Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Parents of adult children

Wondering how to stop worrying about your grown child? Speak to others in our Parents of Adult Children forum.

Original poster

Thread 45 GCSE Covid Cohort - Bunnies bouncing into Spring

984 replies

OrangeCinnamonLatte · 18/02/2023 10:12

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

OP posts:
Thread gallery
27
Shimy · 04/03/2023 16:53

@icanbewhatiwant I hope it all turns out well in the end.

I'll keep everyone posted re: DS.

icanbewhatiwant · 04/03/2023 17:07

Thanks all. @Shimy I hope all goes well for yours too. It has taken a while to get Ds to see the gp about his too. He said it's normal to have lumps there and lots of his friends had them. Yes...it is normal when teenage boys get that first flush of hormones age 12/13/14 not so normal at 19.

handmademitlove · 04/03/2023 17:12

Sometimes it helps to underplay things - perhaps suggest that he might need some cream so could ask the pharmacist to have a look.

Shimy · 04/03/2023 19:03

@icanbewhatiwant True. Let's hope for the best, it could be a sebaceous cyst.

JustHereWithMyPopcorn · 05/03/2023 08:38

@icanbewhatiwant im glad to hear your DS made that appointment, I hope all turns out well.

@Shimy DS2 has anxiety but not specifically health anxiety, but when I am genuinely concerned - and there has been a couple of occasions- I try to just be matter of fact about the need to never dismiss something that is bothering you even when the likelihood is low that it’s anything serious. So literally no fuss, slightly school matron! It works for him as I think he likes to think someone ‘knows what to do’ (even if I don’t and am secretly panicking inside!). I think it’s a lot trickier when they are away from home though. I hope you manage to get through to him without his anxiety spiking, good luck.

JustHereWithMyPopcorn · 05/03/2023 08:42

DS got the train home on Friday for the first time - so nice not to have to do that drive! It’s his birthday this week and he’s taking a quick trip away with his gf so we won’t actually see him on the day. It’s been lovely to see him, and he’s been engaging well with DS2 which is a nice bonus, he even drove him to his friends house yesterday.

Comefromaway · 05/03/2023 09:58

We had a lovely couple of days in Leeds watching Ds play. It was fantastic. He really has found his tribe (even if it isn’t people from his course)

however he was excited this week that a girl who is swopping groups to his approached DS to do some songwriting with her. They instantly clicked and they had a great session.

Decorhate · 05/03/2023 10:27

Sorry to hear about the various health concerns. Fingers crossed they are nothing serious. Dh & I have finally got around to getting various lumps & moles checked & the appointments came through very quickly & were all fine. It does seem that things are getting back to normal at last in the NHS. Dh had a relatively serious health problem over a year ago & at the time the follow up care was non-existent- all of a sudden he is getting calls from various people wanting to see him - which would of course have been more beneficial last year.

Ds2 is home for a few days for a delayed birthday celebration. Not very talkative but seems happy enough!

I’m actually feeling a bit out of sorts today. I think I am missing his older sister in particular- she is working now, much closer to home than in her uni days. But is working a lot of unsociable hours at the moment so saw her this weekend for the first time in 6 weeks & she’s gone home already. Doesn’t help when she does things with friends like going to the theatre which we used to do together once…

I really need to get on with finding new hobbies & interests!

icanbewhatiwant · 05/03/2023 10:29

Ds says he's not coming home at Easter. I booked a week off work so that I can visit my mum for a few nights. Then collect him. But he says he prefers the quiet when the others have all gone and the library is empty. He likes to wind me up though, so I hope he will come for some of it. Dh's dd is house, dog and ds3 sitting for us in a few weeks, while dh and I go away. Ds2 said he might come with her. So at least we will see him then if he does.

KingscoteStaff · 05/03/2023 11:16

@Shimy Sorry to hear about your boy - my elder DS has myriad health problems that I felt much calmer about when I was in total charge of appointments/prescriptions etc. I know, I know…

Had a shoal of photos of DD’s G+S production at Newcastle. She stepped back from drama and music in the 6th form, so it’s lovely to see her enjoying it again. Her HMS Pinafore costume looks EXACTLY the same as mine did twenty-something years ago!!!

PhotoDad · 05/03/2023 11:20

Her HMS Pinafore costume looks EXACTLY the same as mine did twenty-something years ago!!!

They never change it, you know. What, never? Well.... hardly ever.

I'm meant to be marking A-level mock exam essays. Not exactly feeling motivated right now!

Comefromaway · 05/03/2023 12:20

That’s lovely to hear kingscote

Shimy · 05/03/2023 15:45

@JustHereWithMyPopcornThanks very much. It is so much easier when you are in control of their health needs especially with DS who does have complex needs. It was a bit heart in mouth when he transferred GPs but all has been well until he recently a photo of his foot. I think being frank as you said, is the best way forward especially in a situation like this.

On the matter of trains, I made sure DS hopped on the train by himself after the first drop-off! i just couldn't face doing the journey back and forth each time. It's been such a relief as he's been going from Coventry to London for some insight days on his own.

@Decorhate I sincerely want to believe things ARE getting back to normal in the NHS but not sure it's the case down in our patchSad. Glad you've got all your moles etc sorted out.

@icanbewhatiwant Doesn't the university library shut over Easter?

@KingscoteStaff Totally understandable! We had a very long debate on the pros of cons of relinquishing everything to DS who also has a long complex health history and had referrals outstanding & ongoing treatment. In the end, he registered himself at uni and we've been taking it one step at a time. I think the sooner they learn to manage their health needs including navigating their way through the NHS system the better. DS now really appreciates all those appointments I used to book. He didn't appreciate that i had to keep redialling for up to 1hr only to be told to call back next day or how assertive you need to be with clinicians or else you'll get fobbed off.

Lovely to hear your DD is enjoying her productions by the way, I think once the intensity of 6th form and things like Abrsm/Lamda etc are removed its becomes more enjoyable? DS was heavily into music and he also stepped back in 5th form, he just couldn't cope with all the forced concerts etc but now he is talking about joining a band.

icanbewhatiwant · 05/03/2023 16:23

@Shimy yes the library probably will be shut some of the time. I don't suppose that will bother Ds. I'm glad he wants to study...but I'd like to see him too. Hopefully he will come for one week at least.

Shimy · 05/03/2023 20:01

@icanbewhatiwant Fingers crossed for you,he will enjoy some respite at home.

mummyinbeds · 06/03/2023 14:18

Hi all, I've been AWOL since the new thread due to being pulled in every direction by work, DS's MH and DD's uni applications. Finally, I'm on a four hour train journey for work so have some time to myself to catch up 😁

DS had been doing well at uni after the Christmas break, despite terrible exam results which didn't come as a surprise. And then his gf visited at half term and his world fell apart again. He knows she is the cause of some of his problems and finally confronted it. He called me after she left and I spent about 2 hours on the phone giving him a virtual cuddle until he fell asleep. He'd been awake for 48 hours but couldn't sleep without knowing I was there 😢

Anyway, he's back on track and starting to live a proper uni life. I'm so happy to hear him say his Sunday hangover wasn't as bad as his Saturday hangover 🤣

I took him out for dinner on Thursday night (conveniently driving by for work) and he looked well, his room was tidy and he had a motivational list of do's and don'ts on his pin board. He's even making a secret overnight trip home for DD's 18th in a couple of weeks - he's never that thoughtful.

PhotoDad · 06/03/2023 18:18

DD and her class are working on images to celebrate the 100th anniversary of a local open-air pool. Her first idea is in fabric, because of course it is.

Thread 45 GCSE Covid Cohort - Bunnies bouncing into Spring
Piggywaspushed · 06/03/2023 19:54

Apparently, student finance is open. Anyone's DC had an email? Mine hasn't.

Comefromaway · 06/03/2023 20:04

I saw it was open but we are hanging fire for the moment as dh lost his job this week so we need to get some info before applying for the current year assesment thing.

Piggywaspushed · 06/03/2023 20:14

DS says he's logged in but there doesn't seem to be anything obvious to do.

Piggywaspushed · 06/03/2023 20:15

Sorry to hear about your DH 😞

Comefromaway · 06/03/2023 20:19

It’s probably a blessing to be honest.

EasilyDirected · 06/03/2023 21:40

DS has had the email but we have decided to leave it till next time he’s home, which is supposed to be this weekend but DH has just gone down with Covid so if DD or I get it he might not come (wouldn’t blame him). Sorry about DH’s job @Comefromaway even if it turns out to be a blessing (it was last time I got made redundant) it can be a lot to deal with.

@Shimy and @icanbewhatiwant I’m sorry to hear about your DS’s health concerns, hope you can persuade yours to get to the GP Shimy.

Sounds as though things are taking a turn for the better for yours @mummyinbeds

crazycrofter · 06/03/2023 21:48

We’ve done the finance stuff, we did it last week. I’m not sure whether dd had an email or just logged into her account to be honest. I’m not sure you need the email though, isn’t it just a reminder?

crazycrofter · 06/03/2023 21:50

Hope the boys with health issues get to the GP soon and they turn out to be nothing to worry about @Shimy @icanbewhatiwant

@mummyinbeds you’ve had a rollercoaster of a year haven’t you, but it sounds like things are on the up for ds now?

Swipe left for the next trending thread