Thread 42 Corona GCSE Cohort - 👻Creeping it Real for Oct22

[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 advice to be had.

previous thread

I had flu and covid separately. Flu had no effects whatsoever on me. Covid I had a very mild headache and slight feeling of lightheadedness the next day and that was it. Similar for both on previous occasions.

Need to catch up! But flu was absolutely fine. Covid slightly sore arm following day but then fine. Felt terrible for two days with previous booster.

Thanks Photo and Devilled.

I felt off colour for about 30 hours after the Covid booster, weirdly the worst was the final 6, so just when I thought that wasn't too bad - bam it hit me! High temp, shivers, lethargy, headache. So annoying!

@Oblomov22 I only had an achey arm for a few days, didn't feel ill at all.

Ds sent me a photo of 10 of them in a kitchen, all in fancy dress. He looks so happy. Half of them are from his old school, half from his course, 1 is his neighbour in his accommodation. Seems an odd mix. How anyone decides who to share with for year 2 probably requires Volterra's ds to do some wierd maths algorithm! It was easy for me in my old Portsmouth days, I chose the cheapest and lived with whoever was there!

Haven't checked in for a while. DS came home on Friday for the first time which was lovely, he was really happy and but referred to taking something back "home" meaning uni, which was odd but a good thing as it means he is settled.

DH and I then went abroad on Sunday morning and DS and his friend came to the same city the next day. We saw them for drinks before the football match. Great experience and lovely time had. Got home to find that in his 24hours in the house on his own DS has raided pretty much all the snacks, left dirty clothes on his floor and the lovely tidy bedroom he came back to has gone 😂. Him and his friend were on different flights back to the UK so he went straight to uni afterwards. We plan to go and see him for a night in mid-late November.

I am somewhat freaked by people talking about next year's houses now. DS doesn't seem to have thought much about it but I think he probably needs to soon. I was pleased that he said him and his gf had discussed how they would still live in separate houses which I think is a good thing.

I had an achy arm for a few days after the flu jab and a day or soreness after the covid seasonal booster.

@icanbewhatiwant that's good to know as DD won't get a car for some years - needs to pass the actual driving test first but first thing is to find a decent instructor.
@NCTDN wow really? I'd love DD to build up no claims as a named driver on my car as she will use it during holidays from Uni. What insurer was your DD with when they gave her a year NCD?

Good luck to all with side affects of boosters and jabs. I've not had a letter summoning me as yet.

@279Nouveauxnoms Mine did that too - referred to uni as home after the first few weeks. I had a brief (internal) moment of "no, this is your home!" which was quickly followed by relief that it meant she clearly feels settled there. Just a strange thing to hear after being their home for so long!

Yes it is strange kiwiandcherries although I remember being exactly the same and my mum picking up on it.

Yes, I am sure that I would have been the same. I settled into uni life and made good friendships very quickly too 😊

It's with admiral.

A stressful 24 hours here. I got a text from DS yesterday (whilst in a work meeting) telling me he was having a mental health battle and didn't want to cope any more. DD was with him but he didn't want her to know how he was feeling. So while DD was coming home on the train I drove up to Nottingham to get him. We sat in his room talking and drinking tea before coming home. He was so much happier by the time we were back. He's currently doing some revision for a test on Monday and then we're going to talk about where to go from here. He wants to be at uni. I think he needs professional help but he's reluctant. He was surprised I would drop everything and go straight up there but of course I would - I think all of us on here wouldn't hesitate. I didn't even log out of work (but did get dressed cos I was working in my PJ's ☺️)
And then this morning DH has tested positive for Covid 🤦
And the fridge is suddenly empty.

Oh @mummyinbeds you must be so stressed and worried
I hope a weekend at home will help DS to feel better and see things clearly, also that DH is not too poorly and doesn't share his germs.

(Don't forget that deliveroo etc will bring groceries if you need food delivered quickly and have them in your area.)

Sorry to hear that @mummyinbeds . His university time has been a bit of a rollercoaster so far! Must be difficult to work out whether being ill is at the root of this problem. Poor mental health is so common among young people.

Sorry to read that @mummyinbeds but also so pleased he was able to tell you. He has had it tough so it's good news that he still wants to be at uni I guess it's now working out what the problems are and how to deal with them. I think it's a lot for students to cope with.

Im feeling really I'll at the moment, keep testing negative for covid so suspect I've a chest infection. Haven't slept for about 5 nights as have such a rattling cough. Temp keeps going up until medicine kicks in. Haven't felt this rough In ages.
Not sure at what point I should contact doctors.

@mummyinbeds Sorry your DS is struggling. Great that he did raise a flag though. Hopefully he can get some help near to uni?

@Heifer If you're fairly sure you're going to need antibiotics for a chest infecton why delay phoning?

@mummyinbeds well done for getting straight up there. Hope you have a lovely cosy weekend together and you start that conversation about external help.

Poor ds @mummyinbeds and poor you, what a rough ride you’ve all had 😢 That’s amazing that he got straight in touch though, he obviously really trusts you. He’ll be fine with your support. I hope he can stick it out at Nottingham one way or another.

Thanks all. He's booked an appointment with the uni GP. Earliest was in two weeks time but he's promised to get an emergency appointment if he feels he needs to. He's always refused to go to the doctors before so that's a massive step forward. We've also found out how to contact support services at Nottingham and I'm going to write an old fashioned list of phone numbers and services he can access quickly. He has confided in one of his new friends which is reassuring.
We've just had a lovely dinner together with DH coughing away upstairs in isolation and DD out with friends.
I'm also on the fourth load of washing rescued from his room last night 🧦👕🧺

@mummyinbeds sorry to hear about DS but so good he can talk to you. And good that he has agreed to see the doctor.

@Heifer i’d try and get a GP appointment sooner rather than later. Good luck!

Morning all,
DS is home for a flying visit (picked up yesterday morning and going back this afternoon). He says he and his his friends are talking about getting houses next year now so some decisions will need to be made soon. He is entitled to stay in halls next year because of his disabilities and says he is weighing up his options, there are definitely pros and cons to both. He says quite a few second years are in halls they put them all in one block together. It does seem early for such big decisions though. DS is one to take his time and ponder but has in the past missed out on opportunities as a result. A friend's DC at Durham has already got a houseshare secured for next year.

@mummyinbeds glad you were able to fetch DS and bring him home, he sounds very mature and its good that he was able to reach out to you.

@Heifer I'd give the GP a call too if it's that bad that you aren't sleeping.

Gosh @mummyinbeds im sorry to hear that, must be a shock for you and so worrying. I’m so grateful he felt able to talk to you and that you were able to go and get him so quickly.
It’s great he’s agreed to a doctor appointment, hopefully it’s a step in the right direction for him

So sorry for your DS, mummyinbeds, but it takes real guts to admit you’re struggling, so hats off to him for telling you, and to you for scooping him up when he needed you to.
I really hope he gets useful support from the GP. Hopefully, it’s a short-term blip (understandable, given all he’s had to deal with recently), and the fact that he wants to be in uni is really encouraging.

I haven’t read much or posted over the last couple of weeks, as DS has been home for half term. We’re taking him back today (I’ve already had a few tears this morning, as we’ve had such a lovely time with him), but DD is finally coming home for a few days on Tuesday for reading week. It was her birthday on Friday - the first birthday we’ve spent apart, which was very strange.
Im very much hoping we can enjoy each other’s company when she’s home and can iron out a few issues we’ve had since she left.

Hope everyone else is surviving/thriving. How’s everyone getting on with their October reset?

@mummyinbeds I was sad to read that your DS is struggling but glad he’s reaching out for help. I hope your DH is better soon too.

My DD didn’t get reading week but she’s coming home to see us next weekend. She seems a lot better and is coughing a lot less. We managed to have a phone conversation with her for more than 10 minutes and finally got to hear a lot more of the positive things and not just about her being unwell. She is ok and made friends. She likes going out with her flat mates but also has some quieter friends she can hang out with when clubbing gets too much.