Thread 48- Covid GCSE Cohort - Summer before Year 2 Uni

[Oblomov23]

Summer ending. Year 2 for many at Uni about to start.

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.
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Thanks so much for all the messages. She got another earful last night. I have said to her that she needs to request a move, but she has a practical today so she’s busy. I think she’s coming home for the weekend so we can maybe help her compose some emails. I think we need to talk to the Care experienced team. I’m actually scared this will affect her mental health, might just be a funny story for other people, but not her. She said “why is God testing me?” We aren’t religious at all, so that’s raised alarms in my head.

@Zebracat I totally understand your concerns. I would try to get hold of someone today if you're able to.

I agree. It's still only 3pm. Ring? Email? A lot can be achieved on a Friday afternoon as opposed to starting/leaving it all on Monday?

Sorry, jus5 read these, 8 had an appointmentthis afternoon. I had asked her if we should ac5 today, bu5 got no reply. She’s home now.

@Shimy DS has always been provided with a vacuum in his private rentals. If LL wants the house kept clean, they should at least provide the tools to do so!

@Shimy DS tells me they actually have three hoovers in their rental house! They are providing their own kettle, toaster etc though.

Good luck to @Seeline and @OrangeCinnamonLatte on the second attempts! I feel like DS is on his second attempt although he is staying at the same uni but obviously restarting. He took some of his stuff down to the house last week and we are taking him and the rest of his stuff on Sunday, I am getting quite nervous for him. He seems to be ok but only time will tell.

Good luck sorting out the room @Zebracat

Good luck with the resit results @JustHereWithMyPopcorn I am glad in retrospect that we are not in the same boat now. Although Bath's resit results aren't out until next Thursday, so even later!! I do feel for the uncertainty it all brings so thinking of you and wishing well, fingers are crossed.

Gosh @Zebracat that’s sound awful. Your poor girl. I really hope you/she can get a move sorted quickly.

@Shimy yes there is a hoover is DS’ house.
They have had to buy a kettle and toaster. Think they are going to get a microwave as well

We are getting ready to go to London today to see Spurs, v Sheffield. managed to finally get 4 tickets, (we eventually got 2, then 3, getting 4 is almost most unheard of) so ds1 who is still home, can also come. Can't wait! Seriously excited.

Ds1 had PwC training this week. I listened to snippets occasionally, as I was passing outside his door. It was hardcore and he was knackered by last night. I was shocked how hardcore it was. Worse still the main trainer had a very monotone voice!

He has 2 days more of training, Monday and Tuesday, then 3 days of exams, wed to Friday.

Dh was at home one day this week doing 3 parts of training for his job (water company). H&S, Inclusion, Diversity. Ds2 (15) heard some of it, and asked "do they think you're dumb"? Made me smile.

My 3 are also at Spurs today!

So I have to spend all day packing...

DH drove car to station. Traction control lights came on and car is juddering. Car now at station.

Not sure what will happen later or re Birmingham tomorrow:(

@Seeline DS is also moving in today, will imagine that any dancy looking girls over the courtyard might be your DD! Running late (normal for us), so will have to get key from security lodge. I delivered DS1 to Manchester yesterday, have also been helping out young friend who has no parental support (mum died 2 years ago) to get ready for Bangor. Will collapse in a heap when all dropped off!

@Zebracat I agree, that flatmate is not normal and you're girl needs to know that it is sufficiently abnormal that her reaction is very reasonable!

@PhotoDad thought of your DD recently when "The Reunion" on R4 was Spitting Image - the puppet designers went to Cambridge School of Art.

Good luck to your ds @Monkey2001 , hope all goes well.

Dd managed to leave her lights on again a couple of nights ago and had to call AA out. Apparently they came in 5 minutes, so midnight is the time to call them out! But the guy said her battery was at 20% life and it was a motorcycle battery, held in with cable ties! So I’ve gone and got a new battery for her today plus various bits for her room.

Ds is hyper focusing on driving! I haven’t found an instructor yet, so it’s on me. In four days we’ve gone from a drive around our quiet new build estate to going to Coventry today and tackling the dual carriageways and roundabouts. He’s actually picking it up quickly but his over confidence terrifies me!

@Monkey2001 hope all goes well for your DSs move in to UEA. DD yesterday went well - I think it was mainly returners so not too hectic. Took her to Sainsbury's this morning then drove back to London - arrived home just in time to see the Wales RWC match which was a bonus!

Ugh @Oblomov23 PwC training - tedious! What area is he working in? Hopefully not audit?

All the best to you dd too @seeline.

Ds has been busy working. He's been starting at 6.30am and finishing 7pm for 5 days a week the past 2 weeks, he also worked 2 Saturday morns. He's been out until gone midnight most nights too as it was everyone's last week before uni. Most go back over the weekend. Ds is the only one working all this coming week. Back to normal hours of 8am-4.30pm this week. He finishes Friday. DH is travelling down to see his dd in Brighton on weds. So I've asked Ds to sort a few boxes for dh to take in his car, it'll make our journey easier. I can pick them up from their house. But of course I can't get Ds to sort stuff. He says he's catching up on sleep over the weekend. Then he will say he's tired after work Monday and Tuesday. He makes me mad when he's like this. Things have to be done on his terms. I'm working until 5pm next Saturday. We have a birthday party to go to at 6.30pm. So I've no idea when we will pack the car as I want to set off 7am Sunday morn.

Most of you seem to be heading back this weekend or already back. It doesn't seem a year ago since we were taking them all first time.

@Zebracat I hope your girl gets sorted.

Hope any Spurs fans didn't give up and leave a few mins early!

@Zebracat hope your girl is OK x

Apparently the ground went berserk singing.

Dd moving to Reading tomorrow feels so weird doing it all again but slightly more relaxed than last time I haven't inspected her room yet she has a meeting 10 am on Monday with course leader ect.

She has been difficult this summer going out a lot, getting into arguments and unsuitable one night stands (older bouncers), drinking lots. It's been really difficult.

It turns out the controlling bf was more controlling than we ever realised and took advantages he shouldn't have when she was drunk. The poor thing is just traumatised by it all and how she doubled down about their relationship. I'm kicking myself for not spotting something earlier. She has been so angry and impulsive the whole summer as a result, until she finally told me. I've encouraged her to go to the police but she won't. So upset. I really hope she can talk to someone at Reading and get help. She says she doesn't want to talk to anyone apart from me though.

She is positive and looking forward, keeps talking about Reading being her 'new start'. I only hope so and understandably am very nervous.

.

Nice that you thought of her, @Monkey2001! CSA seems to be really proud that Pink Floyd played their first gig in the Illustration studios (there's a blue plaque) but Ronald Searle is probably their most famous actual illustrator.

Dropped off DD's stuff today. Had a really lovely afternoon with her discussing Plans; she has a million projects for uni and for her own art, and is also determined to make new friends. Then an early dinner at our favourite restaurant (which generated doggy-bags for further meals...) Seeing her again tomorrow morning to take back home anything that won't fit in her tiny but well-located room.

I bet!

Piggy he's in Asset Management, but it's still basically auditing. (Yawn)

The spurs game was painful to watch. But the ending was superb, and yes we stayed till the end and were singing and jumping up and down.

You do have the patience of a saint ican, I have absolutely no advice, I just know personally I would be going nuts by now.

Orange, best wishes to your DD on a new start. Acting out over the summer after she’s been through was clearly no surprise, but you have been there for her and at least she was one person she can open up to. And hopefully more once she becomes more settled in her new environment.