So here we are. The period of time I’ve joked about for years – the bad planning of GCSE and A Levels falling in the same spring; and how I’m moving into my work town centre office for the duration to lay low.

We are several GCSEs in already despite the fact that P is still at school. I can’t say the emotional rollercoaster of teacher goodbyes and end of an era is ideal at the same time as they are sitting actual exams. Today for example we’ve had tears because the epic German teacher used AI to write them all a name checking song, and handed out tiny pigs for luck, balanced with the pain of 3 exams in a stifling hot room. On Monday we have the joy of Macbeth followed by shirt signing and a leavers assembly. Followed very swiftly the next morning by history. Or chemistry. Oh I don’t know there’s so many of the flipping things I’m losing the plot already.

And of course we don’t do one thing at a time at home either. P is learning lines and dance routines for Guys and Dolls with a trilby in one had and a highlighter in the other. Oh and she turns 16 amidst all this – can’t imagine much revising will happen during her sleepover.

A-Levels haven’t started yet which is both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand any revision time is I suppose a benefit, and on the other they don’t finish until after the GCSEs do, so the pain is extended at both flippin ends. Not to be upstaged by her sister’s juggling, T was doing a presentation about sustainability at a UN related event yesterday, probably while doing very hard maths in her head. Or crocheting a cactus.

Just for some balance I continue to have no energy whatsoever so my grand plans to be productive and supportive during this tricky period aren’t coming to much. I’m not sure how helpful or motivating it is to come down after a prolonged period of revision to find your mum asleep on the sofa or watching yet another programme about crime.

What we did manage to do was put together an exam pack each to help get them through, which contained pens, shower gel and a large amount of snacks. P has eaten all of the snacks already and it’s only day 2. T in usual fashion has a full bar of chocolate, a protein bar and a pack of gummy carrots left.

Other than providing food and occasionally clearing a path through the floor-bound paperwork I’m not sure how much help Paul and I are being – we certainly don’t seem to be able to remember anything useful. And anyway I don’t suppose my A-level knowledge of “The Country Wife” would be much use in a further maths exam.

Of course I’m being silly above and making out like this is an amusing time. It’s not. It’s so so hard for them. I wish I could absorb their stress and confusion and the endless hours of work so they didn’t have to go through it.

We are very much taking the approach that we just have to get through the next few weeks. They will keep going and we will keep providing the snacks.