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!

We too are trying on prom suit (matalan). Plus 2 others (2nd hand off eBay) he's got for 6th form, (they insist on smart wear 🙄).

I too will sew in name tag @HereComesYourMam.

I can’t help with Drama, but do have a DH who is a barrister if you ever need any help on that side of things! (Not generally in a wig though as he does Family)

Hoping the weather cools off a bit before DS’s prom next week

The name tag idea came from a PP, sorry can't remember who but thank you whoever you were! Who would have thought we'd still be tagging clothes 😑

Ooooooooh!!!! I love love love this suit!!!! And the gorgeous shoes! You must be all well-ed up and proud!! 😊

Ahhhh, well, you can’t beat the recommendation of great cookies from Big Bro! I hope it went so well !! ( yes…. Baby as Sixth Form… eek! But, proud!) 😊

Hmmmmm… he mainly copes by being very much “ well, it’s not as bad when it used to be”….. when we were regularly calling 999 having administered the Midazolam as having regular Tonic Clonics. He is blessed in that he hasn’t had a Tonic Clonic for over two years ( which is AMAZING), so no longer has the Midazolam prescribed to administer should he have one- just to call 999. Which stresses me as we don’t have an Ambulance Station in town, so we have had 30 plus minutes waits in past from nearly towns/city and it’s maddening seeing the blue lights driving round in the pitch black ( no street lights, tiny village), no idea where going as whole place has the same postcode!, and the medical advice now is to just call 999 ( the Midazolam acts to try to lessen any damage accuring to the brain during seizures). He also, annoyingly, but, no, more scarily, is quite laisez faire about taking his meds, so I have to watch him take them. It’s hard to distinguish his Absence seizures from his ADHD Zoning out, too. But. Anyway. He’s going well for the moment, so that is always a relief.

I hope things are settling in the hot weather? I read yours of earlier, didn’t really understand the medical terms/ numbers, how are things now? Must be exhausting- and do scary. Sending 🤗 🤞🙏

Outdoor pool and lakes sound SO much fun!!!!
Closest ours have is a bridge over a river they jump into….. 😳🙀😳🙀😳🙀!!

🤞🤞🤞as to the Best Summer Ever, indeed!

Ps to @Vivienne1000.. which my DS would not even dream of doing! So, phew!

We are about a mile from a river , most years a young person dies from
cold water shock or just getting entangled in weeds . Just off the top of my head I can think of a dad who died trying to save his daughter , two teenage lads one of which went to my youngest old school and a group of men who travelled out after work for a swim who didn’t all make it home . Apologies for the lecture but please talk to young ones about this .

That is so horrific. I absolutely agree. DS school sent out another letter today, pleading for “ water safety”… but the river bank is just heaving with teenagers partying. I have to drive past to get into town, the bridge is only one car wide, so you see who is down there, just looking down and I rant when I get home as it makes me so anxious seeing them jumping off into a tiny stretch of water. I’m lucky as DS16 wouldn’t even in his own image of hell consider going to what is probably all of his bullies together, drinking and acting like dicks in the water. DS18 plays football close by, and does say he warns off some of the stupidity to the littler kids. Action was taken a few years ago to try to prevent access to the river bank, which was marginally successful, but the land owner admitted defeat in the end as they just gained access on the opposite bank…. I can’t remember the specifics .A few years ago, I was unfortunately there by accident on my way home, when a body had just been found in the river and I helped the Police direct traffic as they weren’t local and didn’t know how to tell the tourists coming up behind me where to divert to as the lane was getting closed off for obvious reasons. Outdoors pools with a lifeguard is the only safe option. As you say, there are far too regular teenage ( and, sadly, adult, parent, ..) deaths in water in hot weather, into cold water.

🙏🤞🙏 for a safe summer

I personally am just hoping that there will be no fatalities this weekend , but it often is when the exams have just finished . DS16 wouldn’t do it , DS15 there is potential though they’ve both rowed and know what nasties are in the water and that puts him off - I will admit to talking up the 💩

Oh, @waitingquietly, I would be talking up the 💩 1000 percent! I used to live in a village in Lancashire with a nearby Quarry… that also had a couple of fatalities when I still lived up there. So, yes, if I thought 💩 talk may deter your DS15, I’d be bigging up just HOW swallowing any of that would totally kick a couple of weeks holiday to the kerb, 🤮 🤢 wise… 🤞🙏🤞with that ….. I hope your weekend, and summer, goes safely for them both x

😹! I went for the less dramatic side of the law, but my ExBF did as your DH…. always says he’s a born actor! Just thought more fun to wear a wig and get regular work instead!

Yes, I hope things do cool down… tho temp here is 27 tomorrow with 45% chance of rain ! ( just checked forecast for where I’m going! 37.. oh no no no nooooooooooooooo!!!!) ..

Hoping for a cooler Prom back here for you guys! And, name tags, people!!! Just put them in!! Don’t do what I would have done in the past……ASK!! No!! ALL DS will erupt!! ( well, I think a couple didn’t!!), but point is, they won’t notice anyway, so need to know basis -v- Lost Expensive Jacket?! Name Tags!! ( last time I tried to do stealth one was in DS16 coat I’d bought off DS18 for him after he’d bought it in Paris staying with my twin…. and was “ no BLOODY WAY I’m giving it to him!! It’s a whatever it is and cost €300! “ ( clearly the NTrust pay too much!), but the only one I could find had “Mini Sisu Year 7” on it, and I thought, if ANY of his bullies got sight of that, let alone him, I’d be over!).

Sorry to hear of water safety issues. We have the opposite problem here, of over anxious mums, but very safe areas (minus sewerage concerns!) where no one is generally harmed. I'm encouraging ds2 to go with his friends, as they have done in every previous year. (Now is probably not the time to tell you that Dh has worked for one of the local water companies foo many years that have been very heavily cricitised!)

re. water safety.

DS and a bunch of mates went to Cambridge (about an hour from where I live) to play in the river a couple of days ago. They've been quite a few times, but this year we can throw alcohol into the mix. Not all of them, but a few are drinking.
We had serious words about looking out for each other, looking out for their phones and other valuables and just being careful in the sun. DS told me they don't all go in at the same time which did reassure me.
I think he takes his gym regime too seriously to risk getting wrecked, but I am aware that at 16, though he's not easily led at the moment, things change.

He's at a party this evening. About 20 of them at a friend's house. Parents are around. His GF is there and her Dad is picking them both up.

So, I was just happily dreaming away in bed, ( in a pub randomly talking to a 👱‍♀️ girl about “ Dexa” scans!) when I was startled awake by what I immediately thought was someone pressing an ice cold bottle of water on my shoulders/back.. but then I heard a “ don’t look at the time”!! Nope, not a bottle of water, but a cold tube of those Jus-Rol Bake your own “Pain au Chocolat” and a refreshed DS who had got out of a shower to cool down, who whispered “ I’ll give you a hug and we can have a photo of us later today???”………. What to do?! 🤷‍♀️……

…SO!!!!……I’m down in the kitchen, having fashioned the dough into a pseudo snake shape and a smile on my face that all ND DC parents will recognise 🤩……. I didn’t see 02.46 and I was in in a gorgeous deep sleep…. just DS wanting me, ( well, wanting the “ Pain au Choc”! 🥐 ), but needing me (as he can’t work the oven) and a sleepy hug and a “careful, I’m still a bit wet” and a “ we can have a photo later today “….. well, I’m currently sleepy but super happy!! ( oh, the HORROR of the Leavers Day Photo 💩 Show has hereby been erased!! 🌟 🥳 😻!)!

Anyway! His midnight treat food is ready so I best take it up! I hope you’re all managing to sleep! 💖

I inadvertently got involved in some prom drama.

A child who didn't invite DD to something recently and whose mother has never reciprocated a playdate (and who I haven't heard from this decade) asked my child if I would do a favour for the mother. On closer inspection it looks like the mother has recently unfriended me on social media - I used to see their posts until recently but can't now. So they don't consider me a friend virtually or in real life.

Unfortunately it was very inconvenient for me to accommodate the favour so I had to decline. I felt awful asking my DD if she minded me saying No but my DD understood and was really mature and supportive about it which was lovely to see.

Good for you Capy.

@rosemarble the water safety alcohol thing does scare me- dd1 is off to Spain with her mates for a post a level trip. Villa has a pool.. it does frighten me I must admit. She has had many lectures on alcphol
and water safety.

got dd2 back for the weekend yesterday - driving back on the shortest night after a wonderful woodwind concert. She was playing a flute solo and leading the flute ensemble. brave for her as she isn’t a first study flautist and there were some of the best flutes in the school playing. It will never stop surprising me that she’s got the courage to do this.

since she’s been home she’s slept a lot, reconnected with big sis while learning to make flowers out of beads and spent about five hours playing the piano because she can’t leave music alone for more than twenty minutes.

Which I guess is why she goes to school where she does. Nice to have her home though!

so lovely to hear of relaxed dcs sleeping in and hoping out …(and begging for pain au chocolat). They all deserve it!

Super updates all
we are not built for blazing sunshine (fairest skin) s they have been hanging here under UV canopy
Ratty has a busy week next week
And it’s so odd Little still being full time school

@Eccle80 Little wants to be “mansion rich” (don’t we all sweet pea) so we’ve said ditch the wig go corporate law :-) and added “get some GCSEs first and just enjoy drama”

Hi all - thanks for the thread @QueenMabby! Finally caught up over a few days. I’ve enjoyed the heat but appreciating the cooler temps today. DD has kept quite busy since her last GCSE, meeting friends and she worked 6pm-1am last night, collecting, washing, drying and delivering glasses. It’s a good job she does weights! She has also applied to B&M and went into loads of shops in town on Friday asking if they had any jobs - the girl wants money 😆

Tomorrow, she and a couple of friends are going into town to get their nails done. She isn’t listening to any of my advice regarding finding someone reputable so hopefully she will be ok. Her friend has had acrylics before so is the resident expert. I’ve offered to do gel nails for her but she wants to try these 🤨 I will post a headless photo on Prom day (Thursday) but her vinted dress is lovely. She has block heels on her sandals which she hasn’t practised walking in so I won’t be surprised if she ends up opting for trainers or dm style boots. She is very heavy footed 🤣

I’m so glad the heat wave held off until after they had finished exams!

@frozendaisy I can tell him that Family isn’t the right type of law to be “mansion rich”! 😂

Just going to start playing catch up!!

In the interim…..anyone else getting used to this Not Hating Sunday Nights Anymore?! 🤷‍♀️😈😹?!

..apologies to Little and those with LO’s!! 😳

Just catching up with this new thread (thank you @QueenMabby as ever!)

We've been away for a few days to celebrate the end of the GCSEs and the survival of secondary school more generally. It's been lovely but DD doesn't travel very well and spent half the time counting down the days to come back home. She told me, 'you made me go away so of course I am not enjoying myself' 🙄. Also, she doesn't think it's a big deal. This is the girl who was on the verge of EBSA and unlikely to sit any GCSEs this time last year!

Still, DH and I did enjoy and I overheard DD telling DCat how lovely the city was earlier 😉.

Well done all DCs for getting through it all. I hope they're all having lovely summers and/or proms!