At her present age, she is being pulled by other strong desires (social and athletic at this point) that have seen her focus less on the more demanding schoolwork. I would have a few open-ended chats (not lectures) with her about your concerns; show her your understanding of how her life has changed by non-judgmentally stating what you think are the challenges (and wonderful opportunities) facing her. Assure her that you believe in her ability to have a well-balanced school and social life and that you will do whatever she thinks would be helpful to achieve success in both realms. This is a very invigorating, confusing stage for adolescents (at all levels); underscore all your conversations with that reality in mind.
Should Parents Set Expectations for Grades?
Carleton Kendrick has been in private practice as a family therapist and has worked as a consultant for more than 20 years. He has conducted parenting seminars on topics ranging from how to discipline toddlers to how to stay connected with teenagers. Kendrick has appeared as an expert on national broadcast media such as CBS, Fox Television Network, Cable News Network, CNBC, PBS, and National Public Radio. In addition, he's been quoted in the New York Times, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Boston Globe, USA Today, Reader's Digest, BusinessWeek, Good Housekeeping, Woman's Day, and many other publications.
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