How can I be waking up at four o'clock in the morning with a frozen right shoulder worrying whether I answered all the questions on a GCSE (England's exams for 16 year olds) accurately on a physics paper? I always hated studying physics! In fact, I can claim, with absolute authority, that I achieved the worst recorded result prior to GCSE in the history of Westcliff High School for Girls - 1% : I placed my name upon the paper and then decorated it with cartoons of all the physicophiles in my exam room -I am completely offended that my illustrations achieved so little! What's more is that I am convinced that the physics teacher also was disappointed with my 1% as she spent so much time in detention with me extolling the virtues of the subject and trying to reform me to the physics way of life!
Nevertheless at end of Year 9 ( in my day 3rd Year Seniors), I knew physics and I had parted company and our dalliance was spent. Physics will always remain that complete anomaly to me, never entering my world or my grasp on normality! The one that got away. Physics, \I am sure feels the same about me! We have no understanding of each other: The Theory of Relativity does not hold me agasp just as The Theory of My Relatives plays no part in the world of Science.
So why the sleepless nights? Because my arrogant eldest son is sitting his GCSEs and I seem more concerned than him. Every exam he faces I live - cold sweats, hyperventilation and sleepless nights. But not for him. Physics, he informed me was really enjoyable - in fact he spent 2 hours of absolute bliss answering questions that would have tied me up in knots (not in a 50 shade way!). Questions that I would have responded to with:" No one cares actually and "Whatever loser! Not for me the physics phenomena. But clearly for my eldest.
Why then,on his return home, did I grasp said eldest tightly when he admitted enjoying his physics exam? Why then did I say: "I am so proud of you!"? Maybe because he had beaten something that had avoided me. Or maybe because - OMG- he must have gone horribly wrong as noone in their right mind could possibly enjoy physics! Or just maybe because I was knackered from hours of sleepless nights and worry.
Is physics the precursor to the girlfriend? You have to accept her but you worry whether she is treating your son properly; or whether he has read her properly? I await the results of both.
