I caught my middle schooler doing...homework

[Anonymous]

Hi all,
So I just want to share this, because my child was one of those kids in elementary school who would lose assignments, walk out the door without his lunch, barely remember his shoes, and never ever ever do his homework without being nagged/reminded/sat-on about it.

So he has a project due soon, and I knocked on his door to check on what he was up to (I.e., to make sure he wasn't letting his brain get sucked out by youtube vids on his phone...and don't get me started on how that happens), and the kid was voluntarily doing his homework. Before the night before it was due. I checked to make sure it was really happening, and he was making very decent progress.

There's hope, folks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi all,
So I just want to share this, because my child was one of those kids in elementary school who would lose assignments, walk out the door without his lunch, barely remember his shoes, and never ever ever do his homework without being nagged/reminded/sat-on about it.

So he has a project due soon, and I knocked on his door to check on what he was up to (I.e., to make sure he wasn't letting his brain get sucked out by youtube vids on his phone...and don't get me started on how that happens), and the kid was voluntarily doing his homework. Before the night before it was due. I checked to make sure it was really happening, and he was making very decent progress.

There's hope, folks.

Yay!!! There's hope ...

[Anonymous]

Thank you for posting, OP!

I have one of those forgetful kids - do you mind sharing what, if anything, you did to have your child become a little more responsible?

[Anonymous]

CONGRATS OP!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you for posting, OP!

I have one of those forgetful kids - do you mind sharing what, if anything, you did to have your child become a little more responsible?

Honestly? I have no idea. I nagged. Sometimes I just gave up. I reminded. I was mean. I was permissive. I tracked grades. Sometimes I didn't. I made sure he knew it was up to him. I took stuff away (like the youtube). I gave stuff back (like finally realizing that if he can watch crap on youtube and still somehow simultaneously write an essay, I should lay off).

[Anonymous]

Congrats!

[Anonymous]

Yayyyyy! I love those moments!

[Anonymous]

Yep. My kid spent six years in elementary school always doing the absolute minimum, often forgetting homework, doing everything last minute, etc.

First day of sixth grade it was like my child got an upgrade overnight. She is now so on top of the ball, and determined to get straight A's and never be late to school, etc. It's fascinating.

[Anonymous]

Their brains eventually mature.

Those little lobes that are involved with thinking ahead and planning -- that some kids develop early in grade 3 and 4? Finally develop in some kids by.. grade 8.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Their brains eventually mature.

Those little lobes that are involved with thinking ahead and planning -- that some kids develop early in grade 3 and 4? Finally develop in some kids by.. grade 8.

This is going to be my kid *sigh*