182. School subjects' choices 2

So I ticked the 'correct' boxes which had the advantage of making me feel like a 'good mother'.  I knew what was right for my child. I was his mother. For ever trying to understand the needs of my children, forever trying to do the best for them. I even had a thick 500-page book entitled How To Cope With Your Baby Through Teenage Years on my bedside table. Actually on my husband's bedside table, if I am to be honest with you.

'You read first. Yeah. Honest. I am only on Harry Potter One, Chapter 3 anyway. Yes, of course, I will read it when you're done.'

Yet I had no intention to read it. I mean, how many Harry Potter books were there? 6? 8? Plus the the spin-offs. Plus the movies. No way I could find time to read that stuff. Pity.

The truth was I was scared to read that stuff. I knew that book was going to be about sex and drugs and failing school and rejecting parents. I could not possibly cope with that. This, I decided, was the father's job.

My husband coped with that book really well. Every night, in bed or downstairs, while we were waiting for all the kids to be fast asleep he would read that book and make comments. Comments that went like this.

'That's something I never even imagined kids would do in this day and age ... Do you know, I can see (name of child) doing this ... Listen ...'

And he would read a passage to me. 

'No. I don't think so. It's just a book really. Maybe the author has not even got kids. or maybe he has but, do we know how they've turned out?'

I knew I was really trying to reassure myself. He would shake his head and carry on reading. Until I was totally freaked out (the chapters about the sex and drugs were terrifying) and would say.

'Please, stop! I'm going to read that book when you're done (lie). And I cannot concentrate on Harry Potter (truth).'

Years had gone by and I still hadn't read that book. But my husband had read enough out loud to me back then. I was certain it said things such as 'when it comes to schools and studies, remember that despite all appearances your teen is still only a child and you are the one who can guide him bla bla bla ...'. That,, clearly put in everyday plain language, meant tick the Maths, English, Science and French boxes. DO NOT IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCES TICK THE ART, DRAMA, P.E. BOXES.

'Could you just sign there, please? Thank you.' 

I could tell my husband was impressed even if he did not want to admit it.

Yet, in the bottom left-hand corner, in tiny print it said: student's signature. Was I going to fake it? Would that make me a bad mother?