Senioritis

It's that time of year when high school seniors are chomping at the bit, ready and anxious to take on the world. That being said, it is a senior's responsibility to finish out the year with all their efforts. It is just the beginning of getting up early and facing the day, not the end. Most high school seniors feel that if they could just get out of the hellhole that they are forced to attend, then they would become that responsible adult who will get up in time for class and attend to all their responsibilities. Most high school seniors don't feel that way about their current situation. Out! That is all they can see and all they are interested in being.  However, society has established that this senior year is important for the development of these students. It is supposed to be the year where responsibilities are added, and judgment is assumed to have become mature and more developed than the high school sophmore or junior.
I have tried to explain to my senior that the feeling I have when the dog runs away, looking over her shoulder as she disobeys me, is the same feeling that I have every time she misses the bus or seems to be losing her way. It runs along the lines of "go ahead, I hope a hawk picks you up and eats you for lunch."  Now, of course I don't really mean this, toward the dog or to my child.  Of course.  But the frustration level of a parent of a senior is tremendous. It is so unfortunate that just as you are coming into the home stretch, having raised a responsible and consciencious student and member of society, pride being the go-to description of your precious child, they start to screw with your head and become slovenly, lazy and irresponsible; sleeping through bus pick-ups and appointments. It couldn't be any easier, the buses here DO come right to your house, after all. That's because they don't like students waiting out in the northwoods alone. The predator possibilities are endless. At this point, I'm looking at the animal predators as possible allies.  Whatever it takes to get her attention.  Now, the fact is that my senior could have probably graduated in January. The credits that she is taking now are, with the exception of one class, fillers.  Had she kicked and screamed last fall she most likely would have been able to squeeze in that last class and had enough credits to finish up in January. But this particular child is not a kicker or screamer. That being said, I have always told my children that their consequences are theirs.  But truth be told, now I'M KICKING AND SCREAMING.  GET UP AND GET THE BUS! I have used cajoling, begging, pleading, punishing, ignoring and every consequence I can think of short of manual labor. 

Manual Labor?  Wait, I do need some furniture moved and some dusting and vacuuming done. In the interest of educating my child of course.  Of course.