HSC Horror Stories…
Dear Diary...
I’m currently hiding in my wardrobe typing this.
Hiding may not seem like the bravest strategy but I promise you it’s the smartest one!
Darling Daughter #1 has just started her HSC exams and I swear to you I have never seen a more irrational, emotional and unstable teenage girl in my life. Are they all like this??
Earlier this morning she explained in depth her extreme frustration at the unjust HSC system that requires english students to memorise a ‘ridiculous’ number of quotes. Half an hour later she was in tears sure she would fail no matter what she did. Then she came home after the exam exclaiming that it wasn’t that bad!!?!
Her mood swings are giving me whiplash.
Now she's out in the lounge room stressing over the next exam tomorrow, so I’m staying safely tucked away in this comfy cupboard!
I did manage to get a few hours of peace in the middle of all that today though. I actually finished a whole scrapbook layout… My absolute favourite thing about Imaginarium designs chipboards is that they do the most beautiful and endearing titles, and this is of my favourites 💚
Well the battery on my laptop is almost done so I’m going to have to sign off for tonight. I can still hear DD#1 out there ranting at anyone in earshot so I might just enjoy the peace and quiet a moment longer here.
Dear Diary...
I noticed a distinct lack of people moving through the house this morning, when I did eventually locate several of the children I found out they too are doing their best to avoid their sister and her crazy moods DD#2,3 &4 all said they would rather not eat breakfast at all than have to listen to DD#1 rant even further about the distinct lack of polylogism in today's schooling environment.
I couldn't agree more. I stayed in the bedroom with DD#2 & 3 and we googled what Polylogism is and played some Plants versus Zombies before they snuck off to school and I snuck out to my workshop.
Everyone deals with stress in different ways …
my way is to tuck myself away with some fabulous papercraft supplies and see what is born 🙂
Today’s adventures yielded another scrapbook layout … this time a double! I rarely do doubles, but I was so inspired by these Heartfelt Creations papers that I just couldnt resist this time.
Dear Diary,
I can’t take this any more, there was no exam today but there was a torrent of tears as DD#1 asked me if would still love her if she failed to get into law school and ended up working at McDonalds for the rest of her life?
I have no idea where kids find the pressures they put on themselves … I’ve never asked her to be a human rights lawyer …. that was all her idea … I think the job she had at maccas for the last 3 years is awesome …. But somehow it's the worse-case-life-scenario for her now??
I don't think her teachers put that much pressure on her either, all I’ve ever heard them say is ‘just try your best’ … so what's this question about me not loving her anymore if she doesn't get a HSC mark of 99 or above???
I find empathy in light of my daughters first world problems difficult to muster …. I just think ‘you are a crazy person who cannot be reasoned with, please don’t speak to me anymore’
...but you know ….
Instead I hugged her and said ‘oh baby ….sadly If you don’t get into law school you will actually have to change your last name as your father and I will have no choice but to disown you!’
She rolled her eyes and stormed off to her room….I feel like I effectively made my point.
Shes punished me all day with the silent treatment ….. BEST DAY EVER!!
I got all these cards made thanks to said punishment.
It’s difficult for me to regret my sarcastic streak when it yields such pleasing results.
Just saying.
All the chipboards on these cards were simply coloured with ink and then painted over with crystalina kindy glitz.
Dear diary,
Disaster has struck …. While vacuuming in a very bad ( yet extremely persistent) mood, DD#1 smashed her wrist and injured her writing hand. This resulted in unparalleled drama, the likes of which has never been seen in this house and I hope shall never be seen again! The tears were epic, the panic tantrum second to none, and my ability to help stave off the torrent - non existent!
She went off to her Ancient History exam in considerable pain and did the whole 3 hours of writing with a bag of ice on her wrist. She didn't quite finish which is apparently ( if you are to believe anything DD#1 says these days) a fate WORSE than death!!
So half my day and the whole afternoon was spent chasing our family doctor for a medical ‘misadventure’ certificate. Thank heavens we only have one more exam to go!!
Dear Diary
The weekend saw DD#1 wrist heal quite nicely and this morning she headed off to her final exam like snow white going to greet the forest animals for brunch.
She was so happy we were all a little wary.
Apparently maths is her favorite subject so it attracted none of the usual angst we saw so much of last week. We were all relieved, but Son#2 did point out that she's just acting creepy now. I told him not to worry, if she didn't get into law school via the usual methods her father and I had decided to bribe the one furthest away from home to ensure we are never living with her again when she has to sit an exam. He greatly approve of this plan and offered a substantial amount of his savings to contribute towards it.
DD#4 actually turns 8 today and she loves all things ‘Paris’ themed so I used the Imaginarium Eiffel tower to create this cute card for her. She sternly reminded me this morning that she’s 'not a baby anymore' so I should stop making her all those pink glittery cards ( my favourites of course) so it was with some nostalgia I did my best to keep the little girl themes on the inside while I make this slightly more ‘grown up’ version…
This is the last of my 6 babies … turning 8 today!! When you think about it, only it’s 10 more years and she will be sitting the HSC too …. heaven help me…. may the years pass slowly.
Kelly-ann Oosterbeek has been a scrapbook and paper craft designer for the last 19 years and lives in Northern NSW with her super-sized family.
She has her own line of gloss finish butterfly stickers ( featured on the projects in this post), and sells these along with Kaisercraft Collections and layout kits online ...
www.kellyanno.com
I always love reading your diary entries..this one reminded me of my daughters exams... so know how you were feeling. Thanks for the laughs and english lesson, I just had to look up 'polylogism' for curiousity sakes...so funny lol. Love your projects they are so gorgeous. ❤
ReplyDeleteThanks Sandi ... I wasnt joking when I mentioned I had to look up Polylogism as well ... living with a HSC student is certainly an educational experience - amongst other things!! lol.
Deletelove reading your adventures of your family, make my life sounds boring, but i do love reading them puts a smile on my face each time i read them . thank you i also love all your layouts and cards that you have made
ReplyDeleteThanks Jacqui ... there are days I would trade my crazy life for your beautiful-flower-filled, quiet lifestyle in a heartbeat!! lol xo
DeleteHi Kelly-ann, I love catching up with your 'mad ravings' as you say. It just goes to show that life is real and we all experience it in different ways but also the same. I told my HSC student for 2 years prior to sitting these exams that they do not mean the end of the world and are not the only tests that help us find our way in life. He decided in the end not to sit them and take the slower road to his final destination of education and employment with less pressure. He is currently studying full time and working part time and still has time to stop and live as well instead of stressing over jumping into his chosen field full pelt. Very little stress for him and his family :) But when in doubt sarcasm works well :)
ReplyDeletelol ... too true Viky. I think you are onto something there with your son.... I honestly never put pressure on my kids to perform academically, but they borrow those anxieties from the expectations of those around them regardless, which leads me to believe that the HSC really isn't the best path for everyone. I see it as a timely reminder that we need each only answer to ourselves with these kinds of expectations, and should in fact, guard ourselves against taking onto our own shoulders the less realistic expectations of others ... I need to remind myself of that all the time ... even as an adult!
DeleteTotally Awesome!!! Well, not having an emotional HSC child in the house, but your ability to cope and great story telling :) Queensland is just about to go back to that kind of system and although I understand about it being a better measure across all schools, the pressure put on the kids is pretty intense...and for the families to have to live through...lol
ReplyDeleteReally? I had no idea Queensland was changing their system, I've always been under the impression that the QLD system was superior to the NSW one? That will be interesting to see play out.
ReplyDelete