Lipstick on your collar....
Words from a Bird. Day 127.
It's the time of year that every parent with children aged between 16 and 21 dreads. The time when you ask yourself a million times a day...
'Could I have helped more?'
'Could I have nagged less?'
'Should I have got him/her a tutor?'
'Should I leave the country now, because whatever the outcome, the fault will lay with me'.
Yes, exam season is upon us once more. This is, however, the last year that I will really have to worry about one of my offspring's results. The three older ones' futures are secure, so my entire concern is laid at the feet of son number 2, who is so laid back about exams that you'd think he wasn't actually taking any. Why is it that I worry? Do I feel that any kind of failure of my children's is a direct reflection of my capability as a parent? Surely not....
You see, I was a complete disappointment to my parents, just about scraping through a couple of A levels before hitting the job market. There was no university for me, nor any kind of further education (at least not the kind you get a certificate for)....
I had been thrown out of Politics in my first year for having 'strong opinions'. I was 17. The only strong opinion I had then was that the best lipstick you could buy was Miss Selfridge's Iron Lady (Maggie Thatcher was everywhere in those days) so I think my Politics teacher was being rather unfair in her decision. A couple of my squawkers will remember the famous Miss W, vicar's daughter and left-wing activist...no wonder we never saw eye-to-eye...
I blame the many distractions I had to face for flunking my chance at any further education. Of course, there were the boys, obviously attracted by the continual use of the aforementioned Iron Lady lipstick (how could they resist, as it glowed in the dark when the ultra violet light came on at the disco?) There was also the weather - that beautiful summer was ruined by my exams, although I did try to revise outside, telling my mum I was taking work with me. (More likely snogging boys, leaving traces of Iron Lady all over their Lord Anthony and Farah shirts).
Luckily, none of my children are like I was. They have all shown far more restraint and discipline where their work has been concerned. Of course, Iron Lady is no longer available to buy, so this has helped.
With regard to son number 2, I have done all I can. I have bought pens, made food and listened to him discuss various topics. I have tried to say the sensible thing, and steer him towards the right path. I have also hidden his aftershaves (the male equivalent of lipsticks)
It's now down to him.....
It's the time of year that every parent with children aged between 16 and 21 dreads. The time when you ask yourself a million times a day...
'Could I have helped more?'
'Could I have nagged less?'
'Should I have got him/her a tutor?'
'Should I leave the country now, because whatever the outcome, the fault will lay with me'.
Yes, exam season is upon us once more. This is, however, the last year that I will really have to worry about one of my offspring's results. The three older ones' futures are secure, so my entire concern is laid at the feet of son number 2, who is so laid back about exams that you'd think he wasn't actually taking any. Why is it that I worry? Do I feel that any kind of failure of my children's is a direct reflection of my capability as a parent? Surely not....
You see, I was a complete disappointment to my parents, just about scraping through a couple of A levels before hitting the job market. There was no university for me, nor any kind of further education (at least not the kind you get a certificate for)....
I had been thrown out of Politics in my first year for having 'strong opinions'. I was 17. The only strong opinion I had then was that the best lipstick you could buy was Miss Selfridge's Iron Lady (Maggie Thatcher was everywhere in those days) so I think my Politics teacher was being rather unfair in her decision. A couple of my squawkers will remember the famous Miss W, vicar's daughter and left-wing activist...no wonder we never saw eye-to-eye...
I blame the many distractions I had to face for flunking my chance at any further education. Of course, there were the boys, obviously attracted by the continual use of the aforementioned Iron Lady lipstick (how could they resist, as it glowed in the dark when the ultra violet light came on at the disco?) There was also the weather - that beautiful summer was ruined by my exams, although I did try to revise outside, telling my mum I was taking work with me. (More likely snogging boys, leaving traces of Iron Lady all over their Lord Anthony and Farah shirts).
Luckily, none of my children are like I was. They have all shown far more restraint and discipline where their work has been concerned. Of course, Iron Lady is no longer available to buy, so this has helped.
With regard to son number 2, I have done all I can. I have bought pens, made food and listened to him discuss various topics. I have tried to say the sensible thing, and steer him towards the right path. I have also hidden his aftershaves (the male equivalent of lipsticks)
It's now down to him.....
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