It’s been a while since I posted on this thread and wanted to give an update. After many long conversations, we decided to let DS return to college for the fall semester. DS felt that he had learned a hard lesson when we kicked him out at the beginning of the summer, and he “woke up” when he realized what life would be without a college education. Before he left, we wrote out clear expectations, and what the consequences would be for all choices - good and bad.
There were ups and downs during in the beginning of the semester. He was overwhelmed with work, even though he only took 13 credits… He sought the help of college counselors and academic coaches, but because they weren’t as helpful as we thought they would be (that’s a story for another post). He finally got the hang of things and was able to get into a rhythm.
DS wrapped up the semester with 2 A’s and 3 B’s. He has a sense of pride and accomplishment that I haven’t seen since the Middle School years. We are so proud of him! We were always there to encourage him and give him tips, but did not interfere or meddle. We knew he had to figure this out on his own.
It’s been a long journey, many lessons learned, but I’m glad things are turning around. I hope sharing my story has helped others. Hang in there, things can get better.