Tuesday 4 September 2007

La rentree (back to school)

My youngest daughter, Laura, went back to Lycee today. What a weekend we have had. Ups and downs of emotions. To start with she hates school, but hates having to board during the week even more. It was decided that she would ask her sister, who lives in the same town as Laura's Lycee, to let her stay in the flat she shares with her boyfriend. He is in the army and so is not there during the week, so there would only be the two sisters. In theory, not something too difficult. However, Louise, the sister, has a friend staying while she flat-hunts. So that would mean three of them - during the week - in a one-bedroomed flat. Suffice to say Louise gipped at having her sister share as well.

Laura then said, tearfully, she would not go to Poitiers to Lycee but would go to another one only 20 minutes from home and get the bus each day. This would mean doing another course that she would be doing grudgingly, as there is not a course linked to Child nursing locally.

Fortunately, or so I thought, she has decided she will board at Poitiers but we are going flat-hunting for her. She also has to find a flatmate as her dad has said no to being on her own (but what happens if the flatmate leaves?). So we have to negotiate the French system to see how much financial help the Social will cough up. Is anything easy?

At least she has only been on the phone once today so far. I daren't tell I sat in the car crying when I left her. It was far easier to leave them at school at 5 knowing you would see them in a few hours. But to leave a tearful 18 year old and say "Chin up, see you next week" is emotionally draining.

I hope the friend gets a nice flat - NOT.

3 comments:

Pig in the Kitchen said...

oh no, how hard. It's not the cosy UK system of Halls is it? Poor her and poor you. I guess when your children are tiny, 18 seems very grown up, but when i meet 18 year olds, they still seem so young...
Hope it resolves itself, and excuse me for not having paid you a visit in ages!
Pigx

Debra in France said...

Hi, my friend is going through a similar thing, although her daughter only stays away a couple of nights a week. I hope things get better for you. xx

Dolores Doolittle said...

Hi - just found your great blog. (Being of melting brain, I'd managed to miss the click-on-it procedure - was it always there?)

Some friends of ours are also suffering from their two girls leaving home to study, but they've found enormous comfort in buying a Chihuahua puppy!

Not sure it would work on the farm.

Dolores