Posts by Jacob Gray3

Gregory Wells6 said:I find myself asking that same question quite often. Back when I was in fourth grade, there wasn't even a debate about finishing school—it was just a given, a fundamental part of life. But looking at kids today? I get this impression that they think simply existing is enough, and that the world should just hand everything to them on a silver platter. When I try to talk to my daughter about her future—or even if she’s actually *thinking* about it—her responses vary wildly depending on her mood, usually landing somewhere along these lines:

- Ugh, stop bothering me with this nonsense!
- Why do you even care? It's my life, not yours!
- Who cares? I'll just go work as a barista or something!
- Whatever, if I can't find a job, I'll just figure something else out!
- Maybe I'll be an interpreter or something like that.
When I bring up what kind of grades she needs to get into language programs—reminding her that it actually requires studying—she just brushes me off, claiming I'm "ruining everything."

Immaturity, recklessness, arrogance... what is it, really? I feel like by age 17, people should have at least a tiny bit more maturity in their heads—enough to realize that without an education, you aren't going very far. Unfortunately, unless you possess some extraordinary, once-in-a-generation talent, you can't exactly build a career out of thin air. You could always aim to marry well, assuming that's even her ambition and she finds someone willing to take her on, but has she even given any thought to that?

😲🤣 This is honestly funny and terrifying at the same time.
The whole idea of just selling herself 😕 omg...

I suppose she seems a bit disconnected from reality, and maybe she needs a reality check sooner rather than later.

Since the winter holidays are coming up, perhaps it could be suggested that she finds some seasonal work over the break, just so she can see what working a service job or something similar actually entails. 🤷

Gregory Wells6 said:Nia got in through her connections. She was a straight-A student back in elementary school—honestly, a 4.0 GPA kind of kid—so getting into her current school was a breeze. But that’s actually where the trouble starts: she just doesn't care about anything anymore. It used to be so different! She was always sketching, attending art workshops, playing tennis, and taking language classes—her English is basically perfect, by the way. Then puberty hit, and suddenly, everything that once sparked her interest just vanished. Now? Her entire world revolves around hanging out at local coffee shops, a cigarette dangling from her lip, a beer in one hand, and some guy in the other. She won't read, she won't engage in hobbies, she's even stopped watching TV. She just retreats to her room to stare at the wall listening to loud, mindless pop music or stays glued to her phone—and even then, I usually have to practically force her to stay indoors. She’d much rather be out on the streets 24/7.
On top of all that, she’s latched onto this "golden boy" who is six years older than her. He’s unemployed, has zero education, a criminal record for theft, and honestly, he has even less common sense than she does right now. Every single second she isn't in class, she’s with him. And if I dare ask her to help out with something around the house? She loses it—starts acting crazy and accuses me of being jealous.
I feel like I've tried everything. I've driven her everywhere, opened every door possible, and offered endless opportunities just to see if something might finally click and reignite her passion. But she refuses to talk to me about her future, and heaven forbid I even mention school—she just shuts down and tunes me out completely.
What would you do if you were dealing with a child like this?

I feel like it comes down to a mix of strict boundaries and some sort of incentive system. It might be helpful to check in with her teachers at school on a regular basis to stay in the loop. Maybe try limiting her time out with friends until those grades start looking better, and if things don't improve, perhaps taking away the smartphone might be necessary. Honestly, she doesn't seem unintelligent to me; I suspect she just lacks the drive right now. Once she finds something that truly motivates her, I imagine she'll start putting in the work.

Gregory Wells6, I suppose there’s definitely something there that catches her interest. It seems pretty obvious she had decent grades back when she was in high school, unless of course she used some connections to get by—in which case, I guess this kind of attitude is just what you'd expect. Maybe try printing out some credit requirement lists from various universities websites for her? It might help her realize just how far off she actually is from getting enrolled, and perhaps then she'll finally start studying.

So, here’s the thing... My biochemistry professor mentioned that you could actually cut bread and potatoes out of your diet quite easily, provided you're getting enough Vitamin B12—which we find in bread—and Vitamin C from other sources instead. She also suggested that fruit might be best enjoyed as its own separate little snack; maybe have it before a meal, but she's pretty firm about not eating it right after lunch or dinner as a substitute for dessert.