<p>I need some encouragement to pass along to my daughter.
As some of you might remember- from previous posts- she has significant learning disabilities (as do we all) and was in special education for 6 years. ( but not now)
However- she is very smart- she just has to work twice as hard to even keep up- which is exhausting I know.
She is taking college prep classes all through high school, including AP & this semester is taking two- american govt & Language arts.
Her most difficult subjects however- are physics ( which she has @ 7:40 am) and pre-calc.
I just learned that she has been staying in at lunch to work with her teachers, which I appreciate, but it concerns me because I think lunch time is a time to take a break ( plus eat!)- for both her & her teachers.
She feels stupid which I know she is not. But her friends are kids who make everything look easy & achieve state recognition for their talents.</p>
<p>She is feeling like there isn’t any point to even finishing up as she doesn’t care about anything. Because she talks to me rarely, I have a hard time seeing if this is senior burnout or something more.
I think she does care very much- she is very involved in school- although she stays in nights and weekends to do homework- something that I feel bad about. She also has big plans for her summer & for next year & has worked hard to get those things going- so I am at a loss when she says she doesn’t care anymore.</p>
<p>It feels empty to just repeat that I think that she is smart and that I know she is working hard & I’m sure it sounds that way too.
But I bet I am not the only one whose child is feeling that they can’t keep up the struggle anymore.
Any ideas?</p>
<p>Well, not caring about anything does sound serious, but it could be that she is so tired she is not thinking clearly. I am reading a great book about teenagers by Michael Riera, Staying Connected to Your Teenager, and he mentioned the concept of H.A.L.T. which is good for all of us to keep in mind. H.A.L.T. stands for don’t let yourself get too hungry, too angry, too lonely or too tired. It is used in programs for kids and adults who have problems with addiction, but I think it is a good thing for all of us to keep in mind when things seem to be becoming unbalanced. It sounds like she may be really tired. I am assuming that there isn’t much school left and she is in the home stretch now, but is hitting the wall? She may feel a lot better when school is done and she has a chance to rest. I hope so. Looking back on last year, I’m pretty sure my daughter was burnt out, and she was only in eighth grade. She was doing too much, plain and simple. She has cut down on her activities and is feeling much better this year.</p>
<p>that sounds like a good guide mstee- thanks for the tip.</p>
<p>I think she is doing better.
& I just got a postcard that said she is getting a honor award at a ceremony before graduation so she couldn’t be doing that badly.
But I sure feel bad for her- the oldest was comparatively easy so I didn’t learn any skills
This one is bearing the brunt of that :(</p>
<p>well I am amazingly proud of her- she is a great kid & I had a good time with her last weekend ( we went off on an adventure)
But she remembers things when I am angry or even she must misinterpret what I am thinking or saying and I don’t realize it at the time.</p>
<p>I think I will write her a letter, because when I talk to her she thinks I am angry even when I am not.
I am concerned though & I know she wants me to just leave her alone but this is my job! ;)</p>
<p>I’m thinking it’s okay to wait until school is done, she’s had time to rest & unwind, and see what you think then. In the meantime, keep an eye on her just in case … watch for the signs of teen depression.</p>