I’m not a helicopter mother. I don’t tend to stress (too much) about how my children are doing academically. I try and keep up with the spelling tests, times table tests, projects, homework, reading, etc etc and all the other academic necessities that come home with three children, and they seem to be doing ok despite my failures. I worry about how happy they are, self-flagellate about the 6yo and her aggressive tendencies, beat myself up about the 7yo’s eating problems and berate myself about how hard I am on the 10yo, but overall we’re happy and (I think) they’re individually happy.
On Thursday the 10yo sits the first of his two 11+ exams. The outcome of these two exams will decide his academic future. A pass means he’ll go to the local grammar, the school he’s had his heart set on since Year 2. A fail will mean he goes to the local comprehensive, the school that has gone from being bottom of the pile and special measures to number 4 or 5 in the county. Both are at the end of our road. Both will offer him excellent opportunities in different ways. But to him one means success, the other failure.
I’m beyond nervous. He’s been having weekly tuition since January. I’ve never pushed him and yet he’s done every bit of his homework, self-motivated and worked hard to get where he’s got. By rights he should pass, but what if he doesn’t? I’m beyond nervous and desperately trying not to show him. Finding the balance between encouraging him, congratulating him every time he achieves his target % in his test papers and overdoing it, hot housing and making him feel the pressure. That’s the trick to it all.
We get the results on November 30th. It’s going to be a long few weeks…..
Good luck Boy Wonder.
Good Luck Sam! You can only do your best and you’ve worked very hard. Both of you. You will be fine xxx
I’m sure he’s going to do just fabulous. Hugs to both of you. x
We find out next week how DD did in her 11+ next week. The thing is I don’t know whether I want her to do well or not; the super selective she’s sat for is a long way away and is very Victorian in its values. I’m wondering if she’d be happier in the local state school.
Thanks VW – one down, one to go…..
Hugs right bacatcha gorg x
It’s a quandary isn’t it? I’m guessing that the results will tell you a certain amount of what you need to know, and then you’ve just got to make the right decision for all of you. In our case he’s been desperate to go to this school since year 2 and I’m confident that it would be right for him but that’s not to say he wouldn’t do well if he ended up going to the comp. So tricky!