I think I’m getting a better picture of what you’re asking. I still hold to my other comments, but I see now that they didn’t address the issue you’re talking about.

I think you’re asking: How do I get my kid to be more responsible?

Right?

You make a great point about kids being trained to require help. I feel that’s how our society is tending. So many forms and documents and whatnot are written in such a way that I need a specialist to help me. And that’s frustrating because I come from a background of doing it myself. But the current system seems to be saying, “You need help.” Which is not good if you want leaders and innovators.

If your child really is unmotivated to be responsible, I think you should first look at the cause of his apathy. Is it because he realizes how pointless and lame it all is? If so, it’s time to move him into a system that isn’t pointless and lame.

But if he’s just being lazy or not stepping up into the good things he should be–like being respectful of important rules–then he needs to suffer the consequences. I think it’s a great idea to say, “You didn’t get your stuff together? Too bad.” And move on without it. That’s a good object lesson that’s very personally affecting [smile].

But you know your child the best. And if looking at the situation you discover he can’t do the things he “needs” to do, perhaps it’s time to consider another system, approach or opportunity [smile].

~Luke
.-= Luke Holzmann´s last blog ..Sonlight’s 2010 Catalog Proofs =-.