Thread 47- Covid GCSE Cohort - Summer's running away from us!

[OrangeCinnamonLatte]

...it will be Christmas before we know it.

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). 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 https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/parents_of_adult_children/4792342-thread-46-gcse-covid-cohort-searching-for-summer-solstice

Oh sorry @Anaemiafog, your post only mentioned waiting for GCSE results and I didn't recognise the name and thought you were lost!

You are most welcome @PhotoDad

Very well done to Shimy jr on the driving

Checking in. Thank you!

Thanks orange

well done to mini @Shimy and mini @cariadambyth

@Comefromaway i hope things resolve completely for your DD, I really don’t think parenting is any easier at this stage!

Welcome @Anaemiafog. My eldest DS took an apprenticeship which has been brilliant for him. This DS is at uni but finding it harder than expected. We are anxiously awaiting results in a couple of weeks to find out if he has resits in August or if miraculously he has passed the year.

Good luck to your ds @283nouveauxnoms ! Dd already has to take the 5 exams she missed when she was unwell in Jan so she doesn’t seem to mind if she has resits too!

What was/is your ds’ apprenticeship in? I’m hoping ds might consider one once he’s done a gap year or two and got the travel bug out of his system!

Thanks @crazycrofter. We don't get results until 20 July. He is currently studying the subjects anyway, as even if he doesn't have to resit he will need the knowledge for next year.

Will PM you about DS1's apprenticeship.

Thank you to everyone, Have just come back to the thread and didn't know there were more well wishes.
@crazycrofter To be honest, we'd given up and accepted he'll just have to use public transport everywhere. But it's been grating on me particularly this yr because he got a job and its 35 mins drive from home but via public transport its 1hr 30 mins! he starts in September so got his license just in the nick of time.
We just have to find suitable insurance now.

@283nouveauxnoms Good luck to your DS!

@Anaemiafog Welcome!

We're a bit late to the party but can anyone recommend a good insurance company for young people that doesn't cost the earth?

@Shimy DS wish Admiral with Black box about £950 for Kia Piccanto. Black box only needed for about 4 months. Secon year dropped to about £690 and this year is £600 - still admiral

I second admiral especially if you do the multi car policy.

Hello people.I have been reading. Sorry to hear about health issues . We are still in limbo. Think our one will be starting a new course in September, but not sure. I don’t reckon the course but really want her doing something and will try to sit on my misgivings. I asked Ds2 , who works in a related field to look at the course and tell us if it does do what she thinks it does. But of course, he hasn’t. It was my birthday yesterday and I am a bit hurt that she is the only one of my 5 to get me a gift, or really acknowledge it.I’ve spent the day worrying about one of the others who is sleepwalking towards a complete disaster. But trying to wake him up will only cause resentment. Ihave major surgery next week, and everything feels a bit shit.

Thanks for the new thread @OrangeCinnamonLatte

@singingstones I’d love a resurrection of your/our who, where, what’ list!!

Well done to your DS1 @Shimy

DD is in Athens - with the boy from the south- for the first leg of their trip around Greece. Dunno if the photos she’s sent me so far are making me envious or scared to count the decades since I’d last saw that ‘mind blowing view’ 😱🤣

*seen

@craggyrat I think you are Esther? Just want to add my best wishes. Breast cancer is now very treatable, thank goodness you had that mammogram.

@Zebracat best wishes for your op too, sounds like you have to much for one person to worry about. 🙁

@Monkey2001 - yes that's me! For some reason my phone calls me one name and ipad my old log in name, no matter what I do! Thank you

@Zebracat sorry to hear about the disappointments and stresses. I hope the op goes ok. Maybe you just need to focus on yourself for a bit - which is easier said than done, I know!

My ds just told me that he needs a goal in order to motivate him with A Levels; if he knew he needed good grades for a career which could potentially be lucrative, that would work. And the career also needs to provide constant goals to work towards and the potential for self-employment… He’s been working full time at his Sat job this week (in lieu of work experience) and says he couldn’t hack a min wage job with no chance of progression. So we came up with accountancy… which I’m loathe to push him into really as he’s so hyperactive 🤔

Craggy & NCTDN Thanks for your recommendation and the additional mention of the black box! very useful.

@Zebracat All the very best of luck to your DD and the new course. You definitely have a lot on your mind there and know how exhausting that can be. Sometimes its best to just et go of the worry and hope that some of the things you taught them will bear up eventually and they will turn a corner for the good.

A huge belated happy birthday to you!!! Please do treat yourself when you are able to I know you've got surgery coming up. Hoping they will support you with that.

@singingstones Thanks. Sounds like your DD is having a whale of a time.

I found one of @singingstones legendary lists. Just before they started Uni.

Many of us are still here. I hope no one is upset in any way by the old references, if things have changed, and we know they have for some.

Plus we have quite a few additions. Including @PhotoDad, who are now part of the furniture!

All welcome. As always.

Latest list:

@278Newnames / DS / Engineering / Bath
@Alsoplayspiccolo / DD / English and Film / Birmingham
@AnneofCleavage / DD / gap year + Primary Education / Chichester
@Appuskidu / DD / Psychology / Birmingham
@Benjispruce4 / DD / Sociology / NTU
@BlueMarigold / DD / Biology / Birmingham
@boxcar / DD / English and Drama / Birmingham
@boxcar / DS / / Swansea
@Cantonet / DS / Sports Science / Surrey
@cariadambyth / DD / History / RHUL
@Chewbecca / DS / Economics / Loughborough
@ChristopherTracy / DS / Mech Eng / Nottingham
@CinnamonOrangeCremeBrulee / DD / Music / Cardiff
@coffeeandbiscuittime / DD / Medicine / waiting list
@collywobble / DS / PPE / Loughborough
@Comefromaway / DS / Music / Leeds Conservatoire
@craggyrat / DS / History / Cambridge
@crazycrofter / DD / Psychology / Nottingham
@Decorhate / DS / Economics and Politics / Sheffield
@Delphigirl / DS / Oceanography / gap year + Plymouth (or Dalhousie?)
@DoggerelBank / DS / Biotechnology / Manchester
@ealingwestmum / DD / Middle Eastern & European Studies / Durham, TCD
@EwwSprouts / DS / Biology / Durham
@EquallyDivided / DS / Wildlife Conservation and Countryside Management / RAU
@Fiddlersgreen / DS / Journalism / Leicester
@Fonty / DS / History / Exeter
@Fruitygal / DD / Biology / Durham
@GoldenRuby / DD / Anthropology and Sociology / Durham
@HarrietDVane / DD / MFL / Warwick
@Hattifatteners / DD / Vet Med / Bristol
@Heifer / DD / Biology / Nottingham
@HibiscusIsland / DD / Biological Sciences / Warwick
@HoneyMobster / DD / Medicine / Oxford
@Horace123 / DS / Classics / Oxford
@horrificbiology / DD / Biology / Lancaster
@icanbewhatiwant / DS / History and Philosophy / Sussex
@Isthisjustnormal / DS / Comp Sci / York
@JustHereWithMyPopcorn / DS / Law / Nottingham
@KingscoteStaff / DD / Medicine / Newcastle
@kiwiandcherries / DD / Primary Education / Winchester
@Knickerthief1 / DD / Child Nursing / York
@Mango0 / DD / Maths / Lancaster
@MirandaWest / DS / gap year + Geography / Newcastle
@MondaysChild7 / DD / Interior Design / USW
@Monkey2001 / DS / Medicine / 2023 entry
@mummabear74 / DD / Environmental Science / tbc
@mummyinbeds / DS / Law and French Law / Nottingham
@NCTDN / DD / Liberal Arts / Bristol
@Northumberlandlass / DS / Accounting / Northumbria
@Oblomov22 / DS / Accountancy / PwC Nottingham
@OublietteBravo / DD / Business with Law / Exeter
@PaddingtonPaddington / DD / Music / RWCMD
@Pangolinfan / DD / Economics and Politics / Edinburgh
@PhotoDad / DD / Illustration / ARU
@Piggywaspushed / DS / Policy, Politics and Economics / Birmingham
@ProggyMat / DD / Classics / Oxford
@Sallyingon / DS / Lancaster
@sazzy5 / DS / Sport and Exercise Med Sci / Exeter
@scabby1 / DS / Economics and Politics / Bristol
@Seeline / DD / Liberal Arts / UEA
@Shimy / DS / Management / Warwick
@singingstones / DS / Neuroscience / Nottingham
@Siriusmuggle / DS / BMus Music Performance / RNCM
@sofakingcool / DS / Business Economics / Reading
@stephaniestephanie / DS / Film + TV with Innovation / Bristol
@Takeittotheboss / DS / gap year + Economics / Liverpool
@TangoWhiskyAlphaTango / DD / Politics + IR / Bath
@Tomnooktoldmeto / DD / Creative Writing and Media / NTU
@Tomnooktoldmeto / DS / History / NTU
@Tryingmybest13 / DS / Archaeology / Bangor
@Volterra / DS / Maths / Bath
@whatsnext2 / DD / English joint hons / Reading
@Wheresthebeach / DD / gap year + Marine Biology / Portsmouth
@Zebracat / DD / Flexible Combined Honours / Exeter

Thanks @Oblomov23 I’ve slightly changed name but you lot know who I am!

I am very glad to be part of the furniture on such a nice thread! Term finished at my school yesterday at lunchtime and a few of the teachers might possibly have been "out out." Going back to sleep soon, I hope, or will nap this afternoon. My body clock never realises when it's the holidays!

You're all still here!

DD is well. She's finished her first year studying Medicine at Oxford. We heard yesterday that she has passed all her first year exams, including a 'merit'.

She's thriving and loving university life. Singing in a college choir and taking part in shows. She's even doing a show over the summer, in between various trips and a bit of paid work.

This week she is supervising the queue at a certain major sporting event...,

Hi everyone. Lovely to hear all the news & best wishes to all with health issues.

@Shimy Your Ds success has reminded me to try to get my Ds to take lessons this summer. But both he & his older brother are showing no interest. Probably because we live in the centre of a small city so no need at the moment. Though older Ds could really to with a driving licence for his future career…

Ds has not managed to get a summer job yet. Has applied for loads but not even getting a reply. He went away for a few nights with local friends last week but has no other plans. Results should be out soon…

Thanks for the new thread. I still can’t quite believe the first year is already done and dusted.

Wow haven't been on here for ages! Hope you're all well!

DS is home, slowly driving me nuts (roll on sept). First year went well, ended a bit fraught but all sorted now.

So he's back, complete with a girlfriend, working loads of hours at his old job, spending it on nights in the pub and trips away (I thought students were skint?!)

Other than that it's nice having him home, he's always been a mummy's boy so it's nice but also getting used to having him around again

@Decorhate Our sons it seems are the same. Part of why it took DS1 (2001 born) so long to get it all done was because he decided he didn't need a license. It was like dragging a horse to water. He felt there was no need as he could take public transport. Then COVD hit and that put paid to any lessons at all. He confessed it was during his placement yr that he realised how foolish he had been. His placement 10mins drive from where he lived but had to take the bus and the buses were never on time so he got into trouble a lot for lateness. He complained the trains were rank 😝, I was glad he had that experience before he graduated and started his real job.

DS2 is raring to go with his driving lessons and started as soon as he got to uni and he's been having a few with me since he came back home so I think he'll get his sooner than later.

On the job front, ds2 has also unsuccessfully been looking for a job. He managed to get 2 days work (12hr shifts) at a local music festival doing bar work.
On his first day they were apparently overbooked so they turned him away but the second day he got work. He was disappointed to find that rather than the minimum wage he was expecting £10.90? he was paid £7.49 because he is under 21. It's made him realise just how hard it is to live on minimum wage. i pointed out to him that his fancy trainers he was wearing (birthday gift) cost nearly triple the amount he made for those 12hrs.
Anyway, he's been doing some remote internship work through Bright Network and another one through an program at his uni which to my surprise they are paying him for i.e paid for both. I think some universities have loads of dosh hanging around.

Good to see the list again! Hopefully DD will be starting first year again in September doing archaeology, anthropology and art history at UEA if they haven't gone bust and are still running the course 🤞 Wondering just how late the uni can leave it before pulling a course - I know her insurance last year did it 2 weeks before results day, so still holding our breath. We don't have a plan D (already on plan C).
My DS still hasn't started driving - now 21. He needs to because I am sure he will need a licence for his job (quantity surveyor hopefully when he finally finishes his degree next year!).

@Seeline if you don't mind my asking (and apologies if I have missed this, was off the thread for a while last term), was there something about the Liberal Arts course that your DD didn't enjoy? DD is looking at this kind of course (only the ones where you can also take science subjects) and UEA is on the list of possibles.