Because welcome to the real world and being an adult, where majority of communication at work is done via email. yes, there is some messaging but ultimately, anything of real importance is communicated via EMAIL. So teens needs to learn to read emails if they want to be a productive member of society as an adult |
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Eff that.
I am helping my kid make sure he gets everything in as soon as he can. |
I know parents like you, managing every aspect of your kid’s life, making sure they are in the right friend groups, getting them every possible edge and advantage through life. Let your kid grow up. |
Don't mean to be snarky. But you have no clue what it's like to have an ADHD boy. |
I have an ADHD boy and would agree! Even though they are technically adults, it's important to mentor them and sometimes, take over when they are about to do something (or not do something) that is not in their best interest. My father continues to teach me new things and was extremely helpful in guiding me early in my career. As parents, we can continue to teach / mentor / guide our kids through life and the transition to college is just one step. Email and calendar management was one example that I had to help my son figure out how to manage during his transition to college. In high school, daily classes with teachers and a single online system (e.g., blackboard) allowed for constant reminders about homework, tests, quizzes, projects, due dates, etc. In college (depending on the school), professors use multiple communication methods to convey expectations. I helped by discussing and showing my son various techniques to managing and meeting all these deadlines (e.g., time blocking / color-coding calendars) and basic email management. I would help stay on top of it for a week or two but then let him manage it from that point once it becomes a system/habit of his. I also helped review/format resumes and prepare him for internship interviews. |
I have TWO ADHD boys. I do know what it’s like. I also know that you aren’t helping by micromanaging his life. Do you plan to help him at work one day? You have to let him figure it out. He will struggle. Mistakes will happen. And he’ll learn from those mistakes. |
I’m sure you never did anything to guide your kids. And amazingly they turned out perfect! My parents didn’t “micromanage” or even guide my adhd brother and he failed as an adult. Did not learn from his mistakes. So bully for your perfect kids. I will continue to remind my kid to look at his email. His lack of doing that earlier this year has already cost him and us dearly. |
Tell us what the biggest mistakes your boys made because of their adhd and what it cost them. |
I agree they need to grow up and learn life lessons. But I will pick which ones are slightly less impactful on their next 4 years and let them "fail" at those to teach that lesson, just like I have been doing since they were a baby. seriously, this is a new experience for most kids (unless they attended a boarding school in HS). It is ok for the parents to guide the student a bit. Did that with my now college senior graduating in a few weeks. DC can manage 95% of things, but is smart enough to call me for questions when they need assistance. Fully functioning adult, starting an amazing job, moving into his own apartment that he secured himself (just like he secured his house for last 2 years of college). But I'm still mom and will help guide to ensure that full adulting is as successful as possible. Same thing for off to college. I would never call a prof or really even the college---I make my kids do that as they should |
I think all of that is rational, but I'm sure you'd agree that there are many DCUM parents who take things way too far and don't know where their lives and their kids lives begin. |
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Another mom with a student ending year 1. While student enjoyed end of senior year and graduation festivities too, the deadlines for college come surprisingly fast. Off the top of my head, amongst all the endless forms, you will need to schedule an advisor appt. Forward transcripts and AP scores. Make schedule and register for fall semester courses (if you wait, sections will fill up and close), complete housing paperwork with preferences and living/learning centers in the residence halls (IME, a great way to meet and make year 1 friends), schedule orientation and complete requirements like health and related vax (non-covid, all the other vax) forms. SO, it is a careful balance. |
I would add here, my DS was initially looking at his new school email account once a week. I had no idea. Explained that in college, like in the workplace, you have to check your email every single day. For an on the ball high school student, this had not occured to him once he submitted his acceptance. |
Mainly because we need to keep better records than that of our communications, and often also because we need to send attachments that need to be interacted with in a format other than a phone. Universities are not going to abandon email for official transactions, although reminders and advertisements now often come in text or social-media formats. |
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