Thread 39 - Covid Cohort - Our Adult Children Now Post 18

[CinnamonOrangeCremeBrulee]

This is a support thread for our young adults post GCSEs 2020, regardless of their educational setting, and their results ( or life updates for those who went into work or have had results earlier). It is respectfully requested that all are supportive and helpful to each other. If you want to start a debate, e.g state vs private, uni vs employment please don't within this thread.

Some of us have been here since first thread back in yr10, some will be new. Everyone has been friendly and helpful in the past. Everyone is welcome. It is hoped this will continue. We were previously on the secondary board and then further education, now we shall be here in 'Parents of Adult Children' gulp

Our DS/DD may continue down various pathways ( employment, apprenticeships, higher ed). Be warned there might be lots of 'Uni Freshers' chat this time of year. My experience is that everyone is welcomed wherever, whatever their child is doing we have some in work, gap years , apprenticeships etc too. Lots of contributors with different experiences and always sympathy and support to be had !

Bank Holiday declared for the funeral - but still no date.

The Monday I thought was a definite?

Reports still say date not confirmed but surely it will be the Monday!?

It’s hard to see how it can not be the 19th, it literally can’t be earlier, and it’s already a day later than protocol would suggest.

Going to plan asif it is the Monday! It is our induction week at my uni, so we have a lot of rejigging to try to do - same everywhere! DS's main talks are on the 19th, too.

Monday is a day later than London Bridge protocol, but the correct day for Operation unicorn protocol (additional day to move her slowly back to london on the royal train). But still it is for the Royal Household to announce, and they don’t have to stick to protocol (but why wouldn’t they, they have been honing it for decades)

Uni shop done. Just a few bits to order on Amazon . Phew I’m glad to get that done.

Funeral on Monday 19th, so at least DD can move in on the Sunday. Not sure what will happen to her main induction sessions which are supposed to be on Monday.

Yes we are going ahead with Saturday 17th. I’m sure it will give them time to settle and I’m sure somethings will be going on for the freshers

@Benjispruce4 city campus is already in action, we attended the disability access day yesterday at Newton building and all the international students were enrolling and being taken on tours

Ours are supposed to be there on the 19th so I’m keeping my fingers crossed it goes ahead still

We are taking Dd on 17th @Tomnooktoldmeto

Dropped our dd off today - very well organised and everyone friendly and helpful. Feels weird to be home without her though!

@kiwiandcherries was that Winchester ? How are you feeling? Do you have others at home x

Two of DS's friends went off to Winchester today too, glad it went well.

Our turn tomorrow, I am sitting in the middle of a mound of bags.

Yes, it was Winchester. And we have our surprise dd still at home who is almost 6 so I have plenty to keep me busy for a few years yet 😂

And I am up and down. I know she will be fine and have a great time but I will miss her as we are really close.

I think I realise that this is a moment that changes everything forever because although she will be home again for short times, after having independence, it is hard to live with your parents again. I remember it myself. So the end of an era for sure as it will never be quite the same.

@kiwiandcherries oooo a really little one how lovely ! my DD is younger than my DSs so we did this 5 years ago - this time DS1 has returned to save up as rents are crazy etc so not an empty nest but will miss her.

Love surprise Dd @kiwiandcherries. Wen5 shopping today. New jeans , another sheet and lunch in Wagamamas. I did get a bit teary, somehow. We’ve alway# had ou4 best chats in the car. I am so so proud of her, she’s an absolute wonder an£ she’s taught m3 so much, she’s much better organised and more frugal and self contained than me. I’m a better person for having her. She says I’ve taught her to be brave and curious, and not to take any shit from men. Not bad really.

Sounds like very good lessons to have passed on - she will go far!
Wagamamas is one of our favourite places to eat too

More people moving in, well done @kiwiandcherries!

Had our first slightly wobbly 'homesick' call from DD... we reassured her that was natural, and she's going to spend tomorrow 'recharging.' I think she's been running on nervous energy for the past three days! Any tips from those who've been through it with older DC?

Definitely natural - I have tried to warn my dd that moments like that will happen to everyone so that it's not the end of the world when things settle down and they start to feel all the emotions of it all.

@Zebracat What a lovely post. We like Wagamamas too, got into a habit of going after sports matches as our nearest is nearly an hour away.

DS's primary school had the motto Roots to grow, wings to fly. We've definitely got our DC to the second part. I hope all the DC have a good first term despite the inevitable bumpy bits.

@PhotoDad totally natural. DD1 was ok for a few weeks then had a wobble, came home for a weekend which was a long way from Durham. As soon as she was home she wanted to go back within hours! I’ve deliberately not said to DD2 that it will be the time of her life. We’ve spoken that it may feel traumatic and she is prepared for that as she’s a home body. Adrian Chiles wrote a piece in The Guardian about this recently.

amp.theguardian.com/education/commentisfree/2022/aug/31/what-do-you-say-to-kids-going-off-to-university-when-youll-have-a-briliant-time-doesnt-quite-cover-it

Thanks, @kiwiandcherries and @Benjispruce4! Yes, we had told DD in advance that this was very likely to happen. Fingers crossed for all our fledglings as they find their wings!