Unofficial Christ's Hospital Forum

Mid A 15 wrote: How long until you are allowed to visit or bring them home on a leave day?

Leave weekend starts on 25th September at 12.30. And I reckon I'll be there from about 9am onwards waiting. As soon as she tells me she loves it at CH I'll be happier

Momto2 wrote:Aww Lonelymom, I really do feel for you all - have a big virtual (((((((hug))))))). Last year was the first time I didn't see my daughter on her birthday and it made me very sad but the house parents were excellent with celebrations etc and I'm sure your daughter will have a great time - will you be allowed to phone her?

I'm sure all the new little Squits will be fine but it is so hard at the beginning. My daughter who is now a GE rang me earlier and said how tiny they all looked

X

(do you mean the Boar's head just before you get to CH? What an odd place for Peter Andre to be if that's the pub you're talking about - always reminds me of the Hog's Head from the Harry Potter books)!

Because my daughter was born half-way through September I won't actually see her on her birthday for the next 7 years, because it will never fall on a leave weekend! Her big sister is already at CH, so I'm going to get to speak to her on her birthday at least I've given her sister her pressies too, so she can open them in the morning before school, then she'll have a couple more at leave weekend. And we'll have a birthday cake and stuff then so she doesn't feel like she's missing out

Your daughter is right, all the little ones looked tiny, and all the older ones looked massive! And yes, it was the Boar's Head, at the end of the road that CH is on. My husband said, 'I know you're not going to believe me but Peter Andre is about to walk in!' and then he did! He is soooo gorgeous. My daughter and two other new girls who were in there went up to ask for an autograph, and he said he was in a meeting but he'd do it later - don't think he realised we had to leave to take the girls to school Still, it cheered the girls up! I've been told he lives nearby?

Thanks for the virtual hug! All virtual hugs very much needed and gratefully received

lonelymom wrote:

Momto2 wrote:Aww Lonelymom, I really do feel for you all - have a big virtual (((((((hug))))))). Last year was the first time I didn't see my daughter on her birthday and it made me very sad but the house parents were excellent with celebrations etc and I'm sure your daughter will have a great time - will you be allowed to phone her?

I'm sure all the new little Squits will be fine but it is so hard at the beginning. My daughter who is now a GE rang me earlier and said how tiny they all looked

X

(do you mean the Boar's head just before you get to CH? What an odd place for Peter Andre to be if that's the pub you're talking about - always reminds me of the Hog's Head from the Harry Potter books)!

Because my daughter was born half-way through September I won't actually see her on her birthday for the next 7 years, because it will never fall on a leave weekend! Her big sister is already at CH, so I'm going to get to speak to her on her birthday at least I've given her sister her pressies too, so she can open them in the morning before school, then she'll have a couple more at leave weekend. And we'll have a birthday cake and stuff then so she doesn't feel like she's missing out

Your daughter is right, all the little ones looked tiny, and all the older ones looked massive! And yes, it was the Boar's Head, at the end of the road that CH is on. My husband said, 'I know you're not going to believe me but Peter Andre is about to walk in!' and then he did! He is soooo gorgeous. My daughter and two other new girls who were in there went up to ask for an autograph, and he said he was in a meeting but he'd do it later - don't think he realised we had to leave to take the girls to school Still, it cheered the girls up! I've been told he lives nearby?

Thanks for the virtual hug! All virtual hugs very much needed and gratefully received

Hopefully your daughter's birthday will fall on a weekend at some stage Lonelymom and you will be able to go and see her. Are both your daughters in the same house, if you don't mind me asking? I've always wondered what happens with same sex siblings.

Peter Andre lives in Brighton so what a bizarre coincidence to see him in the Boar's Head - a very welcome distraction for you all

x

Momto2 wrote:Hopefully your daughter's birthday will fall on a weekend at some stage Lonelymom and you will be able to go and see her. Are both your daughters in the same house, if you don't mind me asking? I've always wondered what happens with same sex siblings.

Peter Andre lives in Brighton so what a bizarre coincidence to see him in the Boar's Head - a very welcome distraction for you all

x

Unfortunately they'd have to return to CH towards the end of August for my daughter's birthday to fall on a leave weekend, so it's verrrrry unlikely to ever happen, but I'll keep my fingers crossed

Yes, both of them are in the same house. I could have asked for them to be in separate houses, but they said they'd like to be together, and it was my preference too. Hopefully it won't be a big mistake, they are best friends/worst enemies!

x

Another virtual hug and a glass of wine to you all!

Thought it was hideous; really horrible. Did Mr Franklin really need to remind us and them that they were now going to spend mroe time at school than at home? That really set us both off. My boy was all red eyed and teary by the time it came for me to go. Felt absolutely terrible. Is a long drive home for me (nearly 3 hours) - hope that is the last time I have to do it through a haze of tears.

Thought the leave weekend began at 2.15 on the Friday 25th? Where did you get 12.30 from Lonelymom? Can't come soon enough for me though

YadaYada wrote:Another virtual hug and a glass of wine to you all!

Thought it was hideous; really horrible. Did Mr Franklin really need to remind us and them that they were now going to spend mroe time at school than at home? That really set us both off. My boy was all red eyed and teary by the time it came for me to go. Felt absolutely terrible. Is a long drive home for me (nearly 3 hours) - hope that is the last time I have to do it through a haze of tears.

Thought the leave weekend began at 2.15 on the Friday 25th? Where did you get 12.30 from Lonelymom? Can't come soon enough for me though

A masssive virtual hug back to you YadaYada. I was horrible, wasn't it? I'm sure there has to be a better way of 'handing over' our children, or maybe there isn't - maybe it is just going to be horrible however it is done. It is lovely to have the houseparents and matrons mingling though, chatting and making promises to look after our little ones, and, of course, the BFDs are amazing!

You're right about leave weekend, I had to go and look it up. The last few leave weekends have started at 12.30, anyone know why they've changed to the later time?

Let's hope they're all having an amazing time already

Agree about the BFDs.....very lovely.......didn't see our matrons though.....was left in the dorm while he went to Wardrobe (for an hour!) and didnt really know what to do with myself......probably should have gone off and found the staff and introduced myself but suffer with the same shyness as my son....think I was at least as nervous as him.
Does anyone know if the house parents get in touch at all in the first few weeks to reassure us? For some reason I have only just thought of this so didnt ask and dont want to be a pain and keep ringing up.

YadaYada wrote: Does anyone know if the house parents get in touch at all in the first few weeks to reassure us? For some reason I have only just thought of this so didnt ask and dont want to be a pain and keep ringing up.

Yes, almost certainly. But they really won't mind if you ring them first. If you just want to hear how he's doing and hear reassuring words they'll be only too happy to speak to you. Don't feel like you're being a pain, it's your son and you need to know he's okay!

Your matrons would have been in the dining hall on your tables. Didn't anyone introduce themselves to you?

There were only the new second formers, their nursemaids and us parents on our tables. I think each house does it differently.....would have been nice to have the reassuring presence of staff but there you go, we survived!

I was told ALL matrons and houseparents would be in the dining hall. If your houseparents/matrons weren't visible enough and you think it would help future intakes if they were you should suggest it. It's only right that you meet the people who are taking care of your child.

I'll wait a while but then I think I will send an email about it as obviously it is completely new and alien to us and it would be helpful to all the parents. I'd also have liked to have known more about the schedule for the afternoon....felt a bit lost myself to be honest!

I tried to avoid the Dining Hall Experience and went to the Counting House to see someone. Unfortunately I came back in time to hear MR F which is the very bit I was anxious about. Serves me right for being a coward.I am inconsolable this evening.

I do wish this was a Friday and I didnt have to work tomorrow......have no idea how I will be able to sleep.....suddenly seems extremely odd that this was something we chose to do.

YadaYada wrote:I'll wait a while but then I think I will send an email about it as obviously it is completely new and alien to us and it would be helpful to all the parents. I'd also have liked to have known more about the schedule for the afternoon....felt a bit lost myself to be honest!

I felt that we should have had some sort of itinerary (?) sent to us so that we would know what would be happening. I did this two years ago, but I had forgotten what we had to do, so was none-the-wiser than the first-time parents. There was an A4 sheet in the foyer of House, but none of us noticed it until it was pointed out by the houseparent, so it was all a bit muddled. I really feel for you, it's hard enough for new parents without feeling like a spare part! Sending another virtual hug and a virtual bar of choc! x

dinahcat wrote:I tried to avoid the Dining Hall Experience and went to the Counting House to see someone. Unfortunately I came back in time to hear MR F which is the very bit I was anxious about. Serves me right for being a coward.I am inconsolable this evening.

Oh, dinahcat! I know how you feel! The house is soooo quiet, yours will be even quieter! I'm sending you a hug too, and chocolate and wine x