WIBU to tell my 62 year old dad there's no point in him doing A-Levels!?

[redsector]

My dad has apparently been inspired by his grandchildren! to do a couple of A-Levels. He's a brainy old folk and has recently been told of a discount in tutoring (what my dc used as family friend) so would like to give it a go. Surely it's a waste of time/ effort/ money, etc!? Or do I just roll with it?

It depends why he wants to - a levels are cheap and accessible so if he just wants to learn, brilliant! If he sees it as the traditional start of a degree tell him not to bother and go straight onto the degree. Either way good for him

Good gracious - what a strange opinion!
He isn't even old!
It seems a good age to use your brain.
I have at the back of my mind that I might do OU when I get to about 80yrs to keep my brain active.
Does it matter whether you 'roll with' it or not? I am a similar age and would certainly tell my children to mind their own business if they were to try and veto ideas. (They know better than to call me 'old folk'!!!)
I dare say that you would think I shouldn't be running a half marathon at his age!

What a nasty op - it's got fuck all to do with you, 'roll with it' indeed

Why on earth should he fail? Because he's 62? Jeez

What better example could you have for grandchildren than a go ahead, active grandparent. Are you usually so hard on him OP?

Good job you're not Nick Skelton's daughter! He's 58 - what does an old man like him want to waste time and money messing around with horses for?

YWBU

You're never too old

My Mum's neighbour was about your Dad's age when she took a course in acupuncture. That was 30 years ago and now, in her 90's, she's finally winding up her clinic after 3 decades of treating clients, travelling the world delivering courses and training other therapists.

Why are you so negative about your relatives, OP?

YABU. Completely.

YABU not to see the point of education and YABU to call a 62year old still in clear charge of his faculties "old."

You come across as quite ignorant and intolerant actually.

My mum is 66, she did an MSc two years ago, retired last month from full time work and is starting a PhD on 1st October. Can't wait to see how she does :-)

My granny did her first degree at 72 in English literature

Prof Yaffle - your mum's neighbour is my new hero.

You seem to view your dad as a child, that's very sad.

Theresa May is only 3 years younger than he is and will be 63 by the next election. Should she then be sticking to Murder She Wrote and cross-stitch?

My grandmother with her mates re enrolled to uni at the lovely age of 82, good way to keep fit and mentally strong.

Sorry - last two paragraphs to the OP, obviously!

My dad is 63 and over the past few years has been teaching himself Greek. He can read, write and speak (when he has the confidence!) it now and can easily make himself understood.

I'm really proud of him. We use to tease him for his saying about loving learning for the sake of it but it's true. I'd love to do physics a level but I just don't have the time. Retirement is a perfect opportunity

www.u3a.org.uk/

Learning in later life is so populare they've even organised it.

You should be proud of him. I am older than your father, studying for a degree, and have never worked so hard nor enjoyed anything so much since I had my children. Getting good marks makes me feel like a gold medallist. ( I was that person running round the back garden at 7am doing the Icelandic clapping thing when my results came through.)

The point is that it's an achievement! People don't do grade 4 violin because they think they will be a concert violinist- if he wants to achieve something academically just for his own educational achievement why on earth would you not support that?

My mum and my MIL are both in their 50s and 60s, and are mid-way through OU degrees. Seeing them take pride in their work and grades, go out to seminars and meet new people and take interest in subjects they didn't before has been amazing. If I'd pissed all over the idea just because they don't 'need' a degree they wouldn't be doing something now that gives them real joy.

I also think that you entirely miss the point of education.

My FIL, aged 88, has just finished a Phd, he's now busy on some scientific paper.
My DH is about to start an OU degree at 54 and I've just got my first degree aged 50.
I hope my children don't think learning is ever a waste of time.

YABVU! Well done to your dad, I think it's fantastic he's doing this. When I was at uni there was a gentleman in his very late 70's who graduated with an English Lit degree. Amazing.

I love hearing stuff like this. Please op, given him some encouragement - what a great attitude to learning he has!

My ddad (age 74) has just decided that he is going to take up paddle boarding! It is absolutely excellent to try new things at any time of life & especially brilliant to keep the brain cells strong, healthy & ticking over. Don't be such a killjoy.

I hope you were more encouraging to his face!