University 2020-2021 Part 11: Final Furlong For First year Freshers..........Then Freedom Follows

[sammyjoanne]

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/higher_education/4058013-University-2020-10-Empty-nests-warm-vests-and-covid-tests-uni-parents-2020?pg=20

This is a follow on from the previous part 10 thread.
Named because its heading into the summer term.
''Freedom follows'' as in end of year for summer break, (hopefully end of covid restrictions too)

at all the healthy eating stories - think the ASD is not helping but eating is dreadful. Got herself battered sausage and chips for supper tonight. Can't mention healthy eating without getting my head chewed off. About two stone to lose. Wants to go back to Uni and I'm really trying not to react.

@BCBG...dds not perfect in terms of eating... She loves desserts (shovels ice-cream down) .. Annoyingly so but she's not into anything fried.

BCBG...ds1 went through this stage for quite a few years. Comfort eating. I think it was a sensory thing too...chewing helped him feel calm. He came out of it at uni because he was getting stimulation and fun from other sources (people , new place and dancing) not because his diet improved..so sometimes it isn't the junk so much as what else is happening to distract you.
Does she like swimming ..the outdoor pools are reopening and not long before the Lancaster (indoor) one too. Does she like photography...could you cunningly get her to photograph various places in Lancaster like the woodland walk..sights etc. This is what spurs D's,2 on and he is not sporty or athletic. We've just been looking at some very podgy pics of both sons in their early to late teens jumping into swimming pools...I wouldn't be surprised if losing weight as you get older is s developmental stage..brawn converting into brain. Don't lose hope...
Ds2 still can't cook much but he has an obsession with "herbs"...sage, dill, rosemary he is very surprised to find I actually grow them..having assumed sage comes either in stuffing, sausages or in a Tesco spice rack. He will are a very unhealthy beige meal with carbs and cheese and then sprinkle a very ill coordinated herb on top (dill with parmesan anyone) he likes frying sage too in lots and lots of butter...

Definitely being a bit teenage here demanding I pay him back for groceries, what's for pudding comments. But he did some kitchen cleaning for me today before going to McDonald's...

What a lovely day today :) WFH, but got the back door open and letting the fresh air in. Going to see parents today in the garden. We have only seen them for a minute or so at the door since November, so it's going to be so nice to enjoy the sunshine. Hope you are all good and enjoying the day :)

I asked DD how she was feeling about going back to London next month. She said ‘shit’. I know she is liking the course but it’s all online and she has met just one other person. The lady sharing her flat in private halls.

@aibutohavethisusername hopefully she can meet some fellow students when she returns. I'm getting the impression that Unis will be opening up bars and sports facilities whether or not Boris says they can go back after Easter so I'm sure most will return whatever, purely for the social aspect if nothing else.

@specialted thank you. That’s good to know.

@Nettleskeins thank you that was what I needed to hear right now - the bit about stimulation has really resonated. Because DD has ADHD and autism she can find herself under stimulated and overwhelmed at the same time so perhaps food fits into that exactly as you say.

@BCBG @Nettleskeins *wishes there was a 'like' post icon on Mumsnet.

DD is not so much on the healthy eating exactly. Unless you count mushy peas as one of your 5 a day lol. She hates veg and fruit and is known in the flat at ''potato waffle queen'' as thats what she eats pretty much most days, accompanied by chicken griddlers or hot dogs. A jacket potato is her limit and pasta is plain, no sauces.

Ds specialty is what he calls pasta sensation. Basically pasta, cheese, sweetcorn , ham and a jar of home pride tomato sauce. And that's about as exotic and healthy as it gets.

@specialted

@sammyjoanne a drizzle of olive oil and some black pepper on that and it'd be perfect!!

Dad can cook really well - her supper last night was pasta with diced chorizo and baby mozzarella with spinach - she just eats a lot, and a lot of sugary food when she is low. I don't think sertraline helps plus she is on some new contraceptive pill for very heavy periods that basically means you don't have breaks and her weight has ballooned on that too. So there's a lot going on in addition to coping with uni in the COVID years and I'm at a loss as to how to help. I'm beginning to accept that I can't, but it's hard!

Not dad - DD

@BCBG .

My dd is home and seems upbeat and happy (she cooked Paella last night . Timetable for next term looks busy (5 labs in a week!), fortunately only one more lab needs to be assessed. Exams at beginning of June but only 4 given they have had continuous assessments.. So timing ideal, after her birthday but before everything hopefully opens up towards the end of June.

This first year seems to be flying by.

@BCBG that sounds really nice I think I could do with some of that too :) We have a nephew (aged 16) who has recently diagnosed with ASD last month and its been challenging, especially for my brother and SIL. ASD is all new for the family so its trial and error at the moment. We have learned he worked best when hes figured it out on his own accord, as suggesting or prompting things just makes him dig his heels in and get frustrated.

"prompting" ds2 to mow the lawn did not go well. He appeared in his PJ's, with bare feet, demanded we fetch the lawnmower for him because "I might stub my toe!!!"..foresight of severing his toe(s) not being his strongest point. he did the lawn with shoes, properly clothes in the end.
We told him all maintenance allowance top-up cancelled unless chores were done.
He does love being independent though, bicycles around London..it is a fine balance.

What a good cook she must be BCB..something to praise her for. Those two medications are definitely linked with weight gain, but obviously important to keep on them, unless a review showed different pharmacological approach worked better...so not your fault at all or hers. Is it worth alerting doc to side effects...they aren't necessarily proactive unless you prompt them to be (gp not DD)

It is all a bit strange this Easter..family togetherness seems less a priority than getting our spring lambs skipping about somewhere, away from us, with their peers..having been so confined by circs for so long.

@Nettleskeins agree with you! Traditionally Easter weekend would very much be a family affair for us but last night ds had his six(ish) home friends round in the garden and dd has hers round tonight. It was so lovely to hear laughter and chatting and seeing them behave how teenagers should. The garden is looking like a tip this morning though, I'm refusing to touch it, will wake ds at middday to deal with it.

Easter has not turned out as we hoped. DH is in hospital after waking in the middle of the night with dizzy spells that's left him not able to walk :( DD1 and DD2 are ok, but were all concerned as CT scan hasn't come up with what's caused it and he's having an MRI tomorrow. Trying to keep busy with DD2 on track with revision. DD1 taking a break and watching netflix for a bit.

*sorry meant to add, he does walk, but when he tries he almost passes out. It sounds similar symptoms to vertigo. I really hope its something that can be treated

@sammyjoanne sending lots of love to you all. Hope dh gets better soon, must be worrying for you all

Just popped in to wish everyone Happy Easter and hear what you are all up to with Freshers at home for a bit.

@sammyjoanne, I was so shocked to read your latest news. Thinking of you and your family. If you can bear it, please let us know how things are going, so many of us have got close to you through these threads and I am sure there is a well of good feeling for you here.

Best Easter wishes for all. Interesting that trips home are not all sweetness and light. I guess our are DC growing up and pulling away in different ways, sometimes painfully. We have been lucky this time at WW Towers, and are enjoying our time together very much. Helps that DS 1 and DS2 are meeting friends out quite a bit, and that we have been able to meet for a picnic with much missed family. DS1 has been lovely, helpful and engaged at home - and seeing a lot of new gf, also a Lancaster fresher who happens to live near Wimbledon which means they can get together quite easily.

Xx

@sammyjoanne. Hope your Dhs scan goes OK and they find out what's causing the health issues . Worrying times.

@sammyjoanne hoping everything went ok today. Thinking of you