OR 2022 - We are no longer rejects. We are parents of fabulous offspring who will do wonderful things

[TangoWhiskyAlphaTango]

Wonderful tongue in cheek title thread by he words of @ eightytwenty.

Soooooo our thread started out back in March 2022 when our dc were Oxbridge wannabes. After thousands of posts by their nervous Mums, nail biting, discussing applications, grades, will they get to interview won't they, debates such as private vrs state, the Scottish system, then some got rejected and some had interviews and entrance assessments then much more nail biting and eating and drinking a lot and a loooong wait over Xmas 2021 the remainders were then rejected. Then more nail biting for offers to come in from the competitive Unis they had applied to with some ending up with only one or two options - our Covid Kids had it tough.

Finally May came and their actual A-levels then the brutal wait for results. I don't think I can recall any of our DC not getting their first choice?

Lots of DC off to top Unis and achieving the best grades in the land. My DD is off to Bath to do Politics and IR and I am incredibly proud of her, she is a grafter not naturally super clever but loves to learn and god I am going to miss her but she is ready and so I happy for her 😥

So please carry on our lovely supportive thread so we can see where their journeys take them.

TWAT x

[Volterra]

I think possibly as a very rough rule of thumb it might possibly be a boy thing or more likely a DS thing! He is registering now and is in a Teams and WhatsApp group for accommodation. There’s a spreadsheet of some people with which rooms they are on but he isn’t on that but said there are more people in the group than in spreadsheet so he doesn’t think that’s a problem. Has also found the timetable for the welcome week for his subject.

@TangoWhiskyAlphaTango your poor DD, the anticipation can be very daunting. I think the difference with university rather than 6th form is the number of people around so easier to find like minded people and you are doing a subject you enjoy. I do think the first couple of weeks can be hard and Freshers events aren’t up everyone’s street which can feel quite lonely. Thankfully with FaceTime etc contact is easy, we used to watch the series we were watching at home with DS when he first started college and was struggling.

He said the first night away he just didn’t feel safe. I was thinking about it and I guess it makes good evolutionary sense to be on guard at first in a strange environment.

[Eightytwenty]

@TangoWhiskyAlphaTango we were in the same situation friends wise with DS1. I worried but so far seems I didn’t need to. He’s out most nights. Not at all homesick.

Good luck to the all the Bath lot with your start dates. Is it this weekend?

I know Durham is next weekend.

Anyone else?

[Geamhradh]

I do wonder (and worry slightly) that dd's expectations of how utterly fabulous everything is going to be will see her disappointed. Hope not.

I do agree that these days communication and contact are so much easier- when I think about my poor Mum leaving me and then waiting for letters and fortnightly phone calls...

@Eightytwenty good to hear from you and that DS is settling well. Bath is also next weekend- I was reading on WIwi yesterday that there's been an almighty cockup with Durham accommodation- some parents were saying their kids had their offer through, followed a few hours later by a "ignore those emails, nothing is confirmed yet".

Bath seem pretty good at answering (my) emails. Firstly, I spotted that in dd's mail it said bedding was provided including duvet and pillows. I thought this was odd as the website said not. A quick email quickly answered showed they need to update their standard email, as it's definitely NOT. Just sent another about hobs, as the website says electric, the email says induction. The photos aren't clear on the website, though I guess they are more likely to be bogstandard electric.

[Eightytwenty]

@Geamhradh oh jeez. Poor kids. That’s so close to the wire.

[Puffalicious]

Hey all,

Greetings from Fresher's week in Glasgow! DS has been : out 2 nights until 4am; at fight night 🙈; playing daytime drinking games; canoeing; fencing; quizzing; buying books; winning club tickets; having a welcome lecture; going to a Maths social; at rugby trials (as we speak) and God knows what else! Phew!

Lectures start on Tuesday. 😆

[Geamhradh]

@Puffalicious

Hey all,

Greetings from Fresher's week in Glasgow! DS has been : out 2 nights until 4am; at fight night 🙈; playing daytime drinking games; canoeing; fencing; quizzing; buying books; winning club tickets; having a welcome lecture; going to a Maths social; at rugby trials (as we speak) and God knows what else! Phew!

Lectures start on Tuesday. 😆

Oh my life! Brilliant! So good to hear they are settling in. And how!

I've just ordered a set of towels and saucepans to click and collect.

[SayYouDontMind]

Volterra what a great idea to watch the same show while your DC was on Facetime - I love that idea! We're lucky to have these means of keeping in contact.

EightyTwenty sounds like your DS is having fun. My DS has missed many breakfasts and lunches during his Freshers Week as he is out and up till all hours. St As is living up to all his expectations so far! Did you see it's at No. 2 in the UK for Universities? Not sure what metric they're using and it's all a nonsense really but I'm sure they'll be celebrating while lamenting that it's no longer No.1!

Now that he's had his first week of lectures things should calm down on the social front for the simple reason that he's burnt his way through his allowance we gave him. His Maintenance loan money hasn't come through yet but he's chased it up and it should be here by Monday/Tuesday if it hasn't already hit his account this afternoon. Next stop is getting a job.

Puffalicious sounds like your DS is fully immersed in their Freshers Week and staying up till all hours like my DS. Mine not into sports but has been persuaded to attend a few socials with the lure of the free bars!

Tango hope your DD perks up. I'm sure she'll get there and find her people.

Geamhradh Hopefully Uni will live up to all of your DD's expectations. I feel retrospectively guilty because when I left home for Uni I barely gave a backward glance. Didn't have a regular time I phoned as there was often a queue for the telephone box or it was vandalised and it must have been so frustrating for my parents.

The situation at Durham sounds atrocious. Terrible state of affairs. I spoke with my DS today about next year's accommodation plans and he's already thinking about it. He really doesn't fancy living in Dundee next year.

Good luck to everyone else who is imminently facing the big drop off. I must admit to a sigh of relief when we left because it was out of our hands now - it's down to them to navigate their way and all you can do as a parent is be there for them on the end of the phone. It's made me very philosophical about this whole parenting journey.

Hope everyone has a good weekend and 'enjoys' their unexpected Bank Holiday Monday (even though it'll be a sad occasion I'll be glad when it's over and we can get back to a semblance of normality ie. strikes, political wrangling over the economy etc...)

[doubleshotcappuccino]

I could have written a lot of these posts myself! So here we are .. nearly there .. good luck all.. singleshot moves in on Sunday ..trying to
sit on my hands and not keep giving my opinion on the packing .. but it's sooo hard ...

[SayYouDontMind]

Doubleshot very best of luck on Sunday!

[doubleshotcappuccino]

@SayYouDontMind ahh thank you !

[nearlyhomealone]

Best of luck to those dropping off this weekend. For Bath folk I found these links to dropping off parking permits. .

www.bath.ac.uk/guides/moving-into-university-accommodation-in-the-city-for-the-first-time/


www.bath.ac.uk/guides/moving-into-campus-accommodation-for-the-first-time/

[Puffalicious]

Mine not into sports but has been persuaded to attend a few socials with the lure of the free bars!

Yes- snap. He's joined the craft beer society 🤣. I think they just meet in pubs and drink craft beers 🍻 👍.

[Puffalicious]

And music technology society and 'build a car' society, and film-maker's society and , thankfully, the Maths and Geography societies.

DH is very jealous.😄

[Volterra]

Fair to say he is embracing university life then @Puffalicious ? 😀Really lovely to hear 🙂
Good luck today @doubleshotcappuccino 🍀
That’s really helpful thank you very much @nearlyhomealone .

[doubleshotcappuccino]

@Volterra that's so lovely of you to write .. I've got 40 mins till I drive and feeling a lump in my throat and just saw your good wishes .. thank you .. Gosh .. so many emotions at the moment . Good luck all .. so glad to be part of this thread .. hope we all stay in touch would love to have a continuation and know how all our DCs journeys continue

[Puffalicious]

Stay strong doubleshot. Thinking of you all building up.to the big bye byes.

Would be great to have a continuation- we should do it!

[Geamhradh]

Good luck @doubleshotcappuccino

[Eightytwenty]

Hope all those that have dropped off today have been ok! And that packing and drop offs not too painful. Hopefully they will take to it like a duck to water (or like a student to craft beer).

@Puffalicious glad Glasgow experience is a good one.

I have every intention of being with you all for the ride.

[doubleshotcappuccino]

Thank you kind hearts ! singleshot is in .. held it all together but when she walked away she reminded me of when she went to primary school .. because she was holding her fists tight which is what she did when she was nervous.. I had to really try hard to hold it together .. haven't heard from her now so am assuming that is good news .. at some point I have to deal with the bomb site left behind but not tonight ..

[doubleshotcappuccino]

@Geamhradh @Puffalicious you're very kind .. your lovely messages mean a lot today xxx

[Geamhradh]

@doubleshotcappuccino

@Geamhradh @Puffalicious you're very kind .. your lovely messages mean a lot today xxx

Oh bless you.
I think we've become a wonderful little support group here and I'll be wetting you all through this time next week with my tears.
Has singleshot met her flatmates? How was the accommodation?

[doubleshotcappuccino]

@Geamhradh you're very kind .. honestly this thread has been such a wonderful support .. she's met a lovely group ( she's in halls ) and just messaged to say she's fine.. trying not to "spam" her as she would say .. but v hard not to send 7 messages back to her one

[Geamhradh]

Oh that's good that she's met some nice people already.
I know what you mean about the spamming. DD is pretty good at sending little messages throughout the day (and night) just hope she continues.

[Volterra]

@doubleshotcappuccino so glad she is there. Friend’s DS went yesterday and she said she was resisting urge to keep texting. DS is rubbish at keeping in contact and didn’t generally bother whilst away during week during 6th form so pointed out the other day he won’t be back at weekends and will actually need to contact us...

[Puffalicious]

Ahhhh doubleshot . That's the hard bit over. It's fantastic she's met nice people already. See, she's grand. Sleep well.