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Original poster

GCSEs 2018 (18) Well that's all over, let's get the party started

999 replies

Stickerrocks · 23/08/2018 14:17

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary/3341060-GCSEs-2018-17-What-will-be-in-your-coffee-cup-on-Thursday

OP posts:
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6
Oratory1 · 04/09/2018 09:00

DD2 dragged me to Zumba last summer as she didn't want to go alone. I was totally useless but can vouch for it being great exercise. Its fairly low impact but a good workout and great fun & I was lucky the instructor was lovely and we lowered the age of the class. Its one of those great things where you can exercise without realising how much effort you're putting in.

whistl · 04/09/2018 09:03

Goodness, I love these threads!

BlueBelle123 · 04/09/2018 09:05

whistl regarding motivation and sticking to something just think how your DS stuck to his revision timetable no it wasn't easy and many a time I expect he wanted to do anything but revise but he preserved and in August all his hard work paid off.....now if he can do it I 'm sure you can Wink
Peggy has given excellent advice also I would strongly advise finding someone to exercise with much less likely to stop plus try as many different exercise classes, types of exercise as possible you will find something that you can at least tolerate and you will feel so much better......promise Smile

PandaG · 04/09/2018 09:06

I'm so overweight, and my fitness levels so low I am just aiming at walking more. Did 8 miles on holiday, encouraged by both dc and dh, was the furthest I have walked in years. Achilles problems and depression have exacerbated my unwillingness to exercise, but I'm much better now...

BlueBelle123 · 04/09/2018 09:09

I remember pre children I went to a step class but I was so uncoordinated the instructor asked me to go to the back of the class as I was putting everyone else off Blush

LooseAtTheSeams · 04/09/2018 09:20

I go to the gym at the ymca because everyone is lovely and it's very inclusive. You get some fitness help at the beginning and an exercise plan and they review it. Because they are so encouraging I always feel I can go back even if I've taken a break from it.

BlueBelle123 · 04/09/2018 09:25

Plus if you do embark on any form of exercise start off very slowly and gradually build up, much less likely to get an injury.

LooseAtTheSeams · 04/09/2018 09:36

Bluebelle you were very brave to go to a step class. Definitely agree about starting gently otherwise it all ends in tears. Let's just say I am the least fit person at my yoga class. The bit I really enjoy is the relaxation at the end but I was so exhausted the first week I went that I very nearly fell asleep!!

Oratory1 · 04/09/2018 09:42

Have this picture now of post gcse mums in their droves dropping their DC off with oversized backpacks and signing up for exercise classes and with 'coffee' mugs waiting in the car for sustenance on the way home :)

BlueBelle123 · 04/09/2018 09:44

Oratory no you have just outed everyone Grin

whistl · 04/09/2018 09:48

Is it possible for someone to change in just one day? Last night, DS was different to how he's ever been before. He was chilled, confident, at ease with himself, and just generally grown up.
In another change, his phone was constantly pinging with his new classmates setting up online chat groups and messaging each other with DS fully joining in.
I asked him if he'd been scared going into the school for the first time yesterday morning, and he said that nothing has scared him since he sat the first couple of GCSEs. Were they that bad?

BlueBelle123 · 04/09/2018 09:55

whistl he has clearly found the right place for him Smile

whistl · 04/09/2018 10:03

BlueBelle123 I hope so! It has been a long time coming!

Cherryburn · 04/09/2018 10:06

He’ll have been changing over the whole summer whistl but it will have only become obvious yesterday! So glad that it’s going well for him.

I do think that GCSEs are a bit of a watershed. It’s the first time that most of them have faced a do-or-die situation and when they realise they can face them and come out the other side, they do so stronger and with more self-confidence. I remember DS saying the evening before his first exam that he couldn’t believe he was sitting ‘an actual gcse’ the next day. It’s like it’s real life for the first time!

sandybayley · 04/09/2018 10:35

@Twinplusone - definitely go for running! I am a convert and have lost over 2 stone doing it. I would suggest a target race and then work towards it. My first 'biggie' was a Half Marathon last year and on Sunday I will do my fourth - the Great North Run!

Do get proper proper running shoes though. Gait analysis is important and do something in addition to running. I did a rowing course last year as well (DD rows) and it was huge fun.

sandybayley · 04/09/2018 10:36

@whistl - lovely post. That makes me so happy to think of your DS with a new found spring in his step.

Oratory1 · 04/09/2018 11:01

whistl that's lovely - we've talked before about choice of schools and what's important is somewhere they feel comfortable, safe and get a sense of belonging. Its just not always easy to spot or find what will work for them. Although by sixth form its clearer what they need and more choice opens up.

Long may it continue - be ready for some blips after the novelty wears off and tiredness kicks in but so glad it looks like he's in the right place. DS can't wait to start tomorrow - though I'm not sure its quite sunk in that I haven't got to go and get him at 6 each day. I did actually enjoy the 'school run' - it gave a structure to my day and a chance for a chat/catch up with DS. Clearly more of a pain when working full time though.

Oratory1 · 04/09/2018 11:02

DS also seems to have 'aged' two years and grown in confidence over the summer.

ShalomJackie · 04/09/2018 11:03

So he went off and I have just spent 2 hours looking for all his other first days at school (eg. R, year3, yr7, yr9 and now L6 to make the obligatory facebook post!) I'd love to be able to share here but don't want to out myself (AGAIN!) It is a pity there isn't an option to have private closed groups too!

Anyway - so we're off to Further Ed soon are we? How about
GCSE Class of 18 (19) - New Beginnings?

eaglefly · 04/09/2018 11:21

Really lovely to hear all the updates this morning. Whistl particularly nice to hear about your DS. They are all growing up so fast now.

DD too seems different and is settling this week. It feels so different even though we are at the same school.

I too am another one of those that needs to do something from a health and fitness perspective. Once both DC back at School will try to carve out some time for me to do something for myself even if it is yoga for me on YouTube.

LooseAtTheSeams · 04/09/2018 11:36

Shalomjackie sounds good to me!
Whistl that is such a lovely post and I'm so glad! I think your DS has found the perfect environment for him.
I was really hoping GCSEs were behind us but DS is going in today to sign a consent form for an RE remark. School offered it and will pay because he's 2 marks off the next grade and did far better on one paper than the other that is normally his best one and they think it's worth checking paper 1.

LimitIsUp · 04/09/2018 11:40

Yes sticker you are right - the clothing thing will be a factor for a week or too, but then all but the most committed fashionistas will find it too much work to maintain and will revert to jeans and hoodies.

Glad that its been such a positive start for ds Whistl - sounds very positive

If anyone finds a fabulous laptop bag a hyperlink to it would be much appreciated

On getting fit - I agree with Bluebelle that running is good, but it can be hard to motivate yourself if its cold / wet or (recently) too hot. You can also get injured if you do a lot of it (I developed plantar fasciitis when running a lot in the past and have super tight hamstrings) Certainly it is something to be avoided if more than a couple of stone overweight - I am presently running in preparation for a 10k this weekend and may have to withdraw because I am 3 stone overweight (gained over past year - long story) and my right knee is now shot and I felt physically ill after running 5 miles last night...(I have been rather stupid / arrogant and only started training 3 weeks ago) I may withdraw from the race and bring the running right back down to 2-3 miles and build gradually.

For busy people if you have the money and the space in the garden, get a log cabin built (no planning permission needed below a certain size and elevation) and stick a tv and dvd in there, with the most expensive treadmill, bike and other equipment that you can afford - don't skimp on quality, you're worth it (remember you won't need gym membership....). I did this at my previous house - it meant I could exercise at any time of the day or night as it suited me. I could do just 20 minutes if that's all I had - and because it was set up separately to the house as a designated fitness area I took it more seriously than I would have if I done if, for example, I had tried to work out in my sitting room. I loved it and became very lean, fit and flexible. I would use Exercise DVDs to mix things up sometimes or otherwise would do resistance training and cardio. The log cabin cost under £50K which is a lot but it was an asset which added value to the property and helped sell the house when the time came (sold immediately).

BlueBelle123 · 04/09/2018 11:44

Loose DS was 1 mark off the next grade for 2 of his subjects, it has caused quite a lot of controversy in our house, he wants to go for a remark DH is quite angry about it and thinks he should be happy with what he's got they are both grade 8's and that he needs to move on......I can see both sides so I am firmly on the fence.

I must admit last year there seemed to be quite a lot of threads about remarks/reviews but nothing this year I wonder if that is because fewer are going for them?

LARLARLAND · 04/09/2018 12:02

You DS should make the decision whether he wants to ask for a review, it your DH.

LooseAtTheSeams · 04/09/2018 12:13

It is absolutely up to the candidate. In DS's case the higher grade would be worth it but to be fair we're only going for it because school instigated it. I'm not bothered otherwise!