Accidentally booked holiday for A level results day 2026. DD mad at me!

[Onecrazymama]

My DD is sitting her A levels next year in 2026 and then planning a gap year. She isn't even sure about going to University at all and despite being predicted all A's for her her subjects she isn't planning to apply to a university for 2026. She may apply for a 2027 place though once she realises what hard work getting a real job is 🤦🏻‍♀️.

So I went ahead and booked a package holiday for August 2026 to Spain for her, my husband and other child. Then about a week after I'd booked I realised it would mean we are away for her A level results day 🤦🏻‍♀️. We'll be back 5 days later, she can get a friend to collect them for her and obviously as she's not planning to go to uni I thought she'd be absolutely fine about this.

However, she has caused an huge fuss and wants me to change it! I've looked into moving it until after results day but it is going to cost £320 extra. We really can't afford that and the holiday itself is already alot more than we would usually spend and it's going to push our finances as it is. We booked the holiday as treat for her to be away for her birthday, celebrate finishing school etc and now I feel terrible. I don't know what to do for the best! Right now I feel like cancelling it completely 😞. She's being horrible to me, telling me she won't come on holiday and saying I'm being selfish. My husband says he doesn't want to discuss it! As far as he's concerned we aren't changing the date as it isn't actually important or necessary for her to collect her results in person as she isn't going to uni. Does anyone have any advice or just something to make me feel better 😞

Well your all lucky you can rearrange your time off to suit your DD. Most people can't. Hope she appreciates what you are doing but it sounds like she won't. Tell her to get a job when you come back from holiday instead of swanning about for a year. I can't believe how many teenagers have no respect for their parents.

Bit dramatic!

I agree with gratitude. But as well how come her mom didn't know how important this is? Do they not talk at all?
She is actually not asking for anything extra - like she is not happy with holidays, wants some other, hotel, destination... That would be a spoilt brat. She is only asking to be home for her results she worked hard for (and that is what those holidays are actually about)... So

Do you know absolutely every date on your children's calendars who are nearly adults over a year in advance??

But that is why adults talk to each other, right? Plus she said she 'forgot' when booking. That means she actually knew about it, but either ignored it or didn't realise, but the result is the same. She knew in advance, just didn't know how important this is for her daughter, meaning she is not putting enough attention to what she is actually saying.
Anyway, as per the update she re-arranged.

She didn't forget her child birthday. She forgot what precise date results day was a year in advance when it is never exactly the same day year upon year.

Honestly, are you also infallible and perfect that it's inconceivable any of you could have made this mistake.

The pile on here is ridiculous.

glad it was resolved
hope all goes well

God some of the comments on here are bonkers.

it’s up to the daughter whether she goes to uni, not her mum. (FWIW OP my youngest hasn’t gone & is perfectly happy working two jobs, socialising a lot and calling his student brother a leech 😂 - and before people have an uproar - they a very different but also very close - it’s banter. I also thought he might go after a bit of work but he picked up a second job instead in a different industry - an industry I think he will make a career out of!)

At 18 kids really don’t look for their parents faces in the crowds They want to be with their mates - and I suspect that’s why the dd wanted to be there. Mates and being part of the group.

And OP is not a terrible mother for forgetting the date. It happens sometimes. As pp said it can need a bit of digging around to find - and she hadn’t realised how important it was for her daughter. I doubt that indicates a lack of discussion - it’s a year away.

fwiw OP I think you made the right decision and it’s good your daughter will contribute to the cost.

This. It’s a really important milestone to go into school to collect them. Celebrate or commiserate with your friends etc
change the holiday if you can. £300 isn’t a lot if this means a lot to your daughter.

Just change the holiday. If she changes her mind about uni, you might need to go through clearing.

We were accidentally away when my son was meant to pick up his GCSE’s last summer. He just emailed the exams officer before he left school and asked for them to be emailed to him personal email. He had a wait a few hours longer than his friends but was absolutely fine with doing this. I should check as we are away next year to the same place but going a week earlier so we might also miss his A’levels 😂

GCSE results day isn’t as much of an event though. There’s no clubbing night/wristbands after, there’s no big celebration as everyone’s moving away to uni, there’s not the excitement of who’s going where, or the finality of it.

You’re comparing apples to oranges here.

I don’t think there’s anything funny about the idea of missing your son’s results day either. Why is it a laughing matter that he may have to miss out?

I think it’s funny I’ve done the same again! I don’t really think it’s comparing apples to oranges at all. They are both examples results days 🤷‍♀️

My son won’t be bothered and would prefer to be on holiday. He is only taking 1 A’level to get results for on this day, his other two qualifications he will know if he has passed already as it’s course work and exams he will have sat and he is planning to apply for apprenticeships rather than uni.

If he is bothered then he can stay at home. We half thought he wouldn’t want to go away next year anyway as will be nearly 19 but he said he would, so of course is invited. We are in the uk so it won’t loose us money if he decides to stay home.

I don’t understand any of this really. If your child takes public exams surely you know the results come out late August? This has been the case since the 90s it’s hardly a new development. Then a cursory check online can tell you the exact date. Then you don’t book a holiday then.

Sorry but the message I get is that you are not a family that values education.

“They’re both examples of results days” like apples and oranges are both examples of fruit?

They may both be results days. One is more of an event. Have you honestly never seen the results night club wristbands and parties?

nope, nothing like that seems to go on in our town. I work in a college too! Last day of school for our sixth formers is a big night out and I know some teaching staff meet them in town for drinks to say goodbye. I was out around our town last Thursday and there was no mention of a level results days or anything special going on in any bars.

Most schools have a portal for the students to access their results. My DS just completed 'A' levels and got his results overseas, still got his results on results day. He's taking 2 yrs out before starting university (he's dual national so has to complete NS).
What I would suggest is your DD if submit application this year requesting a 2027 University entry date. Most university's will offer a place and then when she gets her results knows whether she's in avoiding the hassle of applying through UCAS a year later, in addition to which she will have school support whilst applying now.

Or they get what they want all the time and end up spolit

I don’t think wanting to pick up your exam results with your friends is particularly spoilt

No but the behaviours surrounding it is.

Her mother made a mistake.The holiday was booked in good faith. This nearly adult has behaved like a spoilt brat over it. When somebody gives you a gift or arranges something for you in good faith and out of kindness.
You should at least have the common decency to say thank you even if you hate it

This little madam clearly never been taught any manners and her mother's gone and spent hundreds of powers to change it.I would have charged her for it.

I bet if you asked for them to be emailed, they would.

Would I f#ck change it. They get texted, and they can see the results online.

What about all the admin that comes with it?

GCSE results are out and we (and it is we for this) have ti fill in a form and then go to the sixth form later and sort it all out

just because right now she seems reluctant to apply doesn’t mean she won’t.

it is a really important day and one which most are aware of (given the messages I have received today about DD gcse results)

the OP made a mistake and one which she had corrected and her DD is going to help pay for

I know when public exam results come out. They’re the same every single year.

Of course they are. What a bloody stupid question, @OneNeatBlueOrca 😳