GCSEs 2018 (8) Dozens of DCs, 1 DH and Flashcards in the fridge

[mmzz]

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Bluebelle your DS's teacher sounds lovely!
All I've given is a summary!

Thanks, Loose. Its great to have an expert on here.

Out with friends yesterday who have DC same age as my DD, as you would expect all the talk was about GCSEs. I felt a really rubbish parent as my DD tells me nothing about she is getting on. All I get is “alright” in her cross voice.

I know I can’t change the outcome by knowing how she is finding the exams by I just want to be involved. Feeling a bit frustrated and hurt as my DF couldn’t give a sh*t about me and he doesn’t keep in touch. He saw DD when she was born 16 years ago as I thought I should “do the right thing” but he hasn’t seen her since and has never met my DS.

She has parents who care about her and she is rejecting them.

Sorry for rant...

Oddsocksb pushing your parents away is part of growing into an independent person. It hurts but it's something we all would want for our children, else you really have failed if they keep hold of the addition strings. Your DD is doing it early but not unnaturally early.
We all want to improve on our parents, but the fact that you care, and your DD knows you care, forget much she won't be you halfway, means that you are already a much better parent

Oddsocks its clear for anyone to see that you really care about your DC and are doing a brilliant job.

All children are different some want to share every little detail whilst others like your DD can't bear to tell you anything, even what they want for breakfast! My DD was the same and I too found it incredibly difficult to understand her as she is so different from me and when I had a daughter I really wanted that close mother daughter relationship but it wasn't to be, I do have a much better relationship with her now that she is older and I hope as the years pass we will become closer

oddsocks Echo Bluebells post its clear for anyone to see that you really care about your DC and are doing a brilliant job. My parents weren't that bothered about my education although they were about my brothers - they really pushed him to work hard but not me - but once I started earning money I was very motivated.

DD had her DF's today but seems in the mood for revision - he normally goes out sailing so hopefully she will get her head down today - only three exams next week but all-important exams - she was secure in all 3 in her mocks 7's but both Eng/Maths are the brand new 9-1 exams.

My job today is clearing her pit of a bedroom...I wouldn't normally do but I have someone coming in to replace the ensuite shower and it looks like a few bombs have it. I put a very large bin in her room and also a very large open storage tub a few weeks back with the instructions that ALL waste goes in the bin and everything she uses occasionally should be kept off the floor in the storage tub..we have cleaned out all old clothes but still, clothes don't find themselves on floor!

Oddsocks I know it can feel hurtful, but keep reminding yourself that this is a normal developmental stage. When she gets to the other side of it, it will get better.

@Oddsocks - I can understand how hurtful that must feel. It may be the way she’s dealing with stress. All you can do is let her know you’re there and maybe think of a few relaxation activities that you can do - even just walking the dog if you have one (or can you borrow one?) I have my best chats with the children when out with the dog. Especially good if there’s an ice cream along the way. Your relationship with your dad may be making you feel things more strongly . 😘

I’ve just had a stressful morning with my son and English Lit. He doesn’t know his quotes, his quotes aren’t that great so we’ve spent an hour and a half going through the revision guide I got him 4 months ago that he’s barely looked at. Feeling the stress now! He hugely benefits from one to one sessions (otherwise he drifts off!) so Maths then geography with me testing/cajoling.... He is so good and uncomplaining - he is fab, if disorganised!

oddsocks - my first ever
Children are hard but I feel in your posts how much you care about your DD and I bet she knows it too.
My DD has spent the last hour running around the house with DD2 and a list packing for the latter's DofE practice expedition tomorrow. Only one dispute when I heard " For goodness sake - you can't possibly bring a crop top - it's a challenge not a fashion parade". DD1 is very conservative and DD2 a .....little less so.
She has promised she will get back into things after lunch as she has a bugger of a week coming up. Roll on the 16th June and sanity.

Thanks mmzz teen Bluebelle second rosie juggling really appreciate your comments to you all..

Leaving her to revision while I’m out with my DS

Apparently the only way to revise for the History source paper is to stride up and down the kitchen while your mother fires questions at you about the League of Nations, pausing occasionally to do frenzied press ups. Apparently this doesn’t work if one’s mother is seated in a deckchair outside the kitchen door (I did ask...)

@kingscote

Not a good day here. Tired. Maths went titsup and I wasn’t as patient as I should have been - stupid daft errors and lots of moaning and groaning. Has just been sent up to bed for a nap

Rosie After his siesta, could he talk you through any mistakes on a past paper he’s completed and had marked?

Kingscote
Oddsocks and Rosie
Have to say, much as I like history, I’m relieved that DS didn’t take it. It sounds like a heavy workload.
I’m also very much looking forward to half term!

Sorry to hear some finding it hard. We had one of those days yesterday. Hot and too may distractions going on and hard to get motivated again after the adrenelun and efforts of the first week. V relieved to see a bit more focus today.

It’s probably not much consolation Oddsocks but I am regularly being shocked and surprised at the moment by the maturity of 19 year old DD2 and also how she wants to spend time with me and join in family events etc. She was the most detached by far in mid teens but is now the one who insists on us all doing things together whilst at the same time being independent and confident. For a long spell the rest of the family could do no right but that all seems forgotten now.

Anyone have any links to AQA practice papers for non and calculator exams * 2?
DD just used this one
www.onmaths.com/mock_exams/aqa-2018-paper-1-higher-prediction/
and found it really useful and would love the same thing for other papers.
Thank you.

Laughing at the mental image of Kingscote Junior revising for the History source paper. I have heard that interspersing physical activity with revision is a good thing and aids memory and recall

Its flash card hell here too - we've been through them 3 times so far (taking 40 minutes on each occasion) and dd still can't remember whether the Greeks invading Bulgaria was 1923 or 1925 (she keeps confusing it with the Corfu incident). We're located in the summer house in the garden. Despite dh and ds being here apparently it is only me who is deemed competent to do the flashcards. Bit worried about maths and physics but dd is refusing to do anything but history today. I have damson gin in the fridge for later.

oddsocks - agree with everyone else's sentiments, the important thing is that you have shown interest, offered help and made yourself available. Your dd may not have taken you up on it - but you have been there for her

RosieLig - just seen your post. I hope ds comes back happier and more motivated after his nap. They are cruel these exams!

Oddsocks I do think that girls are more 'difficult' than boys at this age, certainly if my experience is anything to go by. It's not much fun though

DS has been going over some History today but moved on to Physics and is now doing Maths. History is his favourite subject, has always been a genuine passion of his, and is an A Level choice. He says he's very secure on the League of Nations-I hope he's right. I would say that although his short-term memory isn't great, once any info has got into his long-term memory it seems to stay put. He's also good at seeing the 'bigger picture' and how everything fits together (I think I've read that that's one of the reasons so many architects are dyslexic?)

That entire paragraph was an exercise in self-reassurance I think!!

A tough day here too. Dd is alternating Dickens with geography. Not sure how she is managing not to get them confused! She's not very well again so she's finding it tough and would very much like to just go to bed

We had lunch out at a local garden centre which helped.

mmzz dd is doing no maths either. I don't think she's quite as guaranteed a 9 as your ds. She missed it by 5 marks in the most recent mock but she thinks she's covered her weaknesses at school. Hopefully she should get a comfortable 8 which is enough to keep the FM option open. It's more important that she passes English.

oddsocks I'm afraid to say I was just like your dd. I shut my parents out of all my school life and other areas of my life from the age of 14 until I was in my early 20s. I can't really explain it now other than I wanted to do it on my own to prove myself. I wouldn't even let them pay towards my masters degree fees even though they could afford it and I couldn't. We're really quite close now. I am sure your dd is pushing you away because she knows you will always be there if she needs you.

I've seen no revision from DS2 so far this weekend. I know he doesn't believe in last-minute cramming, but I'm not sure he needs to take the entire weekend off.

KickBishop poor dd - that's rotten for her. I hope she feels better after a good night's sleep.
On Maths revision - ds basically just practises the booklets his teacher gives him. He ignored the nice maths books I got him once he'd worked out where the gaps were in his knowledge. I think this is the advantage of not having study leave - his maths teacher can keep giving him things to do!

kingscote Just to add to the list of tips, I've just learnt that the best way to repeat aloud Latin Verse apparently is to have your mother check for your accuracy whilst throwing plastic balls into a basket and cheering every time you get one ball in.

Saturation levels reaching all time high here. It's too long and too much.

@TheSecondOfHerName, mine has a similarly “relaxed” attitude to revision.

However, he is revising his physics equations without needing to be beaten with a stick. Progress!

It must be the warm weather. DS also did anything but revise most of yesterday and all this morning. In exasperation, at around noon today, I got out a white board and made a table : exam day, exam name and what he doesn't know yet. I let DS fill in the last column. So now, he's back on track again.
I just am not getting any time off. I'm either doing housework, cooking, working or checking up on DS