JITTER levels are high in our household, as we await the arrival of the Big Brown Envelope tomorrow morning.

Of course, it is no longer just a big brown envelope – 21st-Century exam results are delivered swiftly and brutally by text. The postal version arrives later the same day which will either be a lovely follow-up to savour without any heart-thumping, hand-shaking anticipation, or a cruel double whammy of disappointment.

I had no idea that, as a parent, the wait would be this terrifying. I can still recall the way my heart somersaulted when I heard the clatter-thump of my own envelope arriving through our letterbox on results day. No matter how reasonably confident you feel after your last exam, two and a half months is plenty time to talk yourself into a state of doubt and terror of epic proportions.

But compared to waiting for my son’s results? That was a breeze.

I’m doing a very good job of hiding it, of course (I’ve read all the how-to-support-your-child-through-exam-results-day-stress guides, and top of the list is always “don’t be a blithering wreck about it in front of them”) and I’ll be at his side tomorrow morning, celebratory streamers on hand come what may – but there is no denying it is scary.

Of course, it is just something else on the Parental Worries curriculum – we’ve ticked off Riding a Bike, Starting Primary School, First Trip Away From Home and are looking forward to First Break-Up, Learning to Drive and Moving Out (oh, good God) with equal amounts of panic and dread.

No-one tells you, when you become a parent, that you will spend the next few decades – presumably – in a heightened state of anxiety in case anything might injure/upset/disturb your child.

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A recent survey by Barnardo’s asked parents of four to 18 year olds what they were most worried about for their children’s future and 42 per cent put school and exam stress at the top; 40% said Brexit while bullying came in a close third at 38%. (No-one mentioned climate change? Really?)

A quick poll of my own revealed my friends who are parents share many of our fears – that our children will be bullied or unhappy and scared to tell us; that they won’t “fit in” or make friends; that the world they are growing up in is very unstable and unsettling - all things I’m sure our own parents and theirs before them feared too.

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The Barnardo’s survey was not all doom and gloom, however – it also asked parents about their hopes for the future and the vast majority simply said they hoped their children would feel loved and supported, whatever challenges they might face.

That’s where we come in. I’m off to sit under the letterbox, armed with love, support and streamers.