'Claims that our schoolchildren have it easy baffle me.'
My sons work far harder than I ever did, and there is far more pressure on them from within the education system than there ever was on me.
Which means there is a great deal of homework completed in our house.
Or not, in Isaac's case.
Fourteen-year-old Gabriel sorts himself out. He doesn't need telling or reminding to do his homework.
He keeps a careful note of what needs doing and gives himself plenty of time to get the work done in time.
Isaac, on the other hand, needs chasing. My wife and I check with him almost every night to see what subjects need to be done – the only night he doesn't get homework is Wednesday.
Often, Isaac knows what he has to do, but has forgotten the textbooks he needs.
He's quite creative about coming up with excuses about why he can't do his homework, and an expert at distraction.
We'll sit down to help him with his maths or English and he'll somehow keep us chatting for ages without us realising how much time he's wasted. He'll then tell us it's too late to start homework.
Whereas Gabriel is punctilious about getting his homework finished on time, Isaac doesn't seem to have any fears about not submitting homework when told to.
"It'll be ok, the teacher won't mind," he says.
He may be in for a surprise.
It's a great time of year for 11-year-old Isaac.
As soon as the excitement of Bonfire Night is over, his thoughts turn to his birthday and Christmas.
Being born three days before Christmas has its disadvantages throughout the rest of the year, but in the run-up to the festive period, he's in a constant state of joy and anticipation.
Once the last firework came down to earth, he started planning his birthday party and writing his Christmas list.
The list this year is not long, just very expensive.
But Christmas still has the power to excite both boys. I wonder at what age the attraction dims?
Gabriel is very reluctantly playing King 1 in this year's Nativity at our Church.
Isaac, after a little persuasion, is playing Herod.
He played the same role last year, and milked his dying scene for far more than it was worth.
He's very disappointed that Herod survives this year's dramatic offering.
Every rehearsal starts with him asking if the part can be rewritten with a death scene.
I firmly refuse, but last week he changed tack: "What would happen if I just died anyway when we do the play for real?" he asked.
Now I'm worried.
Email to a friend
Print this page- Sunderland striker Campbell fresh to face Middlesbrough
- Sunderland’s astonishing rise even surprising Martin O’Neill
- Middlesbrough 1 Sunderland 2 (aet): O’Neill relieved to avoid shoot-out lottery as Sessegnon wins it
- Martin O’Neill defends David Meyler after criticism from Tony Pulis
- Kieran Richardson says there is plenty more to come from James McClean
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Sunderland
Friday 10 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -3 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 1 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: South west
