Thread 43 - GCSE Covid Cohort ..November 22 Remember Remember

[OrangeCinnamonLatte]

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

DD on the phone last night asking for help deciding between two potential groups of sharing friends. She talked nonstop to me for 10 mins, going through the different pros and cons, then said I'd been a big help and she had a rehearsal to go to! I hadn't actually spoken at all apart from hello and lots of love...

It's difficult when they don't even know how to approach essays and schools these days are very guilty of spoon-feeding so students start uni often not knowing how to work or plan independently. This was an on going issue for DS1.

I am impressed by the guidance Birmingham history offer and the clarity of their assessment and feedback processes thus far - I do know they have changed them this year, I assume in response to the National Student Survey.

I’m so sorry to read about your cat @Zebracat 🌷

@icanbewhatiwant I actually remember using some example history essays from Sussex when I did my OU undergrad. I could quite see them but I did find the page below which DS probably has already seen but nevertheless

Sussex Skills Hub

Does anyone work in HR (L&D) and, if so, up for giving career advice/guidance?

You lot are so helpful ...thought I'd try 😜

Orange you can tell me / message me, if you like. 4 of my closest friends are HR specialists, with my closest friend who lives across the road being the head partner of a huge employment firm.

@OrangeCinnamonLatte I forwarded it to Ds anyway. Thanks.

Zebra your girl has had her fair share of hard knocks. Nobody begrudges her some happiness now… and it is you that has brought her to a point where she is secure enough to enjoy uni and be happy so well done to you! I’m so sorry about the cat though. Awful.

Found you all! thanks @OrangeCinnamonLatte .

@Zebracat What a mixed day for you! At least a lot of positive news, and I know how you feel.

DD had managed to avoid all the coughs and colds... until today which she spent in bed. Fingers crossed for tomorrow!

@Zebracat It's very hard to lose a pet of many years. Pleased to hear your girl is positively blossoming.

Fingers crossed DS signs tomorrow for a house next year. Am horrified the rent per student is higher than the maximum loan for the year. They've taken the cheapest one on the letting agents book! Summer jobs all round needed.

Sending my best to everyone who has found freshers far from straight forward. I’m holding my breath: I dropped out first time around but so far so good for both DTs. They had a horrendous Y12 (multiple bereavements) & had to dig deep in Y13 so I’m keeping everything crossed that things stay on the upwards curve for them. DD gets extremely anxious when things don’t go to plan but coped well with the train home being cancelled this afternoon & managed 2 changes. She’s off to visit DS for the weekend in Swansea. They’ve not seen each other for 6 weeks (having never been apart for more than a few nights before). Hoping the weather is kind as they’re looking forward to fireworks.

Happy mum here 😊 Just had a chat with DS. He finished and handed in his French work a day early and said he was proud of himself and sort of enjoyed doing it. He couldn't talk for long because he was going out to play table tennis with friends. And most importantly, he'd been for dinner. What a difference a day makes. I know there will be good and bad days but for now I'm smiling ☺️

Yay @mummyinbeds!

That's great news mummy

Work ✔️
Food ✔️
Fun ✔️

All power to him and here's to many more good days than bad 💪

Fab news @mummyinbeds !

Hooray Mummy.

Aww thanks everyone, you are so lovely. Feeling a bit better. More carbs than raking.
ver6 pleased tha @mummyinbeds boy ate etc.
Horrified to discover that the train fare home with rail card was £ 175.00. We’ve never paid more than 90.00 with a rail card and advance booking. And she did both.But as Dh said, she’s still learning. The support people at the Uni explicitly told her that they have a fund for fares home for bursary students, but she doesn’t like to ask grr.

Whaat!! @Zebracat surely not! That’s a ridiculous amount!

Great news @mummyinbeds ! I’ve been feeling awful to think that dd lives insensate him and doesn’t know him 😬

She’s actually started doing some work this week. She texted to ask how to do referencing! I said google it or look on the uni portal - it’s so lazy just to ask Mum 😂

Insenate?! She lives underneath him!

@crazycrofter I was wondering what on earth insensate could possibly mean. Thanks for the clarification 😂 I did wonder whether I saw any Mumsnet offspring when I was there on Friday and Sunday. If any of them were dressed in orange jumpsuits and running round the library balcony they looked like they were having fun 😂

she bought 2 singles instead of a return, no idea why. She should have paid £88.00. Expensive lesson.

I thought £60 was bad enough for dd to get home and back!

Ouch! That is the sort of thing DH would do, but my DSs are very good at split ticketing and know what things should cost. Neither was even willing to pay for en suite. Of course it should not be like that, and it is indeed an expensive lesson!

Hi all, sorry not been around much. I didn't actually go the doctors (not a surprise). but aren't as bad as I was last week. I am getting some sleep just a bit whipped out after doing anything (still chesty cough).

Love the latest update @mummyinbeds Here's hoping lots more good days than bad days. Sorry to read of losing loved pets, they become such a part of the family.

DD wants to come home for the weekend tonight as she only has 1 lecture on Friday (only Friday this is happening all term) so to help her with the train for the 1st time, I am off to Nottingham this afternoon to meet her to escort her home this evening. She will then catch the train back herself on Sunday. It's going to entail about 6 hours travelling for me at the cost of £110+ but it will save DH driving to fetch her (he did offer bless him) and will hopefully mean DD happy to come home on her own in future.

Bit worried she is coming home so soon, especially as her boyfriend (not boyfriend) stayed with her for 3 days last week... I suspect things are getting more serious. Her school friends are home this weekend and she is desperate to see them too.

I asked her if anyone had said anything about accommodation for next year and worryingly she said yes lots of people have paid deposits! I tried to explain no rush but she argued that she has to live in Lenton and places there go quickly so they are looking into it. Seems she has found someone to live with, I'm hoping to find out more this weekend. I've asked her not to sign anything without showing us first and I got the eye roll and "obviously", although anything else I said re accommodation previous to that was brushed off...

I totally understand how frustrated/upset some of you our about your DD/DS attitude when they have come home, DD was exactly the same the other week, really hoping it's better this time as she is home longer she may be more chilled. I'm assuming she will sleep most of tomorrow so won't be so grumpy... (famous last words). I really miss out chats but she just isn't interested. She has been texting daily but very short and sweet.

@KingscoteStaff - don't underestimate how useful being a sounding board is :-)

Great news @Benjispruce4 - how quickly everything can change for the better.

Well done to your DD @OrangeCinnamonLatte great initiative etc, hope she enjoys it.