Being at university were the worst three years of my life. I absolutely hated it. I was totally miserable. The only saving grace was the year out in year 3. The idea of putting my babies into a place that is not conducive to good mental health when they are clearly genetically predisposed to mental health problems fills me with dread.  

But I like to think I know what my babies need. And so far (bearing is in mind the youngest is only 3) I think 5 out of the 6 need to experience University and the 6th will still need to go to some form of Further Education but probably more part time in some form of apprenticeship. So its about knowing the best place for them to go. 

#1 had his interview at Cambridge today.  

I never wanted him to come here. No one in his family wanted to come here. It was never our idea to get him to apply here. I dont think HE even wanted to apply here. Someone else made him do that. Someone else put that pressure on him. Someone else with their own agenda. So apply he did. 

*I* wasn’t surprised he got offered an interview. He is a genius (isnt everyone’s son?). He said everyone gets an interview for Cambridge (show of hands? No I didnt think that was true either) 

Sure I milked the “my son has an interview for Cambridge” a bit. But you may have noticed by now that Im quite fond of the limelight. That was all about me (most things are! Including this blog!) 

#1 needs somewhere that he knows. He needs somewhere that will nurture him. He needs somewhere quiet. He needs somewhere that will let him find his feet for a while before he unleashes his amazing talent and potential on them and the world. Hes a slow burner but boy can he dazzle in his own time. 

He had three interviews and he said he wasnt worried about the talking questions (he never talks) but he was worried about the real questions about his knowledge of Maths and Physics. He came out and said they didnt ask him any talking questions and he had absolutely no idea what they were talking about. In one interview he said they essentially gave him a Maths lecture. 

I hate this place. I hate that they made my shy, quiet, sensitive, intelligent boy feel stupid. 

But we want what our kids want. I told him if he wants to come here then i will totally support him (just as I would if he wanted to give everything up to paint in South America; seems highly unlikely but still).

I told him he has to interview them as much as they are interviewing him. But he just didnt want to feel stupid. And thats exactly what they made him feel. Perhaps thats the point. Perhaps in a place as prestigious as this they have to choose who they can mould best. They cut you down, so they can build you up. Or they cut you down and if you fight back then they know you’ll stand up to the pressure. Either way it sounds awful. I hate it. I dont want to give them my baby. 

But if they decide he’s mouldable enough I’ll totally pretend I love it here. Because at the end of the day, we love our babies, we dont care if they are clever or stupid, quiet or loud; we just want them to be happy. I want him to feel my total and unquestionable love for him and his choices. Because if he goes to that place, he’ll need it. 

So……

The buildings are nice.