The Forums › Forums › Emotional Journey › My Story › A story from down under › Re: A story from down under
What is a dingo, anyway? And what is a jumper? (in the U.S., a jumper is a suicide who leaps from a bridge or a building, not an article of clothing. But is a jumper a sweater or a jacket?) The only other Aussie word I know is “bloke.”
Hmm.
Your story sounds familiar. I did well in school because people told me what to do. I only took classes in things I was skilled at (like writing and drawing)….but now I have a son, 13, almost 14, with ADHD, who is probably a better writer than I am already, but, like me, can’t do math to save his life.
Last night I was very sad when he came to me and said, “I don’t want to mooch off of anyone when I grow up, so I might go into the military.” That’s because he thinks he won’t be able to go to college, and doesn’t want to work as a cashier at 7-11. He’s so smart. He knows more about major literary figures and philosophers than I do. Clearly, the time to help him Not Be Like Me is now. But I’m not sure how to do it, as I have been a classic underachiever all my life, working in low-level jobs (watering plants in office buildings, waiting tables, assembly line, customer call center, clerical stuff, etc.)….It’s sad that he is already thinking and seeing that his options are limited.
I have a B.A. but it’s not worth much, as a fine arts degree from an obscure institution. Later I did a 2-year certificate program….Had a GPA of around 3.6, but couldn’t bring myself to file a four page report on an internship I had actually completed, so I never got the certificate.
The frustrating thing now is that even though my son’s school knows he has ADHD, the support they provide is limited – and I don’t know how to help him. It’s like watching a train wreck in slow motion.
So…I guess my point is…I hear you.
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