Year 11 - 2024/2025: And relax! Support Thread for the summer holidays.

[QueenMabby]

New thread to carry us all through the summer as we transition from dealing with stressed teens to dealing with bored teens!

Helllloooo all! So, we are back from Montenegro…… it was so lovely to have DS18 and DH 16 ( and DH 🙄😹!!) without any outside influences! DS16 was a lot more “ present” than I feared he may be. He got in a bit of a routine of being around for Breakfast, pool etc then Lunch, then going to his room to “ chill/ play with his friends on his phone”, then come down for late pm swim, change for food, then back to his room at 9.30pm ish, as “ the noise was too overwhelming”… He seemed chilled, as did DS18 ( apart from a 🤷‍♀️🙀 beach incident… long story!), not much mention made of Results, so no obvious stress shown.

It’s weird being back, tho. I’d been subconsciously using the trip to not have to think about looming Results! I went back to School last night for an event I organised, and back again tonight…… DS has asked if he can come to help ( he does do frequently, but I hadn’t pushed this one!). So he’s coming with his friend! Which I’m really happy about……. feels weird as he’s not going back in September.. ( but, then, it was weirder yesterday as DS18 had to give me a lift as has just passed his test!, and …’why wouldn’t you want to drive up the school drive a year after your A Levels, to drop Mother off’…….as opposed to the other way round?!😈😹😹😹!!)….

Now we are back, he’s settled into his post exam routine if mainly online with his online friends, but he HAS had more than a couple trips into town/ swimming with his two friends, which does make my heart bounce still 💕🙄😸!

So!! The Prom stories are great!!!!! Some gorgeous photos!! Interesting to hear about “ taster/ induction” days…. I’m so sorry some didn’t appear to go well ( @Whoooo… I think it was yours? ( the WiFi on holiday was sketchy beyond belief, so I tried as best to read stuff, but I’d lose service as fast as it came ).. I will play catch up now I’m home and see how it turned out/ decisions made..” Situational friendship”… that is a very good saying! Hope DD is doing ok 🤞…. Car pooling made me smile!!)..

DS missed his as we were away. I am increasingly conscious of fact that I have zero knowledge of what is meant to be happening re his College. Even if he passes and gets in… starting date?! No idea! He is the sole contact, and for a ND DC who is desperate to be in control, he is super resistant to letting me know anything. Ideas? ( I am, however, going to have to find out what a Plan B would look like….. you guys know what I mean, so I’m not tempting fate by setting it out! 🙀)..

Anyway! @Whoooo… good luck with your packing!!!! I’m on the other side … always grim .. even clothes you’ve not worn smell “off”!! I hope you’re off somewhere warm! Totally sucks to go away when it’s nice here !!( like we did!!)… escape the grey drabness, @Whoooo!! 👙 🏖️!!!
😸

@SisublondieThank you!
Dh and I are packed but both dds went to the gym this morning and are now at pils til this evening so...yes...I can forsee 11pm packing 🙃
Montenegro sounds wonderful!
Glad you had a lovely time.
I just need to look at a different patch of sky for a while ☺️
Felt a pang of guilt earlier leaving mum as my siblings are useless 😡 but I've made clear to them what day her meds need picking up. I'm hoping they might actually visit 🙄
Yes, it was dd who didn't like her taster day but tbh I think the FE college and the btec in her passion subject is the best option for her atm.
She just wants to leave the "school" environment (whereas my older dd was the exact opposite).
She had a great time at prom ☺️
She gets to go back to school in October to pick up her art pieces.
Dds are sharing a room on holiday - its the only time they share a bedroom and I think they quite enjoy it.

@Sisublondie
<cough>
Perhaps the college website will have some info
<cough cough>
😁

Hi all, we’ve had a fair few college emails, asking for stuff, giving information etc. DD has her first choice then 2 back ups so just trying to make sense of it all. We’re in the US on results day so her friend is going to WhatsApp her and open her envelope then we will need to accept the place providing she gets the results she needs. Going to be a frantic few hours but we will be 5 hours behind so that gives us some time to sort it!

DD has been pretty busy, camping with her friend, meeting other friends and spending too much money by her own admission. I said you’re saving half of it so the rest is there to be spent and that is the advantage of working! We have next week off for family activities then away for over 2 weeks end of August so least she won’t have chance to spend much then. With regards to bridging work, I must ask her if she has any 🤣

I've just checked DS2's bridging work. They'd sent some fancy link (padlet?) out after the taster day a few weeks ago, but there was nothing in it. When I questioned it, I was told it would be populated this week.

It now has some history, but no English or engineering. The history gives instructions on how to access the material. Fine....except it's dated 2019 and points to links on the school website which don't exist.

I've had a few talks with DS about this 6th form not being great and he's fine gritting his teeth through all the blather ("look at our lovely vinyl covered seats rebranding, come to our 6th form, we'll give you an iPad on which you will be able to do nothing" )

It frustrates me so much, but I know I have to sit back and let him work it out and speak up.

I tell myself if he gets small class sizes and good teachers (or even teachers I suppose) he will fly. He is saving a huge amount of time not travelling into the city.

@Sisublondie sounds like a great holiday
We haven't booked anything yet because we needed to get me a (second hand) new, smaller, slower car! (great it's fucking tiny a tin can on wheels but the radio works my car is 21 years old but too "fast" to insure for learner/new drivers) Ratty has a real life provisional driving licence now (September born) so am advising an exclusion zone around this area.
Didn't think I would ever "miss" a car but oh my god broken radio aside - think the new one will be quicker to push. And second hand cars now cost so much for so little.

The things we do for our kids, although to be fair they will never hear the end of my complaining, we took Ratty and he looks like Gulliver in it!
Have I mentioned it's TINY I reckon I can park it in H's car...

Just attempting to insure tin can and then we might book something next week or go over October half term.

Little brother finishes this lunchtime! hurray.....will feel more like holidays when he is home.

Have a lovely time everyone who has got a holiday booked.

Might have to go in between results and start date.

Just back from a boozy (hic) lunch 😋
Having a lovely time, we are all just chilling out 📚⛱️
My car is small. I just pootle about locally in it. Dd1 had my old car which I had from new. Cost £8k in 2016. My newer car (2020 plate) is the same car but cost £9k and it was 3 years old when I got it! 2nd hand car prices are insane 😳

You can insure learner drivers quite cheaply on a separate policy. Usually a much better option than adding them to your own policy. I can’t remember who we used for ds but Hastings or Marmalade are good options. Think it was around £200 for him to learn in DH’s car. When he passed his test is was going to cost £3k to add him as a named driver! 😱

DD here has done nothing but work, oh and have her eyebrow pierced!! 😂

Small car is ours tomorrow
It will be fine for 4 years then they piss off to uni and we can get a bigger run around - maybe - let’s see how it goes!

Re car insurance we used marmalade

Results day 4 weeks tomorrow 😬

I totally won’t mention that to dd @Whoooo. We’re currently in Japan on holiday but apparently last night she’d had a dream that she’d accidentally put music a-level on her choices list and they wouldn’t let her change it!

We use Hastings to insure car. It’s a black box policy but as I am the main driver (which I am genuinely). It only monitors me! And only braking, acceleration, cornering and phone use. I almost have a perfect score but apparently I brake too abruptly sometimes 🤷‍♀️.
So here, we have been away, DD has done a lifeguarding course, put her CV into places now. Think we’ll do 6th form clothes shopping this week too. DS has a 6 week 9-5 job in London.
Now I’m on the hunt for oasis tickets for me and DS. He actually got some for September but he’ll be at uni so he’s sold them. He also had a nasty accident in the year that would make standing a bit hard (although he’s now decided it would be fine.). A-levels first, 3 weeks today…..

@labradorservant not just us with the A-Level countdown first then. Not sure my nerves can stand it, no matter theirs.

We are back from hols - DD2 is back in an orchestra, so the world's balance is restored. DD1 and foster daughter both doing dribs and drabs of work - not always that easy to come by.

Driving seems such a long way away for DD2 - she's not even 16 yet. DD1 hasn't yet bothered but we will need to bite the bullet soon enough, so the insurance chat v helpful.

Omg. The results day dreams! I remember with older dd I dreamt that she sat all the wring papers and got no grades!
We know a few people who are getting their A level results soon.
It's nerve racking 😬

DS seems calm about A-level results or not thinking about what they mean- though he has sort of realised how soon he could be going now. It will either be plain sailing if he gets in where he wants or total panic stations.

We've come back off hoilday and gone from loads of time to struggling to fit everything in round family and other commitments. DD2 elastics have gone - as quickly as they got put in.

Some of her friends are complaning they've not seen anyone but make no actual plans to meet up - she seen one cuase I pushed and I've suggested a few things they could all do - made the point as they are all heading off to different lcoations if they don't make an effort they won't see each other going forward - though they have snap chat and whats app.

I'm sad we are coming home tomorrow:(
Dd is the same re: meet ups - its infuriating 🙄

I always have exam dreams with the boys are doing exams.
That I accidentally signed up to do GCSEs as well and while I might be able to have a stab at English or Maths or even Science, it's always Computer Science that I am faced with! Hopefully that's a thing of the past now!

Japan, wow, I am envious!

Japan sounds amazing. Dd would love to go. Dh goes there for work sometimes.

Dh is searching for a car for ds2 now.

Dd not keen to learn...yet.
Older passed at 19 so has had a car for a while.

We inherited an Audi when DH dad died last year which is nicer than our Jazz. The Jazz however which is an automatic and yellow we have kept as DD loves it (she loves yellow) so will be her car IF she passes (I don’t drive) and has the added bonus of 5years of insurance by us on it

So weird that people are thinking about driving on this thread now! I have summer borns so DD is only just 16, when DS is gcse year he won't be 16 until after results day!

However I'm making plans to get DD her provisional licence ASAP, getting her on an app to start working on theory, as I've read so much on here about the difficulties getting a practical test! I want to be able to book it in asap!

Thanks for insurance advice
As Ratty and Little have full intentions of “going away” for uni, and they won’t be taking a car, plus they said “we might not need to drive depends where we live” taking their driving test is just a box ticking exercise, basically take advantage that your parents are paying for it!

So we needed a low insurance category for this period - god it’s low - 4 small years

Ratty is Sept born!

They were both driving around an airfield yesterday - young driver thing - got to around 50mph - they loved it

it’s expensive no matter how you do it, second hand cars are expensive so much more than when we last bought, sounds like they are mostly ex hire or ex fleet cars, £40 per hour lessons, tests, if you can get one and insurance - hence why it’s birthday/Christmas presents until they pass.

The tin can cost £7400!