Did your smart but unmotivated 7th grader turn it around?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My seventh grader is getting all As in his AAP courses, but is generally unmotivated to do more than the bare minimum. Doesn't read for fun, not interested in mowing lawns for $$, basically no hustle. How did your kid like this end up? Were you able to teach them grit? If so, how?

What makes you think your kid doesn't have grit already? Honestly, it sounds like you don't even know your kid. What does your kid like? What is s/he interested in?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yep. My kid. Went to TJ, graduated middle of the pack. Attending a good college and will graduate middle of the pack this year. Left a lot of opportunities on the table along the way, which was frustrating. But has a marketable STEM degree— although he’s still floundering in terms of what to do with it.

Mine has significant ADHD, so it was very hard to tease out the ADHD vs lack of motivation.

I’ve worked hard the last couple of years to really, truly become comfortable with the fact that it’s his life and his choices. He will have a college degree from a well respected school in a marketable field— so he will be able to support himself (if he applies for jobs, sigh). What he does with that is on him, not me. I’m about 90% of the way there on accepting that. He probably wont cure cancer, but there is a solid path to a UMC lifestyle if he wants it.

That’s the best I can do with a 22 year old.

Op here. Thank you. My son also has adhd, unmediated, and our preference is that we keep it that way. He is definitely all about stop and smell the roses.

OMG don’t tell your kid with ADHD making A’s in AAP that he needs to learn to “hustle”. He’s not lazy. He’s doing amazing.

[Anonymous]

I had an anxious and smart 7th grader. DD just had a lot of trouble with taking risk, tackling new problems, and change.

Through high school we just had her try new things at her pace. Not athletic or a leader. Not a contest winner. But kid found their own path in helping others and exploring academic study areas.

College admits to a top 25. Kid in favorite field and excited about next year.