Exam stress - mostly mine

You know how sometimes you say things or write it down hoping the reverse will happen, because by the sheer nature of voicing it out loud or 'putting it out there' means it won't come true? Or is it just me?

THAT time of year is looming, you know, the one where the parent gets stressed out and repeats the same mantra "revise, revise, revise"or "How much work have you done tonight?",  Or is it just me?

A friend remarked that I was relaxed about the impending AS's for DD and GCSE's for DS and I sat back and said 'well, there's no point in getting het up about it is there? I'm not going to get into the spin I did last year with DD'.(Actually didn't need to as she did so incredibly well in her GCSE's).  Well, that relaxed attitude didn't last long - one day to be truthful.  Major stress, as DS has just announced he is not on top of any of his subjects and will probably not even scrape a C.

So here I am, thinking if I pour out all my worries, come August the results will miraculously not reflect the effort (or lack of) that has gone into them!

The boy doesn't lie. I can see the stress in his face; that recognition of only one week to go and too much of a mountain to climb.  Before anyone says it - I know! It's not the end of the world but inside I'm screaming IT IS THE END OF THE WORLD. What will become of him? Will he be able to stay on in 6th Form? Does he even want to stay on in school? What does he want to do?

Fact is, in the cold light of day, yes, he does want to stay on and yes he has an idea of what he wants to do. He's even looked into what he needs to do to achieve this.  But will he revise ? Still, as my mother says he needs to learn by his own mistakes but you can't help worry for them can you? Take a step back she says.

Oh and believe me, I know that it is not the end of the world and that worse things happen. But right now, in my own little world this the most stressful thing happening.

I'm still screaming inside and am hoping that by writing down my fears the reverse will happen...

Such is life!

So, DD and DS are now 17 and 15 respectively and so much has changed. DD now  completing first year of AS Levels after her very successful GCSE results.  We also now have a boyfriend in tow! He is a rather lovely chap.  Very easy going, and very keen on DD. (More details to follow!)

DS is in the throes of studying for his final GCSE's, however, his approach is not the same as his sisters!  His has more of a laid back approach -so laid back I wonder if any work is getting done. I'm caught between the old 'give him a push' theory and the 'let him do it himself' theory; however I am trying not to get myself as worked up as I did last year when DS was attempting some early GCSE's and DD was completing all of hers.  At one point I'm pretty sure my blood pressure soared to way above anything that could be considered normal!

Anyway just to bring you up to date. As DD is 17 she can now (and has been) learning to drive. Oh. My. Days.  What a way to raise the blood pressure! She has paid lessons but I take her out too in order to improve her road sense.  Anyway, 13 lessons later and I take her out for a quick drive before she goes to work, yes, she also has a part time job, and within the first 5 minutes she approached two junctions without caution and at the second (blind) junction she didn't even stop and therefore pulled out on a car who narrowly missed us. Queue lots of shouting by me.  She didn't even apologise.  I couldn't stop shaking for some time.  Clearly not ready to take her test, which incidentally, she has booked!

So, readers, in a nutshell, we are still having a rather, on times 'shouty' relationship and I am, still, worrying about their every move.  Such is life eh?....