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!

@TeenToTwenties thanks for the playscheme recommendation, that's a good one and will look into it. We did go to a couple of care homes today but both were not accepting under 18s. She felt somewhat disheartened but then perked up later after she got accepted to do some voluntary work at the local art gallery (art was her thing and she as very good but she prioritised science over art in her options) , I think the art gallery is a great place for her to work alongside families and kids.

Prom has been over and done with, she's got a college taster day tomorrow but she said she's not going because she wants to stay in the sixth form. And the taster day for our sixth form is on 30th June. Beyond that we do have a holiday booked but that's looking risky right now with all the Iran-Israel situation so we'll just have to wait and see.

Nice to hear lots of dcs are getting on with it and enjoying their holidays , makes a refreshing change from the constant moaning doesn't it !

Today is Contingency Day. Phew, glad it's all over. Ds2 had prom last night, we fly tonight for a holiday.

Some here are very active, ds2 doesn't have anything planned for when we get back, but then he is a very easy going child who needs little stimulation.

Cathair thanks for suggestion of Morrison boxes, if they still do them? I think that may suit ds. We made brownies the other day, but they were awful in the heat, sloppy and too wet, but ds2 liked them, and ds1 too wolfed them down. he likes cakes and mixing bowls and fast electric handheld whisks and tasting raw cake mixture! They all did quite a bit of cooking at secondary, Victoria sponge, scones, quiche. But I need to get him cooking some basics eg spag Bol.

Prom went great last week...how come some schools scheduled them before the last contingency day? I think that's why lots of proms are tomorrow.

DD1's prom was before a-levels were even finished - before half term. Think that was the only way they could guarantee people were still around.

It's going to be quiet here this week - DD1 off on hols, foster daughter back in Ukraine, DD2 at school. DD1 just referred to this week as my 'empty nest taster days'!

@Oblomov25 sadly no they don't - though I am finding the recipy cards out for my DC.

Gusto and Hello fresh both have 50% deals at the minute but I still think they work out expensive.

I've sent DD1 at uni packet mixes - tesco express have their new box idea/packets with list of ingredients needed and cooking instructions and DD2 did the hunters chicken one for her and DS all by herself before exams- they tend to be for two people. They appear quite appealing - though pricy for what they are.

The colman or Schwartz packets tend to be for 4 and I know asda do their own versions - we've got some in cupboard so will add ingredients to on-line shopping list and see if I can get them to do those.

It's not as convient or as exciting as box of ingredients turning up - but I think that and few favioirte from recipy books - and try and aim for them going to supermarket with some money themselves eventually - and food kits - aldi had mexican one on offer for a while - again sent some to DD1.

DD2 didn't find leaver assembly as bad as feared and prom is tommorow.

Thanks Cat, I'll give it some thought.
As I'll lay by my Turkey pool (good deal because our 1 and only opportunity to go on holiday All inclusive - cheap, in school time) with my mojito. 🍹

Dd is in school again today. I have no idea why but I dropped her off at 7.20 this morning and am picking her up at 7 this evening. I think she just can’t leave! Some of it is for drama rehearsals but not all day. She has Prom tomorrow but got sunburned at a friend’s party on Monday so will match her red dress!

DS back from sixth form taster day - really tired but pleased to have seen his friends - really pleased that one lad was there he thought was leaving . Sadly has brought home 2 A4 sided list of pages to read and exercises to do for Further Maths !

Friday for prom - trying to plant the idea in his head to meet some friends first so they can walk up through town and in together …🤞

6th form day today Ratty didn't miss either train
Good day
likes everything
see what results day brings and beyond

But a pile of bridging work so that is something to keep grey matter ticking over

Prom day is here and the dress is finished. My dd spent years when she was younger trying to make Hermione's Yule Ball gown out of spare fabric and countless bed sheets. Those early efforts haven't gone to waste though as she's spent hours as her hobby over the last year making her prom dress for today. It cost about £100 in fabric, about £1000 if you had to pay for the hours she's put into it. She's developed a great skill through making it and I'm so proud of her perseverance. I never imagined when she started she would get to the stage of being able to wear it.

@michele09 that is amazing! What a talent she has.

She's still nervous about wearing her own creation in case people make comments and taking a charity shop find in her bag just in case.

Oh that is one of the more lovely ones I've seen. So elegant.
I hope she has a wonderful time and that she feels amazing in her dress.

@Michele09 wow what an amazing dress, very impressive that she made it herself!

That’s amazing! V similar in “vibes” to my DD’s although she’d never be able to make one in a million years! Your dd is so talented.

Very nice dress - two boys here and so far no prom hence no dressing up swish so will enjoy others doing this!

@Michele09 that is a truly beautiful dress - well done your DD clearly put so much work into that and it looks spectacular.

We did wonder if DD2 would want to make her own - but she worried it would be too much extra worry during during exams - and before she was finishing up textile coursework - and she too worried about negative comments. I think given how anxious she can be it was right choice for her to buy one. Though DD1 wore a dress she made to a uni ball and got nothing but compliments as most people rightly appeciate the skill and time that goes into making them.

@Michele09 that is a truly elegant dress , I hope she gets some compliments at prom and a confidence boost

She looks lovely. V impressive sewing skills @Michele09

The dress looks lovely, well done to her on making it!

DS had his prom last night and sounds to have a good time. He seems to be the only one without a sixth form taster day to go to, everywhere seems to do it apart from college! I’ve just doubled checked all my emails to make sure I haven’t missed anything

Instead of prom Ratty had a day out (a hot day out) at a theme park, did log flume twice, was still damp on collection, after a 2 hour couch journey!

Still not the worse day to be damp, and then others and the history teacher decided getting soaked was a good idea as well.

Dd at prom now. They all looked so grown up! Someone else is picking her up and she has a sleepover so I won’t hear about it until tomorrow sometime. Xx

Agree about the sewing skills, @Michele09. I hope she has a fabulous evening!

Prom day tomorrow for DD . I had to sew 2 darts into her dress, and I struggled! She spent all day out with friends and got her nails done.

DS went to his college interview today to do social media, and got a conditional offer, so he's pleased. Plus he has to do a media presentation in August. Cue him asking for PC upgrade....!

Playing catch up!!! Looks like there’s lots of Prom fun to see! I’m looking forward to it! …. Hope everyone is having a good week…….. ( DS18 passed his Driving Test today 🚗 🥇!)..