Gordie, I have a scholar and a non-scholar. The non-scholar had a talent that we knew would get her into her program of choice and it did. She failed a class senior year with dad's shenanigans, but it was fine.
The scholar was always very independent about his work and on top of everything. If he got even a 97 he was upset about it. Then, midway through middle school, dad's antics began. Scholar suffered. Grades dropped immensely. Last year was the start of high school. I had pulled my head out of my you know what and for the first time had to really jump in and make sure the work was getting done. I was not thrilled about it because I am not a helicopter parent and think that independence is something we owe our children. He was not thrilled about it. But, he finished the year one B+ shy of a 4.0. After Cs, Ds and Fs the prior year, it was a miracle. His classes are super advanced and his school is tops.
This year, I'm still having to sit on top of things, but he is becoming himself again. He is no longer saying what is the point, I don't care how I do, school isn't everything, etc. He is saying I love this class and that class, this teacher isn't so bad, I made another friend today, when can we start going on college tours.
The kids probably just need a lot of hand-holding still. I think they do this to feel our love and our involvement more intensely. I think they test us to make sure we are there and we will help them through and we will not let them go.
