Every parent of a child preparing for the 11+ knows the pressure. Hours of practice papers, vocabulary drills, mental arithmetic at breakfast – all building up to the day. It’s not just an exam; it feels like a gateway to opportunity. Which is why my story is so hard to tell.

I forgot to book my son onto the 11+ entrance exam.

Yes, you read that right. After months of juggling work, school runs, and life – I made the one mistake that overshadowed it all. The ultimate blunder.

The Moment of Realisation

The deadline day started like any other. Coffee in one hand, phone in the other, I scrolled through my inbox and replied to parents. My day of tutoring began. A casual conversation with a parent led to me asking if she had received a time for the 11 plus. She had. My heart skipped a beat- I was sure I hadn’t. Anyway, I asked her to send me the date she received that email so I could check. It wasn’t there. Not in spam, bin or any other email address.

It felt like the ground opened beneath me. My child had done everything right – the revision, the mock tests, the attitude. And I, the responsible adult, had failed to tick the most important box of all.

The Guilt Spiral

That evening, my husband had to sit him down and explain. I braced myself for disappointment, tears, maybe even anger. But children have a way of surprising us. He shrugged, gave me a smile, and said: “It’s okay, Mummy. Don’t be upset”

Now I knew what guilt was. I felt that I had taken an opportunity away from him. The guilt was overwhelming. I replayed every scenario in my head: What if this one mistake changed the course of his future? What if I’d cost him opportunities that could never be regained? What if…?

The Lesson in All This

Looking back, I realise this moment taught us both something far more valuable than an exam ever could. Life doesn’t always go to plan. Mistakes happen, even big ones. And while exams can open doors, resilience is what carries us through the ones that close.

My son showed me that our children aren’t defined by a single test or a parent’s slip-up. They’re defined by their attitude, their adaptability, and their ability to bounce back. And boy did he bounce back. Inside, I’m sure he was literally bouncing as the day of the exam would have coincided with his 11th birthday. This turned out to be the best gift I could have given him.

Moving Forward

So yes, I made the ultimate blunder. But it turns out, it wasn’t the end of the world.

If you’re reading this as a fellow parent, drowning in deadlines, forms, and school admin, let this be a gentle reminder: double-check those dates. And if you do slip up, know this – your child’s future is bigger than one exam, and they’ll often handle it with more grace than we give them credit for.