GCSE 2018 (7) [wine][wine][wine][wine]

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A new thread to take us through the exams
Link to old thread

The advantage of this is that they do develop a familiarity with the process. The school emailed me a reminder of the rules before she started her end of Y9 exams. I tried to pass on the message, and she interrupted me, saying "Yes, thanks, I know already. Clear pencil cases only, no phones in the room, no labels on water bottles, and this year, no watches on wrists."

EllenJanethickerknickers - Does your DC's school have a parent link on the website ...I can log into a SIMS site where all reports and attendance are stored - plus exam timetables etc. I even had to sign off DD's exam timetable by a given date (in April I think)...but I guess it depends on the size of the school - there are only 90ish girls in DD's year.

DS's school only issued exam timetables to the pupils and no email to parents to say it had happened, only because I saw it mentioned on here did I ask DS whether he'd received his!!

Also I only have to look on here to see what exams are coming up so I can then double check with DS but as he's still at school I'm sure someone would come and find him and drag him into the exam hall if necessary

Thanks teen will take a look

Thank you @Cherry and everyone else who posted kind words

@Alexander - I hope DD is okay. Everything ready for her home away from home experience? How are you feeling?

DD is resting. She’s okay emotionally, struggling physically but returns home immediately after each exam, which is much needed.

She’s voluntarily decided to leave her phone with me each day as she wants to remove the element of risk of accidentally leaving it in her blazer in the examination hall.

Best of luck to all the year 11 students and also to the parents, because it’s no less stressful for us! I can’t believe the time has come for us to hide our inner worries, stress and panic in order to confidently wave our DC off to their long awaited GCSEs.

I’m actually feeling a little discombobulated that school life as I know it has now come to an end. It has, for us, been twelve years of hell for reasons mainly associated with having to fight to get health issues supported.

I feel the summer break will be one of adjustment and emotional repair for both DD and I. And probably many of you here.

I've had an anxiety disorder for many years. It's mostly well-managed and I'm able to work (part-time), go out etc.

I'm starting to feel a bit on-edge about DS2's exams starting tomorrow, and I'm not sure whether it's a normal parental reaction or whether it's the beginnings of me becoming unwell. Worrying about that possibility is then making me feel worse.

DH is going on a work trip abroad this week which doesn't help (I rely on his support).

Work will be v.busy for the next two weeks (immunisations, exam stress, a lot of students start fasting).

I'm not showing any of this in front of DS2, and thankfully he seems calm and unstressed.

AlwaysHiding that's good that your DD will be able to rest between exams. I hope her health stays as stable as it can.

That's a good idea about leaving the phone at home. I think I'm going to suggest the same to DS2.

TheSecond it's a normal reaction, don't worry. DS started the week before last and I've been on edge since then. I was the same with DD. I'm sure some people can sail through it without an anxious thought, but most people don't, certainly everyone I know has really felt the stress. It is a difficult time but it gets over, and it gets easier as it goes along too.

I do have SIMs parent but no exam timetable on there either. It's not a problem, I have seen his official timetable but it is odd that his school don't feel the need to inform us about it directly. They seem to place a lot of trust on the students sharing the information with us. Fine in my DS's case but I'm sure it's not in all cases.

That's a good idea about leaving the phone at home. I think I'm going to suggest the same to DS2.

I suggested this earlier to DD, I won't tell you her reply

She is very calm at the moment, a bit too calm - I think she is in denial about them actually starting tomorrow. They have been such a long time coming and what with all the revision for the mocks, tests, tests and more tests, I think she's just about given up with it all. I hope the panic doesn't suddenly hit her tomorrow

Second stay on here and share any concerns with us. I'm sure we can all help talk you down if necessary. I'm not sure we are a 'normal' bunch as most parents probably aren't on a thread like this! But I'm sure some butterflies are fairly standard. Do you have any RL support you can call on if things get tricky?

Thank you Cherry and Ellen
DH will still be in contact via WhatsApp etc
I have a small group of good friends who I can message if needed, and most of them live close by.

AlwaysHiding - Good luck to your DD tomorrow - I think she has been very courageous and I hope the next few weeks fly by so you can both relax a little and hopefully see some improvement with her health.

Alexander - Good luck to your DD and hope next week goes well..

Thesecond - I think its a normal reaction ..I'm sure I will be stressed this week especially given DD is with DF tomorrow and Tuesday nights and I'm already trying to balance my increasing workload so I can offer some support to DD...I have 3 nights work scheduled away from home which isn't great!

Good luck everyone tomorrow - it's going to be a long week ..

“It is better to aim high and miss than to aim low and hit.”

Oh flipping heck. It really starts tomorrow! Aaaahhhhh! I wish I could them them for her. All I can do is chivvy the doctor on to provide a letter about her health issues & try to get tickets for a couple of gigs she desperately wants to go to to boost morale.

I've spent the day teaching a revision course & telling my class that DD don't let me help her at all. DH has popped his head around DD'S door every so often to say hi & provide snacks. We had steak for tea as brain food!

@TheSecond - very similar symptoms for me too and I’m also suffering the most debilitating headaches which are entirely tension related.

I don’t cope with change very well and, having battled through the grief of securing study leave, supporting DD and administering nursing care, along with managing my own health issues, I’m pretty much running on empty.

I agree with whoever said to keep talking on here. It’s so lovely to have somewhere safe to speak up, with like minded parents who understand.

Hello to anyone venturing to post or delurk for the first time. Some of our posts are a bit random, some are continuing long running conversations, some have DC expected to get stellar results, some will be happy if their DC can simply cross the threshold into the exam room, some are dealing with family & peer group problems, some are going to be stars of stage & screen. All of us just want our DC and ourselves to get through the next few weeks. In the words of the classic assembly hymn "One more step along the world I go, one more step along the world I go, from the old things to the new, keep me travelling along with Mumsnet GCSEs 2018 thread 7..."

Hello Everyone - Signing in for the first time at the "eleventh hour".

Like most people, I can't believe that 5 academic years have gone by so quickly. DD sits her first GCSE of the full set tomorrow - she sat RS last year so that was technically her first.

She seems very calm, all things considered and can still eat - like me, normally she can't eat when she's anxious about something so I'm heartened by that. She's got 6 exams this week - French, Latin, Biology and Chemistry. We've got all the "brain-food" sorted, plus Lavender oil, antihistamines and Rescue Remedy all stock-piled Her last exam is Physics on 15th June.

I'm very stressed-out but trying not to let it show too much - keeping busy with tons of late Spring cleaning

Good luck to everyone's DC tomorrow and more importantly for us parents, stay strong

Welcome to callitwhatyouwill

I'm too lazy to Spring clean as a distraction technique but I did create two weeks of meal plans (to see us through till half term).

Good luck everyone.

Good luck, everyone. Its hard to believe it is finally starting.

Thanks TheSecondOfHerName. Everyone knows when I'm anxious about things because I go around manically cleaning my house . I've sort of put some menu-plans together, too but only for DD.

I remember my "O" and "A" Levels like it was yesterday - wish I could take her place

Welcome callitwhatyouwill I’m also too lazy to clean

Good luck to everyone’s DC who have exams tomorrow

Pass the

Thanks for your DM stickerrocks

Lovely post Stickerrocks. They are all different and we hope that everyone will get whatever it is they need to take that next step. One of DD's friends was quite badly injured last week and their exam season will not be at all how they would have planned it. It does put things in perspective.

Cleaning? Could someone please translate, as I don't understand that concept! I had cleaners many years ago, but they put a note through the door with our keys saying that life was too short to clean a house as full of books & stuff as ours. I wouldn't have minded if they had cleaned that day before returning the keys!

You're welcome oddsocks.

DD is learning quotes relating to "evil". I've suggested It's time to stop, but what do I know? I've returned downstairs to find DH watching Casablanca.

DS called it a day at 4 but he was tired and has been revising all weekend so I resisted the urge to say there was more he could still be learning !!