Tough Being a Parent

I usually have no complaints, busy life with 5 boys and I no doubt would be a lot richer had we just had one or two but on the whole no complaints and I love having a big family.

Today though has been a tough day. My oldest boy got his Higher results today. He had been expecting/hoping for a mix of A's and B's but instead got B's and C's. He still has 6th year to go so not the end of the world and passing 4 Highers are not to be sniffed at but his disappointment was palpable.

It was tough seeing him shattered this morning. We were also disappointed from him as well. What makes it even more frustrating is that it is not as if he didn't' try as he worked his socks off and put the effort in. He doesn't really go out at weekends, has never come home drunk even though he is 17 next months and has really knuckled down hard this last year saying he would get his rewards when he went to University.

What makes it worse for me is I feel a bit of a fraud. I have tried my damndest to drive it home to the kids that nothing comes easy, nothing is handed to you on a plate and that in order to get anything in life you need to work hard for it. I still believe that but here is my oldest following that advice and hasn't got the reward.

I know there are plenty of stories out there of people not getting them results they wanted and still achieving, I did that myself to an extent. Still tough morning seeing my oldest shed a tear and the reality was there was nothing I could do about it.

Just wanted to get that off my chest, the anonymity of here is as good a place as any