It’s been a big year for Lil Man.
A-level exams sat. Now, you have to remember that his year group of children never sat their GCSEs due to the pandemic, so these were the first official exams they were faced with.
It was nerve-wracking for us as parents, too, since with all the home-schooling and online learning, education became hard to understand for many.
Were these kids prepared? How could we help them? Why did learning and revising look so different to when it was our time, thirty-odd years ago?
Still, they came and went.
He turned eighteen in June after sitting his last exam, so he is officially an adult.
It’s a strange time, legally able to do so much more, yet turning eighteen doesn’t automatically make a boy a man.
That comes from life experiences.
We’re still trying to find a decent driving instructor for him, so he can get his licence. Living where we are, it is important for him to retain his independence, as the public transport available to us is lean.
But yesterday, it was result day.
He’s not had the easiest of journeys in the Sixth form. He loved two subjects and hated the third that he had to take.
In fact, one of that subject’s teachers was not the best person to nurture him. She led him to believe he was going to fail.
So we held out hope that he at least got the lowest pass grade for that subject.
At least, that would still be three A-level-style qualifications. The other two, he was confident in.
We weren’t home yesterday, plus he really didn’t want to go to school to get his results; however, after a few hours, they were available online…
And he did GOOD!
In fact, he overachieved with that subject he was destined to fail!
So my Lil Man ended up with good grades!
Take that, doubters and haters!
Now he’s in the process of sorting a higher-level apprenticeship out.
This is a way to begin your work life while obtaining qualifications while you earn and not burden yourself with a lifetime of debt through a university degree.
He’s got his head screwed on, my Lil Man.
And we are very proud parents.
Definitely closer to being able to be called a man.
But I Smile Anyway... 