When Will My Teenager Wake Up

Ok, this may sound super corny but, it was the first thing I thought of!
Did you ever see the Cosby Show epsiode where Theo came home w/ a bad report card? He told Cliff he wanted to be "regular people"? So, Cliff pulled out the Monopoly $$ and asked how much Theo thought "regular people" made. After that, they just went down the line of everyday real life expenses and Cliff took $$ away eventually leaving pretty much nothing for "fun" stuff!
Does you teen have a job? Use that paycheck for the Cosby Show experiment. If he or she doesn't, go to McDonalds or somewhere and ask the Manager what you earn!
Maybe that will be enough to show your teen that trying to live life on your own w/o at least a high school diploma is a hard life!
I hope I've helped. Good luck, and I'll remember you for when my kids become teenagers! :-)

This answer will probably surprise, if not shock you. Sometimes, high school is not offering anything of real value. Talk to your teenager, find out why it is not an appealing place to be. Perhaps exploring some alternative schooling would be helpful. There are endless possibilities to learn in this world, and the high school might not really be the best choice for your teenager. I know a number of kids who left high school and flourished in life. It IS possible, but a lot depends on your attitude about it. If you think that equates to "failing", then it might. If you see it as an opportunity to find other resources, to find what really benefits your teenager, it could be the best opportunity!

Show them all your bills. Show them how much money they will make working at McDonalds. Have them imagine how much they will like working at mcdonalds when they are 40 yrs old because they couldnt get a better job without even a high school degree. Tell him he will never be able to buy a house of his own or be able to afford kids without a good job. Tell him if he doesnt go to school, he can't live with you.
P.S. Tell ME all these things again when my kids are teenagers!

I am an admissions counselor for Grand Canyon University and when I do presentations for students who are not too big on education, I tell them that a person who has a bach degree earns 2.5 million more over the course of their lifetime as opposed to the person that only has a HS diploma they make 1 million. Think about if she doesn't have a diploma. Prior to this position I worked at a community college and I saw so many drop outs, who had doors slammed in their face b/c they chose to drop out of school. If nothing else, make her get her GED.

I have had several friends going through this situation and I have friends who have also made this decision in their life. I also am a SAHM with four children (one of them who is 13). In my friends situation one of them gave their child a choice.. Continue School or take the GED test, get a job, and pay for their own life expenses. They had a choice and their was a consequence to that choice. They could continue going to high school and have their parents pay the tab for basic costs of living or they could take the GED test and get a job. This worked out fairly well for my friends child (he decided to continue going to school). My other friend did not really weigh in on the situation or communicate with her child. She just complained and worried. Her child quit school got a job at Wendy's (they still paid for everything for him) and started hanging out with people who were okay experimenting with various mind altering substances (who you spend time with what you become). He is now 18, still living at home, and spends all of his time playing video games. He no longer has a job at Wendy's and he enjoys spending time with his friends that enjoy altering their brain with substances. Both of these situations happened to people I go to church with. Here is the kicker.. My friend is the same person. She has four children and two of her sons have pulled this on her at the same age. Her younger son is now working part time for us doing yard work to earn money for church camps and Boy Scout camps this summer. She has changed her views on how to handle this situation and has decided not to let her child have the easy way out. She watched her sweet little boy become no more than a lump sitting at the computer all day and has now put consequences in place for him too. He was told he had to have a job by the end of last month or he needed to find a new place to live. He got a job two weeks ago and hopefully he will not be hanging out with his friends who have caused himself and his parents so much grief. I know that teenagers think they know it all, but if they have clear consequences to their actions I think they might think twice about what they are going to do.

When I was in school I never knew continuing high school was an option. I have heard parents say things like this and just pray that I will never have children who think it is an option to go to school.
What is the reason for them not wanting to "continue high school"? Because it is boring well sorry not an option get your butt back in class. Because there are friend issues well depending on the issues mild to sever that would need some deeper look into. Telling them that it is what they need to do to get anywhere in life doesn't really work (even though it is the truth 98.7%<my own stat> of the time) they just don't want to hear that reasoning because they honestly can't relate to it yet.
I would also talk to God he is always there to listen and help.
A.
www.romance2nite.com

I am a firm believer that all the begging and pleading will not get him to go to school any different.

I would suggest found out the reason why he wants to quit school. it may be that school is too hard for him and he is falling behind or too easy that he feels that school is boring either way is an easy fix. as long as the school is willing to help you.

OR unfortunately his buddies may be talking about quitting school---- high school ages peer pressure can be horrible

fortunately there is so many different ways to finish school. I am sure with a little trouble you can find a perfect for your child.

I regret that I did not push it when now 22 year old son quit school.
my son had the problem of not being challenged enough. I am almost sure if he would not have gone to school but on test day he probably passed the test. he would not do his homework thus the grades reflected that point. I did beg the school to allow him to take the tests for gifted kids BUT they said that his grades said he was not smart. so my son slipped through the cracks. pay attention to your child's attitude about school not to the fact he wants to quit ---find out why

I dread when my children become teenagers!!! I would say you need to go to on-line high school or get your GED, once they have done that, make him/her get a job and pay for there own bills. It's too bad they can't just enjoy the easy years before they have to grow up, sometimes I wish I could go back to High school life :)

What are his/her interests? High school may not be his thing. But until he figures out his thing, that is where he has to be. when he realizes his thing he'll figure out that high school is a tiny obstacle that needs to be completed.If his thing is computers, art, graphic design, playing drums, baseball, drugs (chemistry)...then there is a goal. There are many technical schools now. He can either speed up his high school with extra classes at a community college or switch to one of those specialty high schools. A goal helps him have fun with purpose. I have a sophmore that may only be doing his homework to get the grades to play his sport. The reason doesn't matter, it is the drive that will get him them. A purpose. The purpose may( and probably will) change, but that doesn't matter. And the hardest part on your part should be not to discourage this goal his chooses even if you think it is ridiculous. It is his goal. and as long as he believes he can achieve it he will take the next step (like studying for SATs to get into college or reading books on drugs to be a great drug dealer or pharmacist) and the knowledge learned in those steps help him to grow.

Take him to some halfway houses, food lines, AA meetings and other meetings in that genre. Take him to employers OUTSIDE of your church members who will be willing to explain the minimum requirements for a basic job. Show him what the consequences will be if he doesn't continue his education. Take him to some apartment managers and have them explain the requirements. I am sure you get what I getting at here- friends of mine kept nagging their two sons about this very issue, but let them stay home when they refused to go to school or get a job. One is thirty- some thing and still lives at home; the other decided to get married early and has two children. There are challenges that come with doing that as well. Talking about it is good, but taking them to places where they will see the future in five, ten years if certain things aren't taken care of now is highly effective.

What to say How about "Im the parent pay rent or go to school". I have 7 siblings. One step brother didnt finish high school. He lives with his mom and doesnt have a job. He is 41. All the rest of us are successful, happy and college educated. Its your responsibility. Good Luck