With four children aged between 14 and 21, this month of June has been pretty intense as far as exams go. Each of my crowd has had, or is having important end of year exams to deal with.
You may think that would mean a studious atmosphere, heavy with stress and anxiety, but no matter how hard I try, it would appear that my kids are unflappable! I'm not blowing my own trumpet here, I don't think I have much to do with this; it seems more of a generation thing ... or maybe we were all like that as teenagers?!
But this morning one of my girls took the whole "don't stress mama" bit to a new level ... to hitherto unexplored territory .... let me explain. And before you get worried, I have had her permission to tell you this! ...
But this morning one of my girls took the whole "don't stress mama" bit to a new level ... to hitherto unexplored territory .... let me explain. And before you get worried, I have had her permission to tell you this! ...
Mademoiselle had her first written exam for her French Baccalaureat today. This is a Pretty Big Deal. The French system offers very little opportunity to try your hand out at exams, so it was practically a first. The Baccalaureat are the French end-of-high-school exams and are spread over two years.
We decided last night that we'd be leaving extra early this morning, the exam was at 8.30am, so it would be good to be there at least 20 minutes ahead of time. Sounded good, controlled, planned ... reassuring.
Mademoiselle had a good breakfast, triple checked her ID papers and off we went.
On the way to school in the car she was exchanging text messages with her friends "wow, they're already there! Why do they want to be there before 8, they're mad" ....
Can you see where this is going?
A few minutes later, just before 8, she reads another text ..... "weird ... why are they going into the exam room already?!"
I chime in, a sinking feeling in my stomach "Honey, please don't tell me the exam is at 8 and not 8.30!"
She pulls out the exam register paper from her bag, "wow, that's so weird, it's at 8, why didn't anyone tell me?!!"
pause for a few long deep breaths ......
We cruised into the school car park at 4 minutes past 8, having broken most speed limits en route and taken a bus lane down the last section of the road. She jumped out of the car, blew me a kiss, and said "don't worry mummy, it will be fine, love you!" and off she went.
I watched her speed into school, long blonde hair in the wind, legs up to her armpits, beautiful and happy. Yup, happy and - all things considered - remarkably calm and together. I sat in the car thinking "where did my little girl go, who only five minutes ago was setting off for her first day of kindergarten?!"
Four hours later she emerged smiling and still happy, content with her exam, the lateness put down as something silly but not life-threatening. I guess she's right.
So with all this rambling, I just wanted to say that I think our kids are part of a generation that will deal with pressures we never imagined. They need to be strong, they need to be stress resistant, and they need to know how to stay happy and smiling whatever life throws their way.
I wish the best of luck to all those sitting end of year exams - may you live out your dreams, and look forward to a wonderful life ahead of you, no matter which path you go down. And you know what? turning up five minutes late to an exam - in the grand scheme of things - is really not that dreadful!
photos via Maxppp and google
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I am in a muck sweat just reading this Sharon! I think my children are way calmer than me... and they think I worry too much!
ReplyDeleteGood luck to your children and may they get the results that they are looking for...xv
I bet you were the most stressed !! Your daughter sounds just like my grandson, but he is still at the brevet stage.The young ones today take things with an air of ease, Not a bad thing, Maybe we should learn from them. I wish her every success.
ReplyDeleteWow - well that certainly is testament to the fact that you have done your job as a Mother VERY well! What a fabulously well rounded, and mature young girl she sounds. To be able to keep things in perspective at such a young age is truly remarkable and quite enviable - with skills like that your girl is going to go very far in life - bravo!
ReplyDeletePaula xxx
HA...This sounds very familiar. When my daughter was in school she was a lot like your daughter, nothing seemed to ruffle her feathers. I, on the other hand seemed to be the only one who got stressed out. I often wished I could have been a bit more like her in situations that required a calm and laid back attitude. I wish your daughter much success. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that your daughter didn't stress out! I think my son would have been a nervous wreck!
ReplyDeleteYes.....time flies! And, it seems that "kids" grow so much over the summer holiday. Come fall, I won't recognize any of my nephews and nieces. I hope your children will get to relax after examinations. Bon courage!
ReplyDeleteLoi
I would have had a melt down. I think it is a personality thing....
ReplyDeleteOh what a cute exam story, stressful now for you, as the mommy, but a good tale to tell now and in future.
ReplyDeleteWow! Grace under pressure. I got a little tense just reading. I'm sure that your daughter's attitude can't all be written off to just her generation - the job you've done as a parent must be influential, too. Good luck to all your young ones during exam season. And the next time I find myself a little stressed out, I'm going to try channeling your daughter! XO
ReplyDeleteOh, I do know. Been there, done that. Relax, it's all OK. xx's
ReplyDeleteSharon, your post today is so coincidental! I was just wondering this morning if your children went to school year round in France and if they were still in school right now... So great that your daughter is so "laid back." No ulcers for her! ha
ReplyDeleteYour daughter is a credit to you, Sharon. I'm sure she'll do wonderfully in her exam and such an unflappably happy nature will ease her life. You must be ever so proud of her.
ReplyDeleteMy blood pressure went up just reading this! Being late makes me sick! Glad it all went down without a hitch. I have two small girls and I'm already dreading all of this...
ReplyDelete♥Linsey
Sweet and lovely post.
ReplyDeleteLisa
Ah, youth!....smiles
ReplyDeleteGood luck to all exams for all your children! Adorable post, I have three kids of my own and I think too we are worrying too much. My biggest daughter is 11 and she's really much cooler than I am :).
ReplyDeleteLove the post. Teachers is just as stressed out.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your adorable post.
Lots of love from a cold South Africa
Sandra
Oh how I remember those days...without them my life is so wonderful!
ReplyDeleteOh, my. I would have been freaking out. She's amazing that it didn't bother her. I hope she did well, and so did the rest of your children.
ReplyDeleteI admire your daughter 's attitude. You must have brought her up really well.
ReplyDeleteI am giggling reading this as it is so relatable! The reason I can laugh is yes - this happens to other people also! Another mother called my 9 year old 'unflappable' yesterday. I did a double take - what? unflappable? - and then I thought yes! it's me that does the flapping - he sails calming through. All the best! Jen x
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh...reading this took me back to a time when I was chauffeur to my children. They are grown now, but the stresses of motherhood never seem to ease. As you say...they just float through life oblivious...but then they are not parents yet.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter was so sure that his final exam was on Tuesday at 4.30 pm.
ReplyDelete'Yes .. I wrote on the cell ... Uhm, no, this is 2009 ... yes, I remember, at 4.30 pm! '
I do not know why I did not trust so much, and the day before I went specifically to check the lists posted outside the school: 10.30 in the morning!
Are all the same! Change the language, age and nationality, but they are all the same :)
Daniela from Florence
I have the first of the Brevet next week. There is not much sign of my daughter burning the midnight oil either, but given that she's already got a place on the OIB (having done an english entrance exam - shucks that was hard!) the Brevet is just a chance to do her personal best rather than being necessary to go on to Lycée. I guess that takes the stress out of it!
ReplyDeleteI shall be looking carefully at the timetable though - and I cannot understand why they have to go to a completely different school for the exams and not their own - If anyone is going to get stressed it will be me having to FIND the school AND get there on time!!!
Oh Sharon, comme j'aime vous lire...Je suis la maman qui donne parfois vos récits en dictée à mes enfants ;)))Et comme pour nous aussi c'est "une année à bac", je suis sûre qu'au moment des résultats j'aurai une pensée reconnaissante envers vous car en anglais, ma jolie fillette a fait...UN CARTON ;)))). Gros bisous bravo pour votre blog splendide, génial, poétique, réconfortant, chaleureux...J'arrête je pourrais en faire des tonnes tellement je vous trouve extraordinaire. Nelly
ReplyDeleteBonjour Nelly
DeleteJe vous remercie pour vos jolis mots d'encouragement, j'aurais beaucoup aimé vous écrire en privé, mais il n'y a pas moyen de cliquer sur 'repondre' pour un email/commentaire en anonyme.
Si vous voulez m'envoyer un mail en direct a myfrenchcountryhome@gmail.com, je serais ravie d'échanger des nouvelles!
merci à vous
Sharon
Mais j'ai déjà essayé Petit Merlin Enchanteur mais sans succès...Je vais demander à mon fils de me prêter main experte car vraiment moi-être-véritable truffe ;))))J'ai tant à vous dire car vous lire est vraiment un ENCHANTEMENT. Merci mille fois et à bientôt. Là, je bous car j'attends les résultats de la compo de maths du matin. Mais hier...promis craché juré Sharon!!! La dissert d'anglais : "do you think having a simple vision of life contributes to happiness?"...je crois que ma poupée et moi, à intervalles différents mais avec la même force, nous vous avons bénie. Bisous et merci encore et bon succès à toute votre charmante famille et à vous qui êtes une véritable artiste du bonheur de vivre. Nelly
ReplyDeleteI am glad she still was able to write the exam. In Canada for the Grade 12 final exams once it is time for the exam they close the door. If you are late that is too bad. They don't care what the reason is and you have to wait until the end of the next semester to write. These exams are only twice a year here, so you don't want to be late. A agree that our kids don't get as stresses as us, which is probably a good thing.
ReplyDeleteyes, I do think you are right
ReplyDeletethe children today are inundated with so many life changes in government, church, schools, and yet are so resilient
being there for them in a positive happy way is surely an answer
what a wonderful example you are to this Sharon...and your kids are a reflection of you (I firmly believe this)
What a lovely post! Thank you.
ReplyDeleteElaine
You did something RIGHT!!!!!!!!A beautiful post.Mine are done with school but I can rememeber as if it was yesterday!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteSharon - I loved this post as it hit very close to home! As a consultant for so many students and families across the globe that are getting ready for big exams and more importantly - trying to choose the best university for them - it always fascinates me to learn how different students are "wired" to handle "stressful" situations. BIG kudos to you for teaching your kids (by example) that life, no matter what circumstance, can always be greeted with a smile. I teach whole seminars on this topic... I am so proud of you. You are the best mom!
ReplyDeletej'ai 4 enfants entre 13 et 22 ans et ils ne sont pas stressés eux aussi, trop cool et si papa ou maman n'était pas là pour rattraper les oublis, il y aurait eu de sacrés problèmes. Je pense qu'ils vont au devant de soucis quand ils prendront leur vie en main
ReplyDeleteYour daughter's insouciant attitude and ability to cope with pressure is surely due to her upbringing. Bon travail, Maman!
ReplyDeleteI look at the stresses in my own children's lives and realize that their lives will be very different from my own. Job insecurity, ecological concerns, financial woes worldwide - they are adults now and I hope I've equipped them well.
Anything that makes you happy will reduce stress in your life. Baking soda baths, sunlight and eating healthy will all help. As well as getting enough sleep. Take care of yourself and you'll be able to cope with stress better.
ReplyDelete