And another thing…

A question. As a parent (not as a Labour MP) does it concern you that your child might well be going through education at a time when Michael Gove is getting his Sweden-style reforms through, or do you feel that he is an intelligent man and your child will get at least as good an education from his system as Ed Balls can give him?

At the risk of starting a debate I don’t want to get into, Ronnie and Reggie will be at school in Scotland, and neither Mr Balls’s nor Mr Gove’s policies will have any bearing on them.

Hope he has a good first day…and the rest.

At least he stands a chance going to school in Scotland (I take it that he’s going to a state school).

I remember my first day and thinking how old the 10 year olds looked. It seems so long ago now. Good luck to him…

I complained my brothers shoes didn’t fit properly when I went to school.

Clip round the ear from mum and i soon forgot the pain in my feet.

Having seven brothers the family joke was we cant all go out the house together as there isn’t enough shoes..

happy days in the face of adversity….laughter

Lol, fair enough. That was a bullet dodged for you.

I’m sure the most awkward part about being an MP is when your job overlaps with your personal life (for instance, wanting the best education for your children but being called a hypocrite by the media and others should you choose to send your children to a private school). I’m sure everyone (well, most people anyway) who comments on here will want to wish little Ronnie all the best at school. And of course good luck to the parents too. Never an easy time for the family.

Good luck to young Ronnie, and look after Carolyn. I feel for her. These first school mornings are very emotional. I defy you not to have a tear in your eye yourself.

Surely it should make you feel younger? If you’ve got another son just leaving school then it’ll be like going back in time in your parental career, having one in primary again. No? Oh well, was worth a shot!

I was, apparently, gutted when I had to go to school on the 2nd day. Having been told for months that I had to go to school, I went the first day, came home and said ‘I’ve been now’!

All the best for Ronnie!

I felt old when both my children were at primary school as opposed to nursery. Now we only have two years until the youngest starts secondary and that makes me feel ancient. And a horrible two years it will be too because next autumn he has the eleven plus. And then Sats. Of course in Scotland he would not have the eleven plus, and he would have an extra year at primary too. Grrrr. Mind you we wouldn’t have the eleven plus in most other parts of England either. Best not get me started on that.

By the way – best of luck to little Ronnie. Sorry I didn’t say that before. So self obsessed!

Ah, I remember my first day at school too! Didn’t fall asleep, but was pulled out of assembly in front of the whole school and made to stare at the wall – this was because I was too polite to not chat to a girl I had befriended (even after being told to be quiet 3 times!) – My sister was shocked (3yrs my senior) and proceeded to tell my mum at the end of the day when we were picked up!

Feel old Tom? How do you think I feel when I am going to my daughter’s 32nd on Saturday, oh, and taking my son who is 29. What about when I told the accompanist at rehearsal tonight that I was doing a gig for U3A tomorrow morning, suddenly realising that there may be some there younger than me. Wonder how my 89 year old dad feels when his elsest son draws his pension, the 2nd eldest has a free bus pass and heating allowance, his little girl is over 50, and as for the one between son no.2 & daughter – me – a lost cause.

Happy Fatherhood