Remembering to remember and other forgettings

Stunned to catch Daniel reading his chemistry text book.

Me:      Is that homework?

Dan:    No, I’m revising

Me:      Oh a test

Dan:    No.  They’re called GCSEs

Whilst I know his exams start in six weeks, I can’t quite believe that he does.  When I was 16, six weeks was so far in the future that it barely figured and concentrating on what felt like the never never, was near impossible.  But for a boy who’s counted down the 56 weeks to his next Muse concert, perhaps it’s closer. 

The trouble is I’m not a poker player and rather than playing it cool about his chemistry book, my reaction was more in keeping with news of a Nobel prize.  So now I’m convinced that he’ll think Job Done on the revision front and not open a book again till the day itself. 

Obviously, this totally disregards the fact that he is virtually grown up and can work out for himself the merits – and nots – of revising.  I’m sure he’s much more interested in doing well for his own benefit than mine, but as a parent, sometimes it’s hard to remember that they know how to breathe without you. 

All I can offer in my defence is his brother.  Jamie is the archetypal Forget-His-Head-If-It’s-Not-Screwed-On child and recent entries on his reminder list include:

·       Wear more than a t-shirt outside when there’s a foot of snow on the ground
·       Go to the loo if you’re about to be sick
·       If you’re putting the left walking boot in your bag, also take the right

Still, unlike me he can grill bacon without forgetting about it till the smoke alarm goes off.  And he’s never left the rice burning on the hob in an empty house for hours - more than once.

So now that I’ve confessed where the apple’s fallen from, maybe I’d better stop waving it about.  But I’ll still keep a watch on his breathing.