I am at my wits end with me 14 year old. I apoligize in advance if this gets a little lengthy.
Another quarter as come and gone and the report card is terrible. My son is extremely bright scoring in the 99th percentile on all standard tests. Test/quiz scores are great according to teachers, it is his homework that never gets turned in. Also, he seems unmotivated and does everything halfway. It does not apprear he gives 100% to everything even though he says he does.
I have had numerous sessions with teachers who were more than willing to help. They have allowed my son to make up work and given him full credit. I have had him keep a homework journal and get teacher signatures. I check everything. But it seems that when I get busy (I have 3 other boys) he lets everything slide. He can not seem to give the extra effort to organize himself and motivate himself.
My son has been diagnosed with obsessive/compulsive anxiety disorder and Turettes syndrome. I do know that he panics and forgets things. And when he know he is too far behind, he panics again and then tries to ignore it to make it go away. We have tried to help him organize and show that if he does things this way, he won't get behind and thus no panic attacks.
I myself suffer from an anxiety disorder. I have spent countless nights awake 'thinking' about him and what to do. I get mad and want to yell. That won't work. I something think that being nicer and showing compassion will help. That doesn't work. I have grounded, taken things away, rewarded, bribed ... you name it.
Please, if anyone else has been in a similar situation, I would appreciate any advice. I want to do something this summer to get him into better habits.
