I told a silly lie about my GCSEs

[HMum19]

So at the beginning of my relationship I over-exaggerated my GCSE qualifications to my now boyfriend, it was harmless, we'd had a drink and I just said how I'd smashed them and got A's in most (actually it was a mixture of A, Bs and a C) not a massive deal really but my boyfriend brings it up now and again saying what a genius I am and capable of so much etc etc and I've just always brushed over it since, But it does play on my mind that I told that little fib way back when and I worry that he defines me on that (being really smart, which I do like to think I am anyway!). It's so small and harmless but I'm a very honest person and im starting to think I should fess up. I worry his perception of me will change and he will wonder why I told such a pathetic little lie?
Do I just leave it or bring it up? Btw, our GCSEs were over 14 years ago! It's such a stupid thing to even worry about but suppose I got myself in this mess.

This is quite weird, GCSEs don’t get you to uni. A levels do. It is totally irrelevant on how you did at gcse. Did he not do well either, it’s the only reason I can think that you’re both so focused on it

to be fair you could have gone to university with the grades you got. why didnt you? Was it because you felt insecure at the time too

no she couldn’t, it’s about a levels

For me it depends how long you have been in this lie. If a year maybe no big deal to tell him now. If it has been kept up for many years I would just leave it. You don't know how he will react. Whether for something serious in my the future he might say .. how can I trust you , look how you kept a lie going for years and years. He isn't likely to find out is he. He isn't going to search out your GCSE results certificate or stand over you while you write out a job application. I can be see how it must play on your mind but in the grand scheme of things it could be wiser to leave well alone as you can't know the outcome of telling him.
The only other thing that has occured to me is ...could he already know and goes on about it trying to get you to adm
the lie?
If that's not it I would leave well alone. He may be quite proud of getting what he sees as a very clever partner and destroying his illusion might alter the balance of the relationship.

Thank you for graciously pointing out my mistake. It was not just poor wording, I really thought you got GCSEs then jumped right into university. thank goodness you were here to point out my mistake and correct me or something bad may have happened.

That's a really cringey lie tbf 🤭. I'm not sure I would do but I think I'd have to own up to it as it would bother me every time he mentioned it and I'd be worried he would mention it in front of someone who knew.

I don't suppose you feel like retaking the GCSEs that are B or below? 🤔

I feel it's a bit unkind to keep referring to my situation as weird and cringey as though I'm some weirdo... I'm sure we've all said or done silly things in our time. I just exaggerated my results, that's all, and to be completely honest I think in that moment i thought I had done better than I had, it was only when applying for a new job a couple of months after it and I looked at my certificates I was reminded of my actual results. It was stupid, as I admitted earlier, and completely unnecessary as my results were actually decent and something to be proud of.
I have since completed NVQs which give me enough points to go to uni so yes I could go if I wanted to but it's not on the forefront of my mind atm, I guess my BF just tries to be encouraging because he sees potential in me, for whatever reason I'm not sure!!
The GCSEs are not spoken about on a daily, weekly, on even monthly basis... neither one of us are obsessed by them, but when he has mentioned "you smashed your GCSEs so you could do this or that blah blah" I get a pang of guilt as I wasn't completely honest to him there. I think I am worried it will alter his perception of me like someone above said... I'm a massive over thinker and nervous wreck, it's my downfall.
The next time it's mentioned I'll fess up, hopefully it won't even be brought up again!!

Is there any chance he's seen your certificates and keeps mentioning it to see if you confess?!

Sorry I didn't mean to be unkind. I meant to come across as teasing.

Next time he mentions it just fess up and admit you were trying to impress him at the time and it all seems a bit daft now so you thought you’d better come clean. Make a bit of an embarrassed joke about it “guilty as charged, your honour” then move on.

Or “accidentally” find your certificates and say “Oh (chuckling) I’m not as intelligent as I thought. How can I ever make it up to you for fibbing all these years?” (nudge, nudge, wink, wink) then distract him with a blow job or something

How would you feel if your boyfriend lied to you about his qualifications? Does this affect your earning potential? Would it bother you if he lied about the same and it affected his earning potential?

"Or “accidentally” find your certificates and say “Oh (chuckling) I’m not as intelligent as I thought. How can I ever make it up to you for fibbing all these years?” (nudge, nudge, wink, wink) then distract him with a blow job or something "

Jesus H christ, really?

"i'm not as intelligent you thought.
How can I ever make it up to you for fibbing all these years?” (nudge, nudge, wink, wink)".

So OP is not as qualified as her DP and will now suck him off for the rest of her l life ? Jesus christ, are you serious ?

Pissing myself at your pearl-clutching @CallmeCath

I'll leave it up to you to judge whether or not I'm being serious

Many years ago, we had a member of staff who stated they had 5 O Levels. In fact, they had 4. It came out 10 months into their employment and they received a final written warning for lying / deceit. They were nearly sacked.

Just fess up. It's early days still right?

What would or could be awkward is if he says how smart you are to your friends or family and it gets pulled up as BS.

I’m going against the grain I would just leave it, you’ve already passed that level of education it’s not something I would feel bad about. If he is successful he may just be meaning you could have done more because you’re so clever. Has he ever asked you why you didn’t go on to Uni, is he hoping you still might? I would say I’ve lost my certificate if he ever asked to see it, which would be a weird thing to ask tbf.

A-C grades is still smashing it OP. You got As, you haven’t totally lied. I wouldn’t say anything. You sound like you did smash them to me

Oh yeh that would be awkward your DD is a genius …. Erm really, what made you think that?😬

I agree. Just leave it - you’ve blown it out of proportion and are obviously a decent person. It’s such a small thing but admitting to fibbing might make him question your honesty over other things. My advice forget it, forgive yourself and move on xxx

Don't worry about it.

It's very tiny thing that makes no difference.

Men lie about things big and small all the time and they aren't the least bit fussed about it.

I would just never mention it again. I have no recollection of which subjects I took at that level (I did Scottish SG) and even less idea what DH did. I’m sure neither of our mothers would remember either. I must have the certificate somewhere, but at 36, I haven’t seen it, now been asked for it, in the last 15, or so, years.

My CV just says ‘8 SG, 5 Highers’ and then lists the more recent/relevant qualifications. Just do the same for yours.

This, lol

many people have exaggerated not realizing the haunting of their lies.

If it bothers you, I’d sit him down and tell him your going to be vulnerable and then tell him the truth.

be ready for however he acts. If it’s disrespectful or anything extra then you might have to cut bait.

we have all done weird crap and you weren’t being malicious. You weren’t trying to trick anyone. You presumably aren’t telling any other lies. He should grant you grace and move on. If he doesn’t he needs to be thrown back.