Where were we? Flipping those darn flat pancakes again

[BeachysSandyFlipflops]

Hello, damn quick work there by MNHQ

Isn't this vicarious exam angst part of motherhood? I know I will be at least as relieved as dd1 when her exams finish as I'm sure I find them as emotionally exhausting as she does. I'm pretty sure I mentioned it last year and the wiser members of this thread told me it was part of the maternal bond and whilst the topic of worry may change, it never disappears.

I'm afraid I am a Bad Mother and am not drained. Concerned but not drained.

Possibly my breakfast obsession tells another story, of course.

I don't worry that much either. But my kids are tough buggers in the main.

I worry I'm a bad parent for not worrying, mind.

MM! Now you've confused me. I can't really remember why we thought Broadstairs... I think it's because there's a bit of everything close by - groovy Margate, historic Ramsgate, beaches, stuff... but I'm worrying it might be a bit too quiet.

I didn't worry much over GCSEs as both dc in good health, no one paper was likely to matter much in the long run and they both quite liked study leave and the freedom. I thinK A levels and university exams are a bit different as they know and you know it can affect their future so directly - I would worry somewhat about anyone I loved in those cirx. I think it is very, very different if dc are facing other challenges or are ill, and that is where the bond makes you feel like a mirror I think. BTM and Beachy, hope you can both relax a bit tonight and that your dss are OK.

MI - you don't worry and provide breakfast; I worry and am no practical use - your dds have lucked out!

God yes, that's what I meant about tough buggers. And the minute anything looks like collapsing so does my Not Bothered facade.

Sorry, Herbs!

And then there's Hastings......................................

It just varies. I found that I could see the DSs onto their bus and distance myself from whatever potential suffering there might be over any given exam. DD is a differed story and I would have to join Wellingtons and BTM in the sick feeling at the pit of the stomach that stayed with me all of last May and June, (not to mention my own anxiety dreams). And the weird thing is, DD is incredibly resilient in spite of her struggles. I am almost afraid to say it but are some of the feelings ours, and our own fear of failure? It's returning in a small way over her retakes which start on Thursday...poor girl, Maths on her birthday as last year.

Absolutely Rosenpants - with DD1 everything seems so easy for her and DD2 has to fight for every grade and feels the pressure of being the second child behind the ultra successful elder really strongly. I am absolutely desperate for her to make her own success - it would be such a confidence boost for her.

She will Hatty, she will. I have a very very academic , bright sister who , despite being younger than me, oozed confidence, met all the right sorts at uni, etcetera. Once i moved away and made my own world in London, i gained plenty of confidence. When i went home, of course I seemed achingly cool and worldly to my old friends, being an art student ....

I have been a complete dick and left my car snd house keys at work so am shored up in a caff waiting for dh to come and get me. I got absolutely saturated in a sudden thunderstorm , so am cold and wet and sniffling i have a big pot of tea, and the waitress has put my shoes on a warm radiator to dry out bless her.

... or Bournemouth.

What s lovely waitress crem. Maybe we should move to Belfast...

Aww Crem thanks - and how nice of the waitress to dry your shoes for you. Here, I got sucked into a debate with DS where he is being a know it all teenager and has told me I know nothing about Asia on the basis that he has read one book! Oh and I made a flippant remark and have been accused of gross overgeneralisation - save me from teenage angst and passion (and lack of ability to recognise irony).

Oh I have one of them upstairs Hatty - a 17yo who likes to lecture me regularly on assorted issues - especially politics and feminism

For chrissakes no, not Bournemouth. It's horrible.

- annoying isn't it? Obviously we are totally ignorant - or unable to comment because we're old and don't understand how things are now.

Also the rail connection is crap. And I know whereof I speak..

Totally concur that Bournemouth is a shit heap!

Rye is just lovely - a tad twee (Mapp & Lucia) but still gorgeous .............

< crosses Bournemouth off confusingly long list >

Bridport always used to look nice to me - we thought of moving there until I discovered DH planned for me and DC to move full time while he jetted between bachelor pad and family home.

Hattie, I sat beside you at last MU and pmed you recently about DD1's possible move.

BTM/flipflops - hope things ok your end

I could say many things about Bridport. But I won't. Just that it's a terrible place to live if you can't drive, want to teach EFL/ESL and need to get to London on a regular basis.

Gotcha MrsMargarita - Mrs Martini briefed me as well.

Love the dark Bridport mutterings - good thing you didn't end up keeping the home fires burning there, MsMargarita.

Herbs, people have moved from round here to Hastings, Lewes and Brighton (of places near the sea) and of places not near the sea Stroud, Cambridge, Letchworth, and more that I cannot remember. I suspect some of those have house prices not dissimilar to London. They were mostly at least partly driven by shortage of sec school places so will have checked them out.

So so sad to wake up to this.

OMG - just seen what you mean, Hatty