From Frugal Foundations to Fortified Family Future

redofromstart

Funnily enough both of mine refused any of the secondary school conforming things like the 'celebratory' hoodies, and prom, although at primary they wanted to fit in more. They did far better at secondary school because they found games club (board games and D&D) which filled lunch breaks, and because the younger is a bit of a computer whizz which impressed people. Neither ever fitted in and I remember the stress of that well.  The joys of neurodivergents in mainstream schooling. 

We did computers rather than game machines, and age appropriate games. DS1 claims that his understanding of design principles comes from playing Minecraft. They both played a lot of strategic games and still play online with friends from school at 20 and 22. 

LotsOfTea

Re: the leavers hoodies, my DS wore his every day from the day he got it and all through the summer holidays and I had to prise it off him on days when it was too hot for a hoody! It was quite useful on our summer holiday which was camping so you do need some layers (we don't do sunny foreign holidays either) and crucially it was a sensible colour that didn't show the dirt too much. If you do get involved in the whole hoody shebang and get asked for a colour preference go for something dark! He's kept it as a memento of his time at primary school and of his classmates, a lot of whom have gone to different secondary schools. I feel like we got the most wear possible out of it at least.

I do agree that the commercialisation of events like leaving school is hard to swallow and seems to expect that people can just keep on shelling out money for everything. The annoying thing is it's not even coming from the school, these things are organised by groups of parents. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but I would say that unfortunately the leavers hoodies have become so ubiquitous that it really would mark a child out to not have one. Times have changed since my day when the most you got was a disco in the school hall. 

If LG continues to be unhappy it is very much worth pushing the school for help if you don't go down the homeschooling route. Sometimes you do need to be more than a bit pushy about it which I suspect doesn't come easy to you. There are often school counselling services and other help available but sometimes it can take persistent asking to get it. It probably wouldn't go amiss to suggest that the troubles are affecting LG enough to make them not want to go to school as schools are under a huge amount of pressure to keep attendance levels up so it would then be very much in their interests to improve the situation for LG. I hope things improve for you all. 

pennywisepoundstupid

At a school I used to work at Yr 6 were gifted their leavers hoodie from the PTA funds, they were given them the week after SATS, i think it was that week because the yearly residential trip was the week after and was something they could take with them. Maybe something you could mention to the Chair of your PTA as it was a lovely leaving gift from the school and one less thing for parents to have to pay for.

Greying_Pilgrim

Thanks for all your comments - which I'm going to re-read and digest.  But didn't want to read and run out, without saying that whilst I think the hoodies are a new-fangled waste of money, if LG would like one (to have for it's own sake, or simply to fit in with everyone else), then they shall have one, they won't go without.  And I love the idea of wearing the bay-jay-zuz outta it!  🤣

I will be back - I've just got to pop out.

Greying X

kayannie

I'd not even heard of leaver hoodies until I read it on here - just shows how out of touch I am!
KA xx

in_need_of_direction

i can't help thinking it's so much better than the manky grafittied school shirts (from secondary) that mine have held onto for the past 20 years.  Can i ask, when do children change schools?  in NI, there is 7 years of primary education (exc reception)? 

rtandon27

Back across the pond we had 10 years of primary and 5 years of secondary and went to the school that was closest to home.  If you came from a well off family then you might have had the option of a posh boarding school, otherwise you just had to lump it and get on with it!  I'm just amazed that here in the UK, there is so much choice and also the pressure to be academic, my friends with teenagers push them so hard to study that there is so little time for anything else. I'm still amazed by the cultural differences even all these years later!

Greying_Pilgrim

I wrote a long post yesterday afternoon, only for it to disappear into the ether with this silly new 'we're checking you're a human' step.  Fine to check me coming onto the site, but if I'm logged in and wanting to post, why does it have to re-check, and munch my post in the process?

Anyway, inod we're 7 years in primary too - Reception is optional, but from age 5/Yr 1 school is compulsory for 6 years.  LG went to reception as I yet again wanted the socialisation aspect for them.  The Reception teacher remains their favourite ever teacher.

I had detailed out my spends yesterday, but clearly that was in the lost post - and I didn't amend my siggie, as I was so blessed furious at having lost the post.  I'll have to dig it out and repost and adjust my siggie.  It was under £8 for food and £3 something for shampoo.  

Right, I shall post before the computer munches this post.

Greying X

Greying_Pilgrim

Good morning MFW'rs (it'll be pm by the time I post),

I wandered into Greying town this morning before it got too hot.  I did the 'money shuffle' and all bills are covered for July (YAY!).

Quiet weekend.  LG and DH went for a pootle to a local-ish museum yesterday.  It's free admission, but there is a charge for parking, but LG mentioned this morning that DH had to pay a fee to get in, so I'm not quite sure what was going on there.  I tend to sit visits out, as it's a bit samey, although I won't fault the enthusiasm, passion and commitment of the volunteers that make it all 'work'.  Although interestingly DH came back and said, "it's a bit samey, I don't want to go again this calendar year......" 🫤

I don't think i added in the £7/3 split on food/non-food spend to my siggie, and I have spent a further...... £3.60 on food over the weekend.  DH picked up a pack of white tatties on the way back home yesterday, and we had pizza and wedges for tea (sorry rt) - as whilst I hadn't actually got any oven chips, both LG and DH had reported ....erm.... that following eating (store bought) oven chips, they had erm..... spent rather a long time in the littlest room........  Whether the manufacturer has changed the oil they use, I don't know, but I didn't buy any from a bust budget point of view, and I may have to give it some further consideration in the future.

Other than that, all is well. 

Ta for popping by.  Greying X

rtandon27

Woo Hoo - don't you just love when all the bills are covered?  - It's payday for me today and I'm about to do the online money shuffle!

Pizza on a Sunday? - yikes GP - what is this would coming to?  We had ours on Friday but with caesar-ish salad instead of wedges to keep the oven on a little as possible!