School days

Last night I had a really good idea for a post. It was funny, intelligent, and above all interesting. But do you think I can remember it now, this morning? Can I bollocks. I'm rubbish.

Anyway - not a bad journey back yesterday. I left Birmingham at about 14:00 and was back home by 15:40. I had time to go get my long wavy locks cut at the local barbers, and then walk the dog.

Tonight, Number One Son's future senior / high school is having an open evening, for potential new students and parents to go take a look around. I still recall when I went to look around my new schools when I was 10 / 11. We had a choice of 4 or 5 schools in the area, so we went to look around them all. From what I remember, it was quite daunting... the sheer scale of the place, the bigger buildings, bigger playground etc. compared to the junior school I was in. It was quite unnerving. I have no doubts that Jake will cope fine with this though, as he's a lot more confident at this age than I was.

I hated school. I know a lot of people say that, but I really did. Junior school was great, but then it's not real school is it, its a doss. Senior school is where the work really starts.

** Confession Alert ** Confession Alert ** Confession Alert ** Confession Alert **

I was bullied for about three & a half years of the five years I was in high school. Nothing overly dramatic - I mean, I was never subjected to some of the horror stories you hear about in the media now days, but I was one of the first to be the butt of the jokes, the one singled out for different treatment from my peers. I know some of it was probably my own doing - I had a big mouth on me that got me into trouble sometimes, but a LOT of it was just the vindictive little bastards in my year at school having nothing better to do than single me out. I was quite small in school (still am, some would say) and I have ginger hair, so you can put two & two together can't you. I wasn't the only one, and in fact became very good friends with one of the other guys who got a lot of stick, and we remained friends for a few years after we left school. But, there wasn't a lot of other people who were treated the way I was. This was a big, massive, part of the reason I hated school so much. And now, as a parent, I am worried that Jake will receive the same treatment. He already knows that his hair color singles him out, and he deals with this really well (as far as I know), but kids his age haven't really developed their vindictive muscles yet... the next three to five years is when that really kicks in. I think he'll be OK though, as he is much more confident than I was, and I know he wouldn't put up with as much stick is I did. He is also a talented footballer, which appeals to the sporty types, and good at street dancing / performing which will appeal to the girls! So I think there is more hope for him.

I just read all that back - I didn't really plan for it being such a big outpouring of what happened in school... but it's out there now.

So... have a lovely Thursday everyone. It's nearly the weekend!

Peace.