Dear ADDitude: How Can I Help My Child Stop Avoiding Tough Assignments?

"My son avoids assignments when he doesn't understand the requirements or thinks they are too difficult. He has started lying about upcoming work and tests, avoiding what is overwhelming to him. What can we do?"

yonkewi

March 28, 2018 at 9:41 am

I am having all of the same problems with my 7th grade son. It seems like this is the grade when everything falls apart. I am so tired of staying on top of teachers to do their jobs. Then, i wonder if i’m viewing them too harshly. But, it has become a second job to stay on top of teachers as well as staying on top of my son to get assignments turned in. He thinks of all of this as pressure when studying, homework, etc are all a part of the learning process in school. I don’t think he was quite prepared for the amount of work middle school would require, i really worry about the high school years. He wants to go to college to become an engineer but, he doesn’t have a clue how much work that would entail. Right now, he is in danger of failing the 7th grade and this would make me feel like such a failure as a mom even though, i’m consistently working to get him the help he needs as well as helping him myself, i’m beyond tired and don’t know what else to do.