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Original poster

A month into yr 7....

31 replies

spongebobsparepants · 08/10/2014 13:21

And dd is getting really over tired and a bit despondent. I don't think there are any underlying issues - is it just really knackering? Anyone else's kids like the walking dead?

Roll on half term, she says she is going to sleep for the whole week, which isn't like her at all Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
spongebobsparepants · 08/10/2014 13:48

OK must be just us then!

OP posts:
GooseyLoosey · 08/10/2014 13:51

It is really tiring. During the week, ds hardly seems to have any downtime at all between homework and doing the after school stuff he really loves. I suspect he will have some massive homework project which will take the whole of half term as well.

fieldfare · 08/10/2014 13:57

Not just you, my dd is like this too.
Shattered but reluctant to have an early night. Add in the amount of homework and hormones and she's really grumpy and hard work. Some of the time she seems determined to be in a bad mood, upset everyone around her and then she can wail and gnash her teeth over how unfair her life is. Very annoying.

GooseyLoosey · 08/10/2014 13:58

I forgot about the grumpiness. Ds seems to have devolved and unless pressed will communicate with grunts.

Original poster
spongebobsparepants · 08/10/2014 14:04

oh I am glad it isn't just us, thanks for responding. Not that I enjoy your pain obviously Grin. But it does help to know it's normal.

I know what you mean about the resistance to early nights and losing some after school stuff as well. It surely isn't helping but dd is determined to keep them all up and there's one most nights.

And - indeed - the sulky grumbling, mithering and obsessive bashing away on the phone. Almost neanderthal (except for the phone of course)

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plumnc · 08/10/2014 14:04

Completely normal. My dd seems surprisingly on top of things, but she is going to bed earlier and earlier - with no prompting. I expect she'll more or less collapse as soon as half term comes along. Her older sister was a total zombie at this stage. It gets better though ;D

CPtart · 08/10/2014 14:09

Tired here too. The initial novelty is quickly wearing off and reality setting in.

caringdad66 · 08/10/2014 14:16

My ds needs to drink lots of water to stay hydrated,this keeps him alert.

medtem · 08/10/2014 14:17

DD fell asleep within minutes in the car coming back from an after school activity at 7.30pm yesterday. This hasn't happened since she was in the early years at primary school. Roll on half term!

Original poster
spongebobsparepants · 08/10/2014 14:20

Yep, I'm sure that her default option at lunchtime each day (pizza) isn't helping the energy levels. I may try pouring extra water down her, that's a good idea. I've been turning a blind eye for now to the food thing, just because she doesn't need me to add hassle but I'll make sure to keep breakfast and tea super healthy.

plumnc going to be earlier? Unprompted? Wow, she sounds pretty mature and together and also Envy

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Original poster
spongebobsparepants · 08/10/2014 14:21

aw, bless medtem

My dd isn't going to sleep earlier but now requires a small nuclear device to wake in the mornings Hmm

Roll on half term, indeed!

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weegiemum · 08/10/2014 14:25

My ds is like this. He's 12.8, went into S1 (Scotland) in August.

He's doing really well at school. Top sets, musical (piano and drums), artistic and lots of hobbies (football, running, scouts, coding club).

He's exhausted. Doesn't want to quit anything but on non-activity nights he voluntarily goes to bed between 8 and 9.

Dd1 was similar (tiredness level and activity level) for most of S1. She now (S3) doesn't seem to need to sleep at all!

weegiemum · 08/10/2014 14:28

For us, half term is Friday. I'm expecting Zombie Kids then! (Apart from hyper alert dd2 age almost 11 - she's everyone's friend at 7am!)

Original poster
spongebobsparepants · 08/10/2014 14:40

No half term let up for us until 24th! May have to be taking her in on a stretcher by then Grin.

Problem is she's really driven. Needs to try to be top at everything, to get into the teams, to be picked for stuff. Totally knackering even just watching her. Circus school last night, football tonight.

And the laundry it all entails!!!! (Sorry going totally off the point now, I'll get my coat)

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soddinghormones · 08/10/2014 15:03

Dd's getting tireder and tireder - she's got a week and a half left then two weeks off - hurrah Smile plus the lower school head has banned teachers from giving the Y7s holiday homework (double hurrah)

I'm expecting her to sleep and sleep and sleep for the first week ...

plumnc · 08/10/2014 15:04

plumnc going to be earlier? Unprompted? Wow, she sounds pretty mature and together and also Envy

Nah spongebobsparepants- she is, seemingly, maturing by the hour and I do confiscate her favourite toy (read phone) at dinner time -but honestly she must be beyond shattered - she'll be back on night duty in no time, I fear!

bigTillyMint · 08/10/2014 15:04

My DD was like the walking dead in Y7.

She would be by now in Y11 actually, but the first 2 weeks were work experience!

bryte · 09/10/2014 14:35

DD is also getting tired. Half term can't come soon enough. I am pleased that we now have a lazy half term planned at home.

gleegeek · 09/10/2014 15:09

Yes utterly exhausted.

It just seems to be one long slog and dd is finding it quite demotivating tbh. She asked the other day if this is it now "we work and work and then we die"Grin Bless, it is really hard going and sooo much homeworkShock

foreverton · 09/10/2014 21:56

Shattered ds here too!
Just had his first parents evening tonight and nearly fell off the chair when two teachers described him as " very quiet " my ds nickname at home is "parrot" as he never shuts up, he's not " very quiet" he's " very tired " :)

afterthought · 09/10/2014 22:12

It's not just the kids - the staff are on their knees at my school too!

Coolas · 09/10/2014 23:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Dragonlette · 09/10/2014 23:37

I've dealt with a number of crying year 7s this week in lessons, and it's not because of anything I've done (at least they say it isn't). They are all exhausted, although some of them cope more easily than others. I agree that friendship issues are raising their heads now as well, as they find that they are making friends with new people and primary school friendships are falling by the wayside a bit. I've had to arrange seating plans for my year 7 classes in order to try a bit of social engineering for some of my more sensitive pupils.

PiqueABoo · 09/10/2014 23:43

"If your child is NOT tired and a bit cranky then you are in the tiny minority."

That's me then. Week one was bad, but it picked up and has been chugging along quite happily since. I think the near-absence of homework besides the book-covering/colouring variety might be a factor (it's their policy for the first half-term).

mychildrenarebarmy · 10/10/2014 08:00

I'm glad I'm not the only one PiqueABoo. DD is taking it all in her stride. She has been sensible about sleep, food, homework. There has been a lot of the latter and after the first week, where she had a quick introduction into why not to leave it all until the weekend (5 pieces set on the Friday), she has been on top of it. I know that some of her friends are not finding it so easy and really feel for them. I am jealous of DD in a way and regret not approaching my school days with the same attitude!