Final Exams

As final exam week approached, my son and daughter brought home study sheets, notes, books, etc. to begin preparing for the tests. In some ways, they seemed ready and prepared, and in some ways I worried about how prepared they really were. I remember final exams from my high school days, and I studied for hours until I could answer every possible question correctly. I was ambitious and studious--making As was important to me--I was self-motivated--no one had to push me or encourage me--I got mad at myself if I didn't do as well as I thought I should. OK--so I was a bit overzealous and obsessive about it--if I made a B instead of an A, it felt like failure to me! My teens are doing well, but they definitely don't seem to be anything like I was regarding this. They study a bit, they feel prepared, and they "just do it"--As are great, Bs are fine, and they don't even freak out about an occasional C (although I do!). I try not to be hard on them if I feel that they are doing their best--I don't expect them to be as obsessed as I was about it. I don't want to induce test anxiety in them, so I just offer to quiz them on their work if they need to review. Sometimes they do bounce things off of me, sometimes they don't--as long as they feel prepared. I guess I need to relax and let THEM take the reins--it is their job, not mine. But they can always count on my help and support whenever they need it! :)