Current Year 11 - 2 more weeks of exams!!

[Rollergirl11]

New shiny thread!!

I'm also glad that exams are happening, in spite of the ongoing agony just to get through them. Without going into details, in the last 2 years DC has had to cope with 4 separate major issues including bereavement. It's been pants, and still they're standing, joking, trying their best. I am spectacularly proud of them. I hope the results reflects their hardwork.

It can take a while to get support Atike so it maybe worth getting on waiting lists, even private atm can have waits though not so much for just general counselling though can understand logic of exams are enough atm. It may be after exams the depression will lift especially if she can have a nice relaxing summer. Some therapy is not stressful if right counseller like general counselling but cbt increases stress levels before decreasing. Another is meds but would not start now and I am not a huge meds fan but they help some people, maybe 50%, but take around 4 weeks to kick in. But you could possibly call gp and see what options are. Its just a list of charities here. Samiritans are most reliable one.

Does she have anything nice planned for summer, that might help. Or could she go out with friends in exam period to take her mind off stressing. Or buy some nice food if she is into that. We got fudge from fudge kitchen, its about 20 pounds delivered so not cheap but a lovely present, though hope she would not be like ds and eat 4 slices at once. He is so thin as well but it is good, very sweet. Or a nice takeaway. I am sure she knows they matter, she just sounds too depressed to motivate herself. I cross days off too, and tell myself each day is a day closer to end but main thing is she sits them. At this stage if she has worked well before it wont make that much difference, the worst case is when kids have panic attacks in them. And there is very little adjustment for that unless I have been told wrong, think its just 1% added. But check with exams officer if that does happen. Hope she feels better soon and at least we are nearly there. I normally never drink but had a pimms and lemonade every day last week, apart from chemo day but that is half alcohol.

Thanks Rollergirl DD has been not to bad but its a real struggle to manage DS and chemo with the SN and no support for it. At least just 2 more Monday chemos and last one DS school is closed and DDs gcses finishing will be a relief. Next chemo almost want to cancel as that day chemo and gcse clash plus school could call police and chemo is timed to take most of school day with getting there and back. Plus rabbit and kitten will be unsupervised. Does not sound too promising. I guess we could keep DS off but reluctant to keep offering that as solution.

Then it either 15 days everyday of radio or 5 days everyday, that could be fun if before term ends for ds but with nhs delays think it maybe summer holidays. Phone appointment is on 4th now, 27th was moved as clashed with chemo.

So many people going through far too much all at once on top of the accumulation of years of covid stress and disruption.

I hope you can all find strength and comfort in the moment and are able to just focus on each hour ahead.

This is a dreadful pinch point and time will pass. Some things will be different by the weekend and by this time next week.

Sending hugs.

Look after their fragile hearts and minds.

My DD’s 15 year old friend took her own life just before Christmas and they are all now much more conscious of her absence as they guiltily plan their post exam “celebrations”.

Not been a good morning in our house. Total melt down (only the second of the 6 week season). She is bored and tired. And all the tough science paper 2’s still to do.

It’s a bit like running hurdles which get higher at the end when you are knackered.

Sorry to everyone going through a tough time at the moment. Life is just relentless sometimes.

OFSTED decided to inspect school today so that's a nice layer of stress for them.

DD has Geography now (I'm waiting in Costa for her and then she's coming to my office) and then she has Media this afternoon. Then we're down to 4 exams left.

Thank you @Silkierabbit, some helpful suggestions. Getting her to agree to any form of intervention has been a struggle. I did contact a therapist a couple of weeks back actually but haven't heard from them, I must chase them up. We will go for private, I know there's massive waiting lists on the NHS, not at all surprising given the last couple of years.
she is the one going to glasto, yes, she is looking forward to that very much. We live fairly locally so a lot of people she knows will be there and she's going with a friend's family.
@CornishGem1975 cannot believe OFSTED would do an inspection at this time of year! That seems completely crazy.

Thanks. So sorry about your DDs friend DFOD so very hard for kids needing mental health support, its really shocking, expected to stay in for best part of a year to help others but when they need help nothing is there. Hope its calmer now.

Now have to deal with SS call as police called for missing child even though he was at school whole time. This is a nightmare though as he is 15 it will be ok but I so do not need daily police visits as school are not supervising him and daily ss calls for same reason, any police referral leads to ss call. They just call and go away but why cant he just have help in school and i so dont need this on chemo. Maybe they are trying to get him at home everyday but that is no education for him. Poor dh has to try and wfh around all this too and dd needs calm for gcses. I may keep him home for next 2 weeks if this is going to continue but trying to get it reversed today. Told them to rip up his ehcp, it gives him nothing and is causing all this and they are opposing his choice of 6th form. Poor DS. Just wish someone would give him a hug at school.

Stats today, biology tomorrow and hellish day of chemistry and french writing on Thursday, Fri off.

I dont know if your DD would do anything active Atike as 20 mins of activity kicks in something in the brain which makes you more positive. I would not mention that but any activity like maybe an aquapark, swimming, cycling or even just a home aerobics video, I do Pamela Reif helps. 20 mins each day is ideal but anything is better than nothing. Wont solve everything but every little helps. Anything she has done in past maybe easiest. Though maybe too much with exams. But if its fun as well might help.

Hi everyone, it's me again. The website has been a bit glitchy. I'm sorry to hear about the issues everyone is facing and my heart and love goes out to you all and your dcs. I have had issues with my own mental health and physical health and moved to be with my husband but have not been able to integrate particularly well. My ds has issues, possibly AS but no official diagnosis. I have just struggled along with it and feel like a bit of a crap parent tbh I have really tried my best to support him. Yesterday after maths he looked so tired and kind of went mute on me and I think I panicked on his behalf hence my earlier post. He's such a resilient personality but yesterday seemed to be a bit of a moment where it all had became a bit much. He's struggled with friendships, he does have friends inside of school but doesn't associate much with any of them outside of school which can be a problem in terms of having a support system apart from myself and his dad. He's got two offers for sixth forms....A levels, but not sure what he's going to do with himself over the summer break. I'm hoping he's coped ok with geography this morning. I'm just trying to get used to the website. I'm very proud of all my ds has achieved despite all the challenges we've faced.

Geography went okay apparently. She's not bothered as long as she passes as she's not taking it any further.

First time had a 'easy' in response to the geography today

Only 4 left now. Double day tomz
And two next week. 🤞👍

Spoke to DD who said Geography was fine, a little pushed for time but all good.

Sending unmumsnetty hugs to all those going through tough times.

Geography went ok this morning, think he is just glad to get it over with, he seems to have completely lost interest in geography recently. He is home for lunch but has to go back to school for Statistics this afternoon - thankful that school is very close. He may be in the hall on his own as his school don't offer stats but we (well DH) taught him it at home.

DS said Geography was ‘really good’. It’s one of his A level choices so wanted it to go well for him. 5 exams to go with Biology next tomorrow morning.

DD said Geography was fine. Another subject done with now.

Biology tomorrow. Then Thursday off 😀 and Spanish writing on Friday.

Geography is DD's best subject and she's doing it for A Level, so she's hoping she's slayed it. Didn't help that she had a panic attack (first in a while) before setting off for school this morning. Thankfully it didn't seem to affect her during the exam.

Five subjects done and four still to complete (it will be three after biology 2 tomorrow). They're getting ticked off quickly now!

Sorry to hear you are both struggling @LizzyButtons - moving and exams is a lot of pressure. Hopefully when your Ds starts 6th form he can find like minded friends. I have a shy ds with a quiet social life so can understand what you mean.

Ds felt Geography went well today. He's a bit sad to say goodbye to it really but he feels his strengths lie in the subjects where he doesn't have to write too much! Biology and History left this week then Physics, Chemistry and Music next week. Glad he has this Friday off as it's forecast to be 29 degrees.

So sorry to hear of all the issues the DC and you all are facing. I feel very fortunate that we seem to be on a broadly even keel now after a very traumatic bereavement back in 2019 that has only started to calm down now.

I wish I could do something practical to help.

Sorry to hear what everyone and their DC have been going through. I certainly can't grumble in comparison.
My DS is very difficult to read at the moment so not sure how he is coping emotionally. He's monosyllabic and rarely offers additional information so I don't waste my time asking. He is currently revising for biology but I'm sure he's not doing much more than a couple of hours a day.
Ah well, it will be cheaper for me as I had offered him money for achieving 8 and 9 grades.
I enjoy crossing the exams off the timetable as he goes along. Just 7 to go now!

Media this afternoon, went well from what I can tell. Just Biology this week and then Chemistry, Food & Nutrition and Physics to go next week. The end is in sight!

Likewise geog fine for ds this morning. @MirandaWest - we also have bio and Spanish writing this week.

Then three more (Chem history and physics) next week and we're DONE! Can't wait.

Big unmumsnetty hugs to @Silkierabbit @MrsPnut @Rollergirl11 @Akite and @LizzyButtons and any others having a tough time of it. It's stressful enough in the ordinary run of events without covid, illness and other stressors in the mix.

Sorry to hear what everyone is going through, I'm so glad I found such a supportive community board, you are all so kind which isn't always grittier of mumsnet. Only 10 days left to go, I do hope the stress drops for all of us once those final papers are sent off

Sending love & strength to @Rollergirl11 @LizzyButtons @Silkierabbit @Akite @MrsPnut dealing with any of these things at the best of times is tough enough but with the backdrop of the last few years plus the GCSEs it's quite overwhelming. I'm in awe of you all.

DS had a free day today & has revised Biology, French & History. He's looking forward to the warm weather at the end of the week, grateful that he hasn't got an exam on Friday...

Good luck everyone today. Think most of us have Biology this morning, and we've got DT this afternoon (our longest exam of all). DC didn't sleep well either. Honestly, this feels never-ending at the moment. At least it will be 2 more subjects ticked off, neither of which are A level choices, so we just want passes.

Good luck to everyone today. 🤞🏻

Biology this morning & Latin literature this afternoon.