ANNIE’S MAILBOX: ‘Kevin’ is fine with low grades

July 31, 2010 at 9:13a.m.

By KATHY MITCHELL and MARCY SUGAR

Dear Annie: Our 16-year-old son, “Kevin,” finished his sophomore year and received nothing but D’s and C’s on his report card. He is not concerned in the least, telling us, “D’s are passing grades.”

We have made it clear that we want Kevin to go to college, not only to learn skills for the job market, but to fully develop himself as a human being.

I have repeatedly tried to encourage him and be positive, but without more effort, we are afraid his grades won’t be good enough to get into any college.

Kevin is simply not interested in getting decent grades. The only initiative he’s shown lately is studying to get his restricted driver’s license. What can we do?

Worried Mom in the Midwest

Dear Worried: Many car-insurance companies offer lower rates for drivers with higher grade point averages, and you might tell Kevin that he won’t get his license until his grades improve.

But you also should have him tested for hidden learning disabilities, which may not only be hampering his efforts at school, but discouraging him from trying. Please keep in mind that some kids simply mature later.

Dear Annie: You have mentioned hoarders in the past. Recently, I had to make a service call to a customer who refused to let me in. When I convinced him to open the door, I immediately regretted it.

This man had every living area filled with stuff all the way to the ceiling. The halls were littered with trash and old food as high as my knees.

There was no air conditioner in this hot weather, and to make matters worse, the man was breathing oxygen through a plastic tube. I reported the situation to our local Adult Protective Services.

Appreciate it Now

Dear Now: Compulsive hoarding is a psychiatric problem. There was a recent case in Chicago of an elderly couple whose home was so filled with trash that they became trapped beneath fallen towers of garbage. Fortunately, neighbors called the police and fire crews rescued the couple before they died of starvation.

Dear Annie: I’m writing about “Texas,” who is struggling with childhood abuse from a bipolar mother and absent father.

He mentioned having dreams and reliving childhood moments in the middle of the night. It would not be surprising if his early experiences left him with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. There are very effective treatments that may help him with some of the more intense symptoms. He should specifically look into EMDR — Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprogramming. He can find practitioners in his area through this website: emdria.org/index.cfm. I wish him well.

Chaplain Susan Keppy

Dear Chaplain Keppy: Thank you for the suggestion.

E-mail your questions to anniesmailboxcomcast.net, or write to: Annie’s Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 5777 W. Century Blvd., Ste. 700, Los Angeles, CA 90045.

Creators Syndicate