We just had another one of those “long talks” with Rachel again tonight.  I’m wondering when will we get to stop repeating ourselves.  Is this a teen thing?  Is there something within them that prevents parental instruction and guidance from “sinking in”?  Or is this a personality issue?

If you’ve homeschooled from birth, be very glad you have.  I see that so many of the struggles we deal with stem from the negative view of learning that she received while in PS.  I keep hoping for her love of learning to return – like when she was young.  But, no.  Everything school-related is a chore to her.  She slumps the shoulders and whines that whine of hers whenever I mention anything pertaining to learning.  Yet, she wants to be like the popular kids she knows who are “straight A students, who play musical instruments, are involved in sports, are learning two languages, and volunteer at the local homeless shelter”.  When will she learn to just be herself, and pursue her own interests?  Even when she’s curious about something, and I encourage her to pursue the topic, if it sounds anything like “learning”, she loses interest.  She’d just rather I answer the question and be done with it.  *sigh*  If anything requires effort on her part, she’d rather forget it.

I guess what started this is the fact that she once again has pretended to listen to a series of readaloud lessons and field trips, but when it comes time to write (or even speak) a summary about what she learned, she claims she doesn’t remember anything.  She can’t even write a lousy paragraph about something we studied, discussed, and even saw in person for the last 4 weeks!  What gives?  Yes, I’m frustrated.  What’s more - I’m concerned about the next 4 years of high school and all that I need to cover to prepare her for college.  I just wonder “how much do you beat a dead horse?”  She says she wants to go to college.  I wonder if that’s such a good idea.  Yet, I support her decision and try all I can to prepare her for that goal of hers.  She somehow thinks the goal will just happen – without any work on her part.

Maybe this isn’t hopeless.  Maybe she will wake up one day and have a renewed love of learning… have an interest in things other than the superficial.  I pray for her so much.  I believe in her so much, but only to be taken aback time and time again by her lack of interest in important matters.  I’m starting to feel like there is only so much I can instill.

• Post A Comment! • Send to a Friend!

Posted by sahmto4orMore

I don't think it is just kids who have gone to ps that have this kind of attitude. I've known kids who've hs'd from the beginning to be the way you described as well. Not a solution, but don't beat yourself up for sending her to ps.
Just keep on keeping on and don't settle for the "i don't knows." There has to be something that will motivate her.

• Permanent Link