Testing times.....

Could someone please tell me if it is possible to stay sane or at least to avoid slaughtering your firstborn when the dreaded GCSE exams loom?

I am seriously beginning to think that I will have lost the plot by the time the end of June rolls around and it's all over - and then there's the results to fret about.

The son seems to have this idea that all he has to do is turn up and he'll pass and waft serenly into sixth form and A levels. What he doesn't seem to be able to understand is that he's actually got to REVISE if he's to have a hope in hell of scraping in.

Bless him - he proudly showed me the beautifully drawn up revision timetable he'd produced at school and was mightily huffy when I pointed out that whilst it was indeed lovely, he was rather missing the point if he wasn't following it and actually doing some revision. He seemed rather bemused at the concept.

I've shouted - so loudly that I momentarily lost any capacity to speak at all and was amazed the windows didn't shatter - I've encouraged, cajoled, stropped, cried, slammed out and left, turned to drink and now have absolutely no idea what strategy to take.

We all want the best for our kids and I'm finding it really hard to watch a boy effectively throwing away his chance of a good future, who is narrowing his opportunities without realising it. All he sees is a nagging mother who is never off his back.

So, this rather frazzled Undomesticated Goddess would welcome any suggestions. Even I have ruled out the thought of sneaking in and taking the exams for him though......