anxiety that it’ll be hard to go back. I asked her if she was worried she wouldn’t know anyone when she went back and that would make it tricky. She said that it was virtually impossible to meet people anyway with the restrictions.
Welcome @Frdd - is your daughter in a tier 3 zone?

@LetUsPrey @specialted. Im going Tuesday to see DD. She's out of isolation tomorrow.
There's a few important paperwork thats arrived at ours she needs to sort out and got a care package. Hopefully try and go and do the woodland walk. Its covered by trees in some of the areas, so if its not great weather, we have a little bit of shelter. Ive timed it so i'm visiting one of our care centres in Carnforth as part of my work so will be nice to see them too :)