GCSEs 2018 (15) The Reckoning

[mmzz]

thread 14
The next step of the all new GCSE journey.

Oddsocks ...I also know that feeling DD also brought home a load of clothes from her dads that she has grown out off etc...apparently dad doesnt handle having things lying around (I felt like saying NOR does mum)!
Its worth reading a book called 'get out of my life' and you realise you have a text book teenager.

Oddsocks I have a horrible feeling that we treat our parents with the same sense of exasperation. Apparently each generation has to distance itself from the one above to prepare for them to die. I think we must read the same Guardian articles. Even more frustrating is that she is going to the pics with a chum tomorrow, her mum & little sister. Nobody thought to ask me along, but I will undoubtedly be asked for cash, as the other mum has told us the ticket price. I want to hear what she's been up to, but she won't even show me as much as a photo or even open her bedroom door. Then she moans that all I ever do is nag her about chores.

Hi everyone

Back from our holidays.

Sorry to hear your latest news Alexander.

August next week!!

teenmum yeh have read that book, it’s a good one. I know it’s all perfectly normal, I just feel a bit empty. DS (twins) have gone round to their mates house this afternoon,still felt a bit empty inside so gave him a big hug and kiss before he went they will be back at tea time. Oh gawd, embarrassing mum or what.

Feel your pain stickerrocks I really do. Anyway, just made cookies, flapjack and cakes, that has helped. DD is coming with me to watch Mumma Mia while DH and DS watch Mission Impossible.

Welcome back reservoir July has flown by

Well, Mama Mia is the film DD is going to see with my friend and DDs tomorrow. Have fun! I shall go & put on a DVD of Lady Bird instead!

Gosh, I slept so well last night in the cool that I didn't wake up until nearly 12! Like a teenager myself. The boys are with their dad this weekend so nobody to disturb my sleep.

I hope your DH's results next time are the best they could be, Alexander.

I want to go and see Mama Mia but my DSs won't countenance it. Most of my friends are on holiday themselves or have seen it already. There are occasions that I'd have liked to have a DD. Destined to be the mil, never the mother of the bride!

Stickerrocks, cross post. Come with me!

Dh wants to take me to see Mamma Mia!

I can’t stand the first one but I do like the stage show. Dd tells me the singers are better in this one though.

Tbh stickerrocks I’m surprised DD wants to come, I suspect it is because I’m paying Haven’t seen her yet today...

DD and I discussed going to see Mamma Mia2 but I cant see us getting to the cinema in the next few weeks given she's now away with Df until 5th and then on 1st week of NCS on 6th.

I'm procrastinating instead of doing housework...we seem to have 100's more spiders than usual (not sure whether its because of the heat).

I really am sounding grumpy, probably as I'm working at home so DH & I can go away for a few nights when DD hits NCS phase 2 on Monday. No wonder DD wants to stay in her room. I think we should plan a virtual trip to the pics, all watch it at the same time then come back and chat about it together. I actually quite like going to the cinema by myself - nobody eating popcorn in a disgusting fashion next to you!

Can we be grumpy together stickerrocks

Still haven’t seen DD ..... assume she is catching up with some sleep ... NCS social action on Monday ..

All the best for next steps for your DH Alexander

I hope those on NCS are enjoying uneventful experiences. Sadly, my DD's final day of social action was ground to a sudden halt when one of the other participants assaulted a team member! Police were called and the student was reported and is now banned from their 'Graduation'.

As an organised person, I've found the way NCS is run very poor (the participants in DD's Wave haven't even been given any details of their graduation yet, and the start of the social action Phase was unbelievably disorganised when even the mentors said they had 'no idea' what anyone was supposed to be doing). Despite this, it has been good for DD's confidence, she has made new friends with people she wouldn't ordinarily have met and enjoyed some of the activities.

And if it hadn't been for NCS, I suspect most of her holiday would have been spent on her phone without interruption. She has all her pre-A Level reading/tasks to do - hope she doesn't save them all until the week before school resumes!

DD2 off on camp and to a friend's holiday house after that, so it's going to be a quiet few weeks in our household (apart from trying to get everything sorted once our shipping arrives!).

DS actually accompanied us on a shopping trip. He's come back with new clothes so it worked out well for him! Don't think I can talk him into Mamma Mia, though!

Eek! farangatang just saw your post!
A friend of mine isn't too impressed with NCS this time round - sounds like it's very disorganised and with last-minute decisions but her experience with eldest dc was very good so she is quite surprised.

Loose it seems to be hit and miss, but for minimal cost it's certainly been an experience. Sorry you friend's DC has been on a similarly disorganised Wave.

Had it been DD who was assaulted, I dare-say I would be furious but with such a mix of young people involved, I don't see how this sort of thing could be prevented entirely.

farangatang My experience of NCS is of similar disorganisation. of an assault. Apparently a DC had a phone stolen during week 1 but tame compared to what your DD witnessed. DD was asleep most of yesterday and haven’t seen her yet today

Still raining here, some parts of UK have flood warnings which is crazy after the heatwave. What is happening to our planet?

NCS may be a victim of its own success!
DS was going to watch some friends busking today. Funnily enough they have cancelled having seen the weather and rescheduled for next week!

Really sorry to hear about those who haven't had a great NCS experience, its such a shame as the concept is such a good idea but I believe the mentors only have to be 18 so I doubt they have the experience to effectively manage 16 year olds especially those that are there to do as they please.

Oddsocks the ground is so hard if it rains heavily it just runs off hence the flooding........know what you mean though our weather now seems to be so extreme compared to how I remember it when I was growing up!

DS1 (18) is very good at looking after 3-11 year olds and has experience of leading small groups of them at holiday clubs.

He would not feel confident supervising a group of 16 year olds. The age gap isn't big enough and he wouldn't have the experience to cope if a pack mentality set in. I think the minimum age for working at NCS should be 21.

Bluebelle you aren't old enough to remember the winter of '75, or the summer of '76. Or the winter of '82? I feel ancient!

TheThird I don't think I would feel confident leading a group of 16 year olds! It would be fine if they were minded to so what I needed them to do anyway, but if they decided that they preferred to do their own thing, I doubt I could change their minds.
On the other hand, little children would be a pleasure.

I remember the summer of 76 vividly!
I didn't realise the NCS mentors were so young! That said, everyone I know who has done it before has had a very good experience.

Don’t know about that mmzz i worked as a teaching assistant in a reception class, seen some awful behaviour that you wouldn’t think possible from a child so young, eg; biting adults, attacking other children with scissors, stealing classroom and other children’s property to name just a few.

Both my nieces did NCS 3 and 5 years ago and the older was a Mentor too at the same activity centre aged just 18 (I think June birthday). My understanding is that the Gov (taxpayer) ended up paying £10m for unfilled places so there has been a lot of pressure in the last 2 years to fill the places hence it was extended and marketed along the lines of "come with your friends" and is heavily promoted on this basis in schools. I think the scheme worked well in the earlier years because it attracted DC;'s who really wanted to go and take full part in the scheme.