I have been transported back in time these last couple of weeks. My eldest daughter is doing her options. This means she has to choose 4 subjects to study for her GCSEs. She has to do English, maths and science but she gets to choose four things that interest her and that she wants to study a bit more in depth and to take exams in, in a couple of years time.
We went to parents evening to see the teachers (they all looked incredibly young).I asked her English teacher how the course worked and he told me that it was all very different from "your day." Arghh.
It really doesn't seem that long ago since I did my options...and what a terrible hash up I made of it to be honest. School just did not do it for me. I had no desire to work, so didn't. I was eventually dropped from virtually all my O level subjects (remember them?) and walked away with a CSE in religious studies. Hardly a glittering academic career!
Thankfully my beautiful daughter has a bit more about her than I did (and probably still do). I have been so impressed with her level of maturity in choosing, her desire to achieve and her sheer enthusiasm for school, something which was just not my experience at all.
It worries me that I will not be able to give her the academic support she needs. In honesty I will probably learn a great deal from her. It is true to say that it is only since my children have had to learn their tables that I have really learned mine and I'm still a bit ropey on the 6x table.Mind you, as long as you can cut a cake into as many portions as there are people round the table, does it really matter?????
And I can teach her other things like how to fold washing, so you don't have to iron it, how to make a sound like an owl, how to make it look like you've broken your thumb, how to cook an entire meal whilst holding the phone and finally (this is my number one skill) how to breast feed while driving. See, not so useless after all eh ??!!
With love,
Rachel.
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2 comments:
Don't we all feel a little inadequate since we've graduated? I felt the same way when I went to meet with my daughter's counselor. I actually didn't remember anything like what they have now. I felt old and inadequate to assist her. But, I walked out of there refreshed. Her counselor actually boosted me with energy-til this day I still don't know why or how.
What matters is, you are beautiful to God-He designed you that way and loves you regardless. God only wants your heart of obedience and nothing more-because He provides the rest.
I saw your comment on another blog and thought I'd stop by to say "hello" I checked out a few of your blogs and enjoyed them.
Our schooling is a little different here in the USA, but I can relate to some of those feelings of inadequacies as our children get older. My oldest is in her second year of college and my second child will be graduating from high school in May. They have both taken classes in high school that were so far above anything I ever learned. They have both made it through without my knowledge and expertise. It does teach you a lot about the process of letting them go.
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