DEAR HARRIETTE: My teenage son promised to do his summer homework throughout the summer. Whenever my husband and I would ask how he was progressing, he said he was doing fine. Today I discovered he has so much more work to do, and school is about to start. Even if he works four hours a day, he probably won’t be finished in time, and now it will be cramming rather than pacing it all out.
I am so disappointed in him. We were clear about what he had to do in order to have certain privileges. Now, as parents, we look like idiots because we trusted him. What can we do now to get him on track? -- Wayward Son, Boston
DEAR WAYWARD SON: Children, especially teenagers, need to be monitored. Asking if a child has completed work is not enough. You need the child to show you proof. What you can do now and into the school year is to limit privileges until the work is done. For now, take away his phone and other electronics. Have him work nonstop on the assignments that are due so that he can complete them. Check over his work daily -- even if you don’t fully understand it. Make sure he did the work from beginning to end.
When school starts, be sure to continue to pay attention to his assignments and verify that he is doing the work daily. Be in touch with his teachers, and work together to help set a good work schedule that your son can follow. Let him use his cellphone only when he has proven to you he is taking his schoolwork seriously.