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?

Bloody Hell,
I'm sixty five so it would seem from the op that there's no point in me even drawing breath.
Better go get fitted for the shroud and wooden box right now.

DH is 68 and we have DC 18 and 20.
When they started A levels DH brushed up on his Maths Physics and Chemistry (which he last did in 1967). He was able to help them both by sitting down and working through things they were stuck on, doing past papers alongside them as a fun way to compete (beat your "old"dad) and generally being able to talk about their subjects in detail.
DS1 doing a Maths degree now and DH decided to learn a maths software language so he could proof read for DS.
Just for fun.

It's very patronising of you to want to discourage him in case he fails and is upset. Don't you think that at 62 he might have acquired a good sense of how to deal with the ups and downs of life and would be able to cope perfectly well with the minor impact of failing an exam done for fun?

This is more about you I think. Your own insecurity about failure and what seems like a bit of lack of respect for your Dad.

I'm starting a second degree next month simply because I have always wanted to study the subject at degree level. I'm 49, I'll be 53 when I graduate. Following the Op's logic I should forget that and devote my time to browsing catalogues for stair lifts and care homes.

Op, your poor dad. He's not old and even if he was learning is never pointless. My children have been very supportive and encouraging, they're proud of me. You could take a leaf out of their book!

My Father was severely disabled for the last 10 years of his life. He spent some time every day translating The Times in to Chinese, it kept his brain ticking over. I cried when I found all his hoarded sheets of translations.

I had a student taking their first degree at almost 80 I had many mature students in their forties, they were always the most hard working.

Why would you say that he is to old. Life long learning is something we should all aspire to whether it is formal education or enhancing our lives by listening to a new genre of music, reading etc. please give your dad all the encouragement you can

I'm 47 (so a youngster by some of these replies ).

I want to do, in no particular order:

Learn to play the drums
Ditto guitar
History degree, but may probably need an access course first.

I work full time so it may be difficult, but I'm already working on checking requirements to see how I can juggle things. Obviously, there's also a cost involved, and caring for elderly parents, so a part time distance learning degree might be the way to go.

Of course, that lottery win would be wonderful, but it ain't gonna happen

My parents have retired and both have taken up new instruments and challenge themselves. Also since both have started their own business, very part time but being retired allowed them to think what they'd like to do.

I wish my mum would take up something stepdad keeps himself busy since retiring but mum seems to be stagnating im noticing stuff about her that could be solved if she just did something

I work with people in the early stages of dementia, it's so important to keep your brain active as you get older.

alpha that is what I am worried about I know you cant fight of Demntia diseases my nan had alzheimers but keeping your brain ticking over must help people

I think it's great that he wants to learn :)

I'm 50 and work in a hospital laboratory-thanks to supportive management I studied for my degree part-time and became a registered biomedical scientist last year. It's never too late to learn.

I haven't RTFT sorry but yes, YABU. Whether it's a hobby or a role is immaterial.

My mum is 70, works FT in a demanding job and is required to do training courses and update her skills. Not because it's a sweet little hobby for an old dear but because it's her career. Also she likes to eat and pay her rent.

62 is nothing - many people will be still pursuing careers and even changing careers at that age. Hillary Clinton is 68. There was a recent article about late life career changes and one of them was a scientist who did a medical degree in his late 50s and is still practising as a psychiatrist in his 70s.

Thanks olives I will do it, I won't put the pressure like I did when I was younger. I will just think, what ever will be will be and go for it. If I don't pass no biggie😊

I hope to work until I cannot anymore, whether I am 50 or 90

What a lovely inspiring thread this is, despite the OP!

I have now RTFT and completely agree! My old boss is my inspiration - she had a great career and at 40 decided what she really wanted to be was a barrister so she went back to uni and did that.

My Gran did an M lit in her 60s - if he wants to do it then why is it a waste of time?

I'm 58 and have just started to learn a new language. I'm glad the op saw that we are still capable of learning for enjoyment in our dotage!

I was thinking about this thread again. Not only did my Dad do a degree after he retired (family joke- I am the first person in the family to go to Uni and my Dad was the second!) he studied languages and travelled.
I wonder how the OP would have reacted to my Dad's retirement present to himself - 3 weeks trekking in Annapurna.
Or
My Dad and SMum in their late 60's visiting friends in Botswana and camping in the Okavango for a week

I guess it's a good thing but I'd hate for him to feel bad if he fails or something
Would you say that to your children?
Would you tell them not to bother trying something because they will feel bad if they fail?
And how does he even fail? The final grade he gets doesn't matter - he will still learn and enjoy the learning process.
There are no negatives here (apart from you)

My mom finished a degree when she was 68. YABU, narrow-minded and a tit.

My Dad did an MSc, all while having chemo, at 71 years of age. Not an easy undertaking but a demonstration that he hadn't given up and decided 'what's the point' and I'm sure that attitude is partly why he's still around. I think wanting to use and improve your brain at whatever age is a very good thing. I'll be 60 in a mere 10 years and I'm not keen on the idea that I should switch off and wait for my departure date!

No reason for him not to do them. I've had 60 year olds enrolling on university courses and doing very well.

I do notice more people of a certain age (I include myself). Taking up music lessons, degrees, things they had always wanted to do.

Thinking also of the woman in the news last week who at 71 was the oldest person to have passed her grade 6 ballet exam (she took up ballet at 61 because her parents couldn't afford the lessons when she was a child)

Inspiring stuff

I did A levels with a woman in her sixties. She went on to fulfil a long time ambition to do a degree in classics, so it certainly wasn't pointless for her...