What a strange evening. I think it’s the first time ever all three of my children have been out on a Wednesday night and I’m home alone, feeling weird.
My ten year old got a last minute invite to go with Builder Bloke to the Arsenal game. He (quite tactically) decided to switch allegiance a few months ago and so now is an official Gooner, along with BB and his three boys. He was so excited it was ridiculous. It’s a bit too late for a school night, but, oh well….
My daughter is watching a play at her school.
My teenage son is at his university interview. Strange and scary for him. He wanted me to go down and take him out for dinner. Lots of his friends parents were doing that. But, I said “no” because it wouldn’t have been the right decision – it wouldn’t look good for a candidate to be going out for dinner with his mother rather than get on with meeting new people and making an effort to be a team player. I felt a little bit sad and mean, but I’m sure he’ll thank me in the long run – HOW UNCOOL would it look if I was hanging around. I felt like when I had to let them walk into a classroom on their own – another stage in pushing them out of the nest. It’s nearly big wide world time for him. Sad. But essential.
He rang me this morning after his “pre-interview”. Apparently it’s a disaster before he’s even started. He was mortified because he turned up and found that he was massively over-dressed – wearing smart trousers instead of jeans (although it’s all relative with students – the others probably all had their pants showing) and has also discovered that he is one of 17 people competing for just 2 places. What a nightmare. Wouldn’t it be interesting to film the interviews? I’d love to watch that – not just him but students in general. I bet it would be hilarious. We had a huge laugh (at his expense) when discussing what he should say and what he might get asked. I wonder what they are really looking for? I couldn’t help at all, haven’t got a clue. I was always quite good at interviews and then woefully bad at the job. All I could advise him was to “be himself” and to mention coming from a broken, dysfunctional home as much as possible.
(The real fact of the matter is that I am just so unbelievably proud of him for even getting this far).
Expat Mum
December 9, 2010Ah, bless. The Queenager is going through the same thing here although mercifully less interviews. (Don’t know why I said that as she comes across very well in conversations, but interviews….well.)
I bet the trousers thing didn’t seem half as bad to the uni faculty. I am constantly amazed at what teens think is appropriate attire and if you’re slightly over-dressed (which, for a teen can’t be that outrageously stuffy) it just looks like you’re really making an effort.
We will both get through this with grace and pride- and we’ll have a self-congratulatory drink next summer. The only better thing for me is that Q will be done and dusted – she’ll have all her results, offers and acceptances, and we’ll already have paid the second mortgage first year fees.
Family Affairs
December 9, 2010Interesting times…..it’s nearly big wide world time for them. Looking forward to next year’s drink…..unless of course I’m protesting with the students about the first year fees!! Lx