Is your sweet HS junior in a rotten and surly mood right now?

Jane345 · 05-31-2012, 11:29 PM

One week to go before junior year ends, and it can't be soon enough. DS is so moody and surly, as he prepares for next week's 6 finals. The stress is getting to him, I know. I'm trying to help him through it, but little seems to help.

A good friend also mentioned today that her otherwise upbeat, together and sweet junior son had turned into a bear as The End Approaches.

Just venting here, and wondering if there are other miserable parents out there.

alwaysleah · 05-31-2012, 11:37 PM

Well, I'm a junior and I admit to this.

Jane345 · 05-31-2012, 11:46 PM

@always leah: Well, you made me LOL for the first time since school got out today, so thank you for that! I know it's a tough time. Good luck to you, but try to be nice to your Mom and Dad, too, okay?

sylvan8798 · 06-01-2012, 12:14 AM

D is hating on her math teacher - math final is first!! She's complaining no end that she is so tired of ALL of the junior year classes

.

alwaysleah · 06-01-2012, 12:56 AM

Jane, I'll try. Sleep deprivation does not put me in a happy mood. Glad I could make you smile

ConservativeGent · 06-01-2012, 01:02 AM

Not a parent, but the way I treated my parents junior and senior year of HS was shameful. After the SATs, it's time for the college search (somewhat fun) and then applications (miserable). I remember hating that time of my life and dragging people down with me.

Power through it!

SteveMA · 06-01-2012, 06:55 AM

We have 2 juniors and they are both surly....one more week, one more week, one more week.....

UMMom2015 · 06-01-2012, 07:03 AM

Just wait until the end of senior year nears - or the month before they leave for college!! They become so nasty you can't wait for them to leave.

SteveMA · 06-01-2012, 07:12 AM

^^ VERY TRUE UMMom! Been there, done that twice already, kind of like having a 2 year old again.

Sop14's Mom · 06-01-2012, 07:21 AM

Yep, this end of junior year surliness is just a tiny foretaste of what's to come. Fasten the seatbelts and start the countdown.

89wahoo · 06-01-2012, 07:25 AM

My D is exhausted and emotional... Stress seems to be winning with her too.

UMMom2015 · 06-01-2012, 07:37 AM

I advise the "smile and nod" while in your head chanting "Do Not Engage! Do Not Engage"!

MereMom · 06-01-2012, 08:24 AM

I wish I could lock myself in my room and hide till next week is over! DD's classes were mostly populated with seniors, and I think their -itis is contageous. After last week, her average class size went from 26 to 5 and she is in such a bad mood going to and coming from school as a result.

I, unfortunately HAD to engage as Spanish 5 teacher contacted me to inform on DD, who had not done a single Achieve spanish reading all semester (DD has hated Achieve's since the 8th grade and just refused to do the "busy work"). Teacher gave her an option, do 3 times as many as required in 2 days, and get her grade restored to the 98 she has on all other work or take the low B.

After talking, cajoling, yelling, and finally threatening to take away the car for the summer, she finally sat down and did them - 48 in 65 minutes! DH wanted to kill her - this issue was threatening her 4.0 GPA.

She acts like her teacher, DH and I are sooooooo lame for pushing this issue.

I need the next 10 weeks to recover and arm up for next year.

momofthreeboys · 06-01-2012, 08:38 AM

Actually mine is too burned out to be surly...just looking forward to the end of the year. Junior year is the toughest.

lookingforward · 06-01-2012, 08:53 AM

It doesn't end with high school. I mean that as a laugh, a shoulder shrug and eye roll. It's part of the whole challenge of growing up at this stage. The stakes are higher than they were in other transitions. I use the toddler analogy lots. It really helps to stand back, breathe. What you model right now (and over the next few years,) will sink it, but it takes our energy. I don't think they realize it what they're doing. And, though the ups and downs persist, it does get better.

So, I'm with UMM: "smile and nod." Give 'em a hug even if they don't want it. Find legit things to praise. It's a real case of "find the love." I even remind them of that great Bill Murray line: who's your buddy, who's your pal? Good luck.