Fledglings 2026 - support, discussion and looking after each other

[ComingInByAnsible]

A thread for parents of Year 13 leavers as they go on to universities, apprenticeships and other new adventures.

DS is off to Warwick to study PPE.

Previous, Year 13 support and discussion thread here (hope the link works): https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/further_education/5532005-year-13-202526-support-discussion-and-looking-after-each-other-thread-2-exam-time?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=app_share

Checking in

Thanks for starting this. We're just looking at kitchen equipment needed. University page recommends all the basics, pots, pans, crockery, cutlery cooking utensils etc. Teatowels as well. The kitchens already have toasters, kettles and microwaves. But I'm trying to work out the essentials without getting too much or not enough. Because they have to bring everything home in the holidays! Seems a bit of a minefield. So one saucepan not enough - in case they make spag bol - so two saucepans, one frying pan. Basically as much as we have in our kitchen at home!

Well, I've signed the guarrantor forms for Halls and she knows her flat/room.

She's off to the airpoort for holiday number 3 tomorrow so no plate shopping just yet.. but she's ready! Don't know if I am...

Thanks for starting this thread. I hope it’s OK to join, I posted a few times on the previous thread but was mainly a lurker.

DD is going to KCL in September. She’s such a homebody that she didn’t apply to any that she’d have to stay away at.

she’s trying not to think about uni life and I’m caught between respecting her as an introvert and wanting her to make the most of opportunities and not have any regrets.

it’s hard to acknowledge she’s an adult and I that I mustn’t try to live her life for her!

I'm not sure if I am either! Starting to realise we need plans to fill the empty space after he goes. Son had recently sounded very independent and said it was leaving home. But tonight he seemed a bit less sure and said - I'll be away for about four months. Less than three probably but no half terms.

Trying to keep the kitchen equipment under £100 .... but pans are expensive and I'm getting picky wanting ones that don't have non stick stuff on. Found a good utensil set and chopping board on Argos though and using nectar points for that.

Eldest is off to York, it’s becoming a bit real now!

Getting obsessed about saucepans! So one saucepan and a frying pan? Or - Lakeland has that "only" pan. It's a bit expensive but I like the idea of just one pan. Can't imagine what he'll cook. He does cook pasta and chicken sometimes but not in the habit of cooking every day. OH suggested an air fryer. But decided to wait in case someone else has an air fryer - quite a few of them sharing a kitchen.

DC1 is off to Oxford for Ancient and Modern History. Her dream is to someday write and produce documentaries sbout underresearched women from the Tudor and Stuart periods.

DC2 is taking a gap year in France. She has an au pair job with accommodation and will take some art and culinary lessons while there. She'll work on developing her portfolio to apply to creative courses for 3027 (either jewellery or product design) or possibly some design apprenticeships.

So incredibly proud of both my girls and everything they are choosing to be.

Joining too. Mine is a homebody and nervous for uni. She’s still 17 until the end of the month. .

Bless her. My heart goes out to all the nervous ones. I feel like my two can't wait to be on their own! I'm ttying not to take it personally!😀

My older two couldn’t wait to go so this is new for me ! There’s a big age gap between her and her siblings , so I think she’s been closer to us in many ways as she’s been the only child at home for many years . She’s done exceptionally well despite struggling with school when younger ( undiagnosed adhd ). ( A*AB) higher than predicted. Has stuck to her original choice of John Moore’s. She’s just so very nervous .

I think son wants to go but is slightly apprehensive. It just hit me how is he going to eat? Breakfast easy enough - but lunch and dinner and cooking every day! I think we'll get the meal vouchers for the first term. Gives them one meal a day 5 days a week.

Checking in!
Have to say I’m letting dd do her list! We’re flying as it’s too far for me to drive so I’m hiring a car there and we will loot ikea etc the day before move in day. That’s going to be quite the day!

Checking in! DS is off to Exeter to do Drama with Film & TV.

Hi everyone. Thanks for the new thread. We are probably flying too and shopping once we get there but DD thinks she wants to fill up a car and take everything. Negotiations ongoing but I don’t fancy the 8 hours there and 8 hours back again. Meanwhile the hotels are selling out and flight prices going up.

We are from the South West so this is where I start thinking Cardiff would have been the wise choice over Edinburgh!

Dd3 is off to St Andrews- they start super early so it's less than 3 weeks away! Still no idea how we're getting there and we live in thr south east.

Hi everyone,

Lovely shiny new thread thanks @ComingInByAnsible .

Great to hear where everyone is going and I'm glad you are all reminding me so as there have been a lot of posts and posters recently and it is hard to keep track.

@temperedolive well done to both your girls, they sound like they have wonderful futures ahead in different directions! @Countrylife2002 remind me where your YP is going again? Obvs a long way from home.

@Gazelda and @RockyKeen it is hard when they are homebodies, my DD is veering between introvert and extrovert atm but she will definitely miss us once freshers is over, luckily she is only 2 hours away.

So my DD is doing medicine at Newcastle. It was her firm choice all along and she put so much pressure on herself to get the grades it was quite stressful over the past few months. We also lost my MIL in March who lived with us and helped raise her so it has been a rocky time. DD is a study tiktoker too with a reasonable amount of followers so even more pressure on her to get the grades. She repeatedly told me she may 'scrape' Astar AA (which would be great as needed AAA). Absolutely no way she would ever get 3 Astars.... but she did - 3 A stars in chem, bio and psych. And then got a video of her checking her UCAS on the BBC 6 o'clock news that night. What a day we had, she had a fantastic time 😁.

We are planning an Ikea trip soon and also a road trip to Newcastle so she can drive there and we can get to know the city a bit better. I'm trying not to think past the excitement to the empty bedroom I'll have to face when she's gone 😭.

Checking in too. DS off to UEA. We aren't far but I've told him not to make a habit of coming home all the time, as I don't want him to make it a duty. I did this evening though I was 2 hours away because my mum did make a fuss about it. He's on holiday so we'll do all this when he gets back. Has anyone found any decent cookbooks for students? I had a glance and couldn't find my old Delia fave - ' One is Fun'.

Checking in. DD is off to Exeter for History.

So far we’ve only bought ‘consumables’ - essential cleaning products, clothes, bathroom bits and medicines - as we were in Home Bargains on Friday!

Might face IKEA today, although she doesn’t move until the weekend of the 12th and I’m not sure where I’m storing all the stuff in the meantime!

Dd3 would have preferred non catered but she has been allocated catered halls so at least we won't have to take too much kitchen stuff. They also provide an iron and ironing board.

Logging on!
DS going to Loughborough to study Maths with Economics.
He doesn't yet know which halls he is in - when he does that will really help as it could be catered.
I think move in day is around 21 September.

I look forward to seeing his documentaries and love his niche subject !

Great thread thank you !

I'm trying to gather a comprehensive list of what she needs : vitamin gummies /Dettol wipes /medicine / towels and so on .

She's not very street wise or savvy.and has no interest at all in cooking from at home infant her younger sister is better at cooking at 5 years younger.

She's off to Bristol and I can't deny I'm going to worry a lot.

Hilarous !! The most inane post ever^^