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

I’m sorry you’ve had such a tough time with DS, Volterra. Therapy sounds like a very positive step, and I think you’re right to disconnect for your own well being.
DD knows a couple of girls from primary school, both autistic, who have gender identity issues. One is actually on testosterone. Both dropped out of education post GCSEs and have had previous issues with fitting in with peers etc; it certainly seems to be a common link.

Ahh great news !

@Alsoplayspiccolo Glad you have had a positive chat with DD. You are right, it often really doesn't occur to them that it's a two way thing. I hope her actions follow through with the realisation. Take care.

Sounds like a good chat @Alsoplayspiccolo . Your Dd and mine sound v similar, I just can't stand the entitledness and disrespect sometimes.

I've really been careful to keep my voice unshouty lately and question the behaviour immediately rather than react to it. It works sometimes....other days I could just scream.

Thanks, 283nouveauxnoms and OrangeCinnamonLatte.
Yes, it’s the sense of entitlement that really ticks me off. Growing up, my parents weren’t easy going or approachable, and they kept us on short leads; we weren’t ever given “treats”, my mum seemed to think that going out with friends was a frippery so there’s no way she’d offer a taxi service, (I didn’t even have my own front door key until I was 18!) etc.
DH and I have always put DD and DS front and centre - some might say we’ve done too much for them - so it’s galling to see her behave with so little appreciation or consideration.
I do think her ADHD is part of the problem; she’s quick to react to any perceived slight or criticism, and she’s also blind to the mess she makes and the stress the way she lives causes.

We've certainly had phases when our DC have been unco-operative or unappreciative. At the moment things seems to be good (famous last words).

DD was sitting sketching in a park in Germany yesterday. A young girl with her dad stopped to watch (fairly common), and they turned out to be English and struck up a conversation. DD gave the girl some sketches, and the dad said that his wife (not with them on this trip) writes children's books and always likes seeing up-and-coming illustrators, so they exchanged contact details. Probably nothing will come of it, but it's a great little story!

That’s very exciting, PhotoDad!
Its encounters like that that can lead to amazing opportunities - I hope something comes of it. 🤞🏻

Did anyone watch the NYO prom on BBC4 last night? Lovely close up shot of DS (plus a lot of shots of the back of him 🤣).

I didn't see it, @Alsoplayspiccolo, but you must be so proud! I hope that you managed to grab a screenshot somehow.

Wow, Piccolo, proud moment there for sure.

Really proud, thanks, PhotoDad. It was an incredible concert and almost as good watching it on tv as it was seeing it live.
It’s on iplayer, so I might get a screenshot - good idea!

What a great meeting opportunity @PhotoDad - just goes to show what a little bit of kindness can lead to.

Congrats to you DS @Alsoplayspiccolo very exciting! Can we say we 'know' someone famous now? 😀

Haha, JustHereWithMyPopcorn!
I rang my DM this morning to see if she’d watched. Her answer? “ I did, but I didn’t see DS!”
Turns out she’d gone to bed before it finished, so missed seeing him properly, and couldn’t pick him out before that. 🤣
A friend said she saw him and he looked younger than in RL, but said that maybe that was because you couldn’t see all 6 foot of him - that made me chuckle.

Last day in New York here … DH and I seem to have been upgraded to club for the journey home 😱 Wild excitement rather tempered by DD not being. So she’s upset that she’s paid extra to sit with us (tickets booked separately as we flew out separately) but won’t, will be sat with ‘some random’, and will probably not go to the loo all flight as it will involve asking said random to let her out.

Can one of you not swop tickets with dd? (I don't fly so have no idea if that is allowed.

Poor DD! Can you ask for her to be upgraded too - say she suffers flying anxiety, or something?

@Alsoplayspiccolo How fantastic! I'm afraid I didn't watch it but all the right people will have done so and been impressed I'm sure.

DS finally turned 19 this weekend. Let's just say he slept for 12 hours last night.

Super proud @Alsoplayspiccolo re Proms.

Well done to your ds @Alsoplayspiccolo - that’s amazing!

@Comefromaway DH was going to, but she turned him down. On very rare occasions he’s a nicer person than me.

@Alsoplayspiccolo we tried! She is at least now in club class lounge with us.

It’s all a bit weird though - she now doesn’t have the seat she booked, and we don’t have the seats we were originally upgraded into (but still club). Happily this means DH and I can deny all knowledge of each other if either of us snores 😬

Piccolo what a fantastic thing to play in the proms! Well done DS!

Thank you all, re DS and the Proms!
Both DH and I have played in them before, but honestly, watching DS perform topped that - such an unbelievably special experience.
(If anyone fancies a peek on iplayer, you’ll spot him very clearly between 1’38 and 1’40, and the final encore is well worth a watch for pure, unadulterated fun and joy from the whole of the Royal
Albert Hall 🤩).

Belated happy birthday wishes to your DS, EwwwSprouts. Sounds like he celebrated in style…🤣

Safe flight, DontCallMeBaby. I need to know what club class is like (I’ll probably never experience it first-hand!).

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001pvdp/bbc-proms-2023-nyo-at-the-proms
1'39 is DS. ☺

I watched it! NYO Proms are the best Proms imo 😀
Congrats to him Also!

Ah, thank you, singingstones!
Its so lovely to watch such energy and passion, isn’t it? Every player puts their heart and soul into the performance and their joy is uplifting.
DS has a final assessment day coming up to become a member next year - everything crossed he gets a place.

So brilliant, I loved playing in a huge orchestra as a kid. Never played in the Albert hall, though! What is his instrument?