Year 11 GCSE support thread 6 - exams and proms

[HSMMaCM]

Good luck to those still taking exams.

I think a black bra with a black dress is fine. DD has tape because the dress is low cut and might need holding in place. Would a stick on bra be supportive enough?

Our prom is Friday, after sixth form induction in the morning.

You can get them from primark and John Lewis (depending on your shopping preference) and I'm sure there are other places too. John Lewis lingerie had sold out of tit tape the other day (probably because of proms), but their haberdashery department had it much cheaper.

Really good to hear about the variety of styles Ash - they all sound fabulous
And I think you're right about pretty much anything can look amazing when you're 16 - think that's why dd has so much success browsing the charity shops, plus all the volunteers there have got to know her and probably take her under their wing a bit. I think it's such a win-win type of experience what with the re-cycling and all the money going to charity as well She's hoping to do some volunteering herself at one of them before starting NCS in August.
As long as we give it some thought tonight and tomorrow and make sure we've given the accessories some consideration - she has some impressive looking high heeled black shoes that she claims she can walk in!

DD lasted until 10pm in her shoes, but she had some fold up ballet slippers to switch into. Apparently lots of the girls were hobbling afterwards.

At DD's prom most were in long dresses, probably 90%. The boys looked very smart too. Lots of DJs and black/grey/navy suits, but also a bright blue suit, an orange suit and a purple suit too which really stood out.

Long limo, Scooby Doo Mystery machine, Tandem bike, Cinderella coach, are the transport which stood out for me, but also loads in nice convertibles, or parents car. And also I expect many who just walked in via the side so didn't need the whole transport thing anyway.

Hello all, I haven't checked in for a while, but would be grateful for a bit of advice re my DS's prom. He has only just decided to go (it's tomorrow). Luckily I anticipated this and bought him a ticket a while ago. It's black tie. He thought he was fine, bless him, as he thought that he just had to wear a black tie. Which he already has, having been to a funeral this year. I explained that it actually meant dinner suit and bow tie. He looked at me disbelievingly. I think he thought I was winding him up!

Anyway, I need to get him sorted out today, so what would you advise:

Hire from Moss Bros
Buy from Moss Bros
Buy from M&S

If buying isn't too much more than hiring, I'm happy to buy.

Are any of those options " cooler " or better than others?

He is a typical 16 year old boy build. Tallish (just short of 6 foot ) with long legs but skinny. I'm not sure whether or not he's stopped growing but DS2 might make use of the DJ if DS1 grows out of it.

DH suggested DS1 borrows his, but he's just tried it on and both waist and shoulders are comically big.

Before shelling out for a suit get him to look on Facebook at the outfits worn at prom last year and check with his friends to see what they are wearing. You may find that "lounge" suits are more popular than tuxes. A new suit, if he needs one, may be a better investment for sixth form/interviews than a dinner suit.

If they general consensus is for a dinner suit then Matalan sell them too - which may prove to be more cost effective. My DH has one from M&S and it looks lovely on him. I would buy, rather than hire as it can often cost a similar amount.

Brilliant! Thanks Woolley.

Well, DD has just done an O-level maths paper (algebra I think), said it was harder than GCSE and she didn't finish it but then realised she was only meant to do 2 out of 4 in section 2. The answers aren't published so DH has also had to do it and they're now arguing discussing it with great noise animation.

I think she'd much rather do that than contemplate tit tape!

Errol, DD would rather sleep than contemplate maths, or plan anything for prom :)

Errol, my DD would rather gouge her own eyes out than do another maths paper. Or any subject for that matter!

Yeah, those seem like much more normal responses to the concept!

Ds also has his prom tonight. He has just polished his shoes! He looks so grown up in his suit and we are really proud of the young man that he has become.
Wishing all dcs a wonderful prom night whenever they are held. They have had a really busy few weeks and deserve the chance to relax with their friends.

How is everyone? I've had wifi problems and DH is on the other side of the world and can't sort it. I'm managing but the kids have traumatic stress!

Sixth form induction tomorrow and DS is a bit nervous of seeing all his teachers and having to confess that he perhaps hasn't done as well as they thought he would. So of course he is dead grumpy! This is followed by prom and I have to live vicariously through all the parents of girls on here as the boys simply shower, chuck on a suit - job done. Luckily there is no after prom although there is a party on Friday which is rather unfortunate timing as we get up at silly o'clock on Saturday to go on holiday.

Prom isn't until Friday here but it is being held on to as something to look forward to. My Grandma died yesterday evening, thankfully I was able to be with her at the end. Prom will be a very welcome distraction in that strange gap before the funeral, thankfully the children are pretty chilled out anyway.

DS and I went to his new sixth form college this afternoon and had a meeting with the sendco, I am very impressed with the things they intend to put in place to give him full access to things. He has hypermobility and is on the autistic spectrum and they have found some note-taking software that will really help with both. It is a huge college and really prides itself on supporting students so I am feeling very positive about him going there.

Sorry to hear that Oddboots. I aspire to dying with a granddaughter at my side. Well done.

I'm loving all the prom stories! I know it's horribly americanised by you can't deny it's a good way to mark the end of an era.

Very pleased to report that dd has been invited/re-invited (not sure but think I heard it mentioned a while back) to a friends get together pre-prom. This will be a great help I think as I won't find it nearly so stressful dropping her there to do final preparations with friends. I'm sure they will do some very good final "titivating" (as my DGPa used to say!) between them.
Will have to ask her how they plan on getting from A to B, don't know if anyone's given it any thought

OddBoots - my condolences. The college sounds really positive for your DS.

DD's prom is at the end of next week. There is some drama going on with two of her friends about who is getting ready where and travelling together and I want to knock heads together for stressing DD out.

Fun - ds1 and I went to Moss Bros. Suits for hire are standard fit while the suits you can buy in the 'prom deal" are mainly slim fit so I bought ds1 a suit. (Prom deal seemed good value, suit, shirt and tie for £129).

Spudmasher, my condolences. Prom here is also Friday, along with leavers breakfast and assembly.

odd boots

DD is spray tanned and a strange colour but at least not orange

Off to have nails done today. Sixth form induction before prom tomorrow.

We had first of two (not decided which to go to yet) Sixth form inductions yesterday. It went well, she's changed her subjects again...
We have Prom tonight, which she is now going to. She's going to be fairly low key, some are spending hours at the beauty parlour having hair and nails done. I'm not even sure how she's getting there, but know the friend she is going with.

Of course tomorrow she has the other sixth form induction day - so it could be a real test of what sixth form life is like.
Then she has an important event on Saturday which means an early start.
Then I think she has a couple of quiet weeks - to read the novels she is supposed to read before sixth form...

I ended up doing a Moss Bros prom deal. The shop was full of teenage boys and their mums getting DJs, which I think reassured DS1 somewhat. Hiring, though expensive, seemed more sensible than buying as he's very skinny at the moment (he's going to have to wear a belt with the trousers in order to have the right length).
I chatted to a girl's mum yesterday and, yes, it sounds like a complete nightmare. In particular my DSs aim is to look exactly like all his friends whereas for a girl this would be a disaster.

Sounds like the getting ready for prom is as fun as the event itself.

DD pointed out to me that lady night quite a few mates at different schools were booga-loo-ing whilst she was singing in a choir concert. She was not amused .

DS has gone off on DofE expedition this morning, rucksack groaning with Snickers and Quaker Golden Oat bars.

DD leaves tonight for a sports tour so DH and I have booked a lovely hotel in Sussex for a few days R&R.