At the moment my whole life revolves around a Year 12 Further Math exam that begins at 2pm on Monday afternoon and runs for one hour and forty-five minutes.
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When that exam finishes, my life will be just party, party, party, but for now, my existence feels like walking on eggshells.
Today's test is the second part of the examination process for units three and four of VCE Further Math, which my 17-year-old has been studying for a year now and has been consumed by for the past few months.
My daughter's incredible teacher has invested literally weeks of one-of-one tutoring in 'bun bun our middle one' alongside a small fortune in chocolate peanut butter cups to keep her spirits up.
The last few days have slowed to a crawl as I feel myself clawing along the ground to get traction towards the finish line, bending over backwards to meet every need of my Year 11 student at the expense of everyone else in the family.
If she needed the soothing sound of the air conditioner on to help her settle even though it was pelting rain outside, absolutely.
Noodles for breakfast...okay?
Sleep in on a Thursday - umm, I guess I can make that happen.
I've nearly bitten my tongue off holding in harsh parental lectures that needed to be delivered but would have completely derailed my darling girl.
Any critical feedback about the state of her bedroom floor has been put on ice while encouragement has been of prime importance.
Gentle advice about going to bed early, eating something healthy and easing off the negative self-talk were completely ignored but had to be provided anyway, or what's the point of calling yourself a mother, right?
Naturally there was a howling windstorm the night before the first instalment of the exam which certainly didn't feel heaven sent.
I was awake most of the night worrying that my math student was also sleepless and wouldn't be able to discern the right answer in the multiple choice on zero hours of REM.
Fortunately, she was fine, but I was a wreck!
To all the families out there who are clutching their child's examination timetable to their hearts alongside teachers holding their breath, well done, you are very nearly there!
