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.

The car is being packed atm, ready for an 8.15am departure tomorrow morning. Mostly focused on the practicalities right now, though he’s only an hour away and plans to come home in the next couple of weeks for a family birthday, so if he’s forgotten something it’s no big deal. Plus, you know, shops…

I suspect the reality of him actually leaving will hit me in the next few days. Itching to clean his room properly though! We still have DS2 at home, so not fully empty nesting for a while yet. Hope you start to enjoy the space and time to yourself soon @rhabarbarmarmelade.

Wow it's amazing that some have or are just about to move away. DS has still got two weeks to go.

He is very laid back and every time I've asked him about whether he has done something uni related he just rolls his eyes.

He is an only so it will be very strange at home. His dad will also be working away for November so I will be all alone and I think it will take some getting used to.

3 weeks still to go here and it really is dragging. Local unis start this week so all DD’s friends who are her year or the year or two above are all back at it, moving into halls or houses, or (if staying at home) at least gearing up for freshers.

I think the momentum is lost a little and she doesn’t really know what to do with herself.

Same here! It's ramping up the unspoken anticipation and anxiety. I'll be crying non stop when she goes bit it needs to just happen!

Totally get this. Got one more year of DS at home and then both of them gone and 20 years as you say (plus 4 years of infertility trying to get them in the first place!). DH totally chill and quite looking forward to it. Aargh.

Empty nester here on the long train journey home. If I think about it I can’t breathe but I know it will be ok so am mainly in distraction mode. She’s up and down on day 2, hopefully it improves

The two Countrys on this thread @Countrylife2002and @CountryShepherdhave left their precious DC in the same place as mine....oh Fife!

Moving in slot booked for the 12th. He’s more excited than nervous now he says. Pile on his bedroom floor looks suspiciously small because no clothes sorted yet and no cycling stuff gathered together either.

I did go with the cute little mini hospital tin someone linked. Keeping that as a surprise for the day.