. . . that I am not as omnipresent as I may have appeared to be in the past, I should perhaps inform all and sundry that, not only are the various forums that I keep under review becoming pretty inane, repetitive and redolent of ennui engendered rage - which does not encourage me to post - but that my leisure time is incresingly being encroached upon by my paternal duties, not just the chauffeur's role (cricket, party, stables, shopping centre etc . . . ) but because my son has started his final GCSE examinations and although his content knowledge is adequate (he has a good memory, but it seems to be taken up mainly by the dialogue scripts for Fosters advertisements and the doggerel approximating lyrics of Die Antwoord and exhortations to wear fingerless gloves by unfunny SNL escapees) the school has failed to teach him the black art of getting extremely good grades by making it easy for those unemployed students who mark the scripts to perceive excellence among a mundane morass of adolescent scribblings. His experience is that two evenings personal tuition (involving a structured miniature war during which he storms out of the room several times swearing profusely that I am as bad as the teachers, examination setters and markers, and that we are all wrong and he is right) usually increases his grading by about 30%, taking him from pass to distinction. He submits to this ritual, which he perceives as humiliating, as it undermines his belief that I am a stupid old fart, because I have proved apparently psychic on a regular and frequent basis in predicting what questions are going to turn up on the examination paper; my joy is to pick him up after school and for him to turn to me and say "You were right, Dad".
Pep (will now be turning his attentions to coaching his son through the International Baccalaureate Diploma - GCE A Levels are sooooo 'yesterday' since his daughter is the smartest in the family and will need minimal assistance when her turn comes, assuming she has not eloped with a pony in the meantime.)
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Great visuals, Pep! I recall several times in my pre- and post-collegiate youth telling my parents that they got 'it' right in their advice to me. Sometimes these realizations come months or years after the fact but such is the nature of growing up.
ReplyDeleteI believe that your children are lucky they have a father who cares so much about their futures.
+100 Kudos
Good luck, Pep, but I feel it's fair to warn you...it only gets worse as they get older.
ReplyDeleteIt only took my oldest about 15 years to admit that so much of what I said, or the reasons for discipline were correct and she actually thanked me for being so :)
Happy Birthday, Pep!!!
ReplyDeleteWe need HEADLINES not birthday parties.
ReplyDeletePS Best wishes to you and your family.
In the words of the great philosopher of a bygone era,"What, me worry?"
ReplyDeleteAs to your current haitus, as the parent of a son who would seem to be of the same age as yours, I can understand what you are confronted with.
In my own case, it was personally gratifying to see my son's marks go from C's and B's as he entered high school to the point where now he is getting A's in all his courses and that he is now becoming aware of the fact that my tutelage in not only the subjects but the object of education was the correct one, exemplified by his having being accepted at all 5 of his choices of University for the fall, with each offering varying levels perqs, from scholarships and bursaries to accommodation.
To see him infused with a new greater sense of self-esteem from the pride of accomplishment and developing maturation as he comes to fully understand the world around him is a parent's reward. That the lesson's painstakingly learned result in the assurance that where ever or whatever he attempts in Life he will tackle with confidence and competence is its own measure of success.
It also eases my mind somewhat, knowing now that he will be able to ascend to a position in Life where he will be able to care for me in my dotage, is no small comfort to me as well.
Now his younger brother, just entering high school, he is project that I fear will be more of a trial for us both. He seems to want to take his father's path of unorthodoxy, which can lead to a satisfactory end, but is fraught with a few more perils. It was definitely more exciting though.
Stay the course Pep.
@Derek...Hear, hear :)
ReplyDeleteVery well put!