Thanks, Susie!
Kt mom: I'm not sure that we have the exact thing here but I'll relay what we do have- in middle school there are "mini-school" classes available for kids to help them learn about a career. difficult child took several of these and one was for becoming a vet. They worked with the SPCA and he watched a vet neuter a male dog. We have dogs- one male- and difficult child was just entering puberty. He has never harmed our dogs and although I thought this would have sent most males (and me) thru the roof, he handled it very well. We have discussed difficult child's goals with our vet that we use for our dogs. We were informed that difficult child could take vocational classes thru his high school and they offer the option for being a vet tech or vet assistant (something like that). Our vet sponsors that and allows a week-long volunteer work experience with their office. This is a Plan B with difficult child. However, our vet told difficult child and me that if he has the grades and REALLY wants to be a vet, not to go that route. They said they would allow him to do the week-long work experience and if he did well, give him a recommendation to use with good grades to get into college and he'd be much better off to pursuing his goals.
The main thing is- he has these goals- if he needs to "down-grade" them due to lack of motivation or effort, then this is what he needs to start realizing- he has every opportunity to achieve his highest goal if he puts forth his highest effort; he can settle for less and put forth half the effort; he can say **** it and get nothing.
He says and thinks he's old enough to call his own shots now and know what he wants, etc, then these are his decisions to live with for many, many years.
I've checked the graduation requirements for our state- sorry but he has no choice- since he blew his Spanish credit, he has to take an academic class as one elective next year because he's taking driver's ed as another. If he doesn't like it, he can drop driver's ed. The academic choices are some foreign language (which would be a beginner class and he doesn't want that), an AP class in history (which he hates- and I agree- history was taught much better in the college level), or this AP science class.
AP here means advanced but if the kid passes the required test at the end of the school year, they get 1/2 college credit. If he did poorly in it, I'm sure they'd let him drop it and take shop or something in the Spring. This is a better option than being a sophomore and knowing there's no way you can graduate on time. And of course- this driver's ed class, learner's permit, and eventually getting a driver's license surely will help motivate him.
Really, difficult child's hx has left him in a position where at 15yo, he has to either sink or swim. I'm sorry it has come at such an early age but he became a difficult child 4 1/2 years ago so this is where he's left now. Many people think he's pretty lucky to even have the choices left that he does.
Sorry I started this thread in the WC- I should have put it in General.
I could shake him silly for having opportunites that he has and not realizing how fortunate he is. I'm sure I'm not the first warrior mom to feel that way!!