My nephew, who is so incredibly smart it's ridiculous, does not do his English homework because he really prefers Math and Science.

Because not passing your classes when you are perfectly capable of it makes you a giant tool. And makes you look dumber than you are, which is embarrassing for everyone.

I'll credit your dad when I give the talk. Or, as is more likely, send in the mail because I can say everything at once and he can read it without having to pretend not to care.

Thank you.

The only class I did all my homework in was French because Madame Hines was so sweet that I couldn't bear to disappoint her.

Emmett's godsister skipped an entire year of homework in high school to write her Harry Potter fanfic novel.

If only I'd had that sort of reason for that Semester of No Math Homework. No, I just didn't feel like doing it.

The other part of Dad's talk was how it was me breaking the "Do Not Get Caught" rule.

I was just that bad at math and I did not want to face it.

oh dear, I was so sonfused. I had my McShanes mixed up. IAN, not MICHAEL. (Although I would enjoy seeing Michael show up on SPN)

Even if he were doing something productive instead of his homework, I would not support him in it. Frankly, I don't see how he can have any success in life without at least a basic education.

My brain is too CASS SMASH right now. Time to draft a little. I can edit it later.

Cass, i'm there with you, but re my 14 yo sisterlet. Her mom tried bribing her with a cell phone: get all As and Bs and it stays turned on, drop below that and it gets turned off. So NOT WORKING and causing constant ongoing misery for everyone involved. The girl is brilliant and could teach the Leverage characters a few things about manipulation, but she just will not sit down and do homework. I send letters, and am told that they are read and occasionally pondered upon, but no one in the family has figured out what logic (or carrot) will actually appeal to her.

I have no helpful suggestions, just sympathy and company on the bench.

Steph, my vet and I talked about getting Frank diapers in the last year or so of his life when he was pooping on the floor pretty much every day. He suggested going with regular toddler-sized diapers and cutting out a spot for his tail because the diapers made specifically for dogs were more expensive. Anyway, I decided that cleaning him up after wearing the diaper would be more work than cleaning up the floor so we never used them. (Also he fell down the hardwood stairs a number of times. Always very traumatic for us but he was never hurt.)

Yeah, I know I am totally being judge-y and harsh and that fourteen year olds are mysterious and freaking hard to motivate. Plus he sees people get away with stuff with little to no apparent problem. I just want him to not screw his whole life up because he's pissed. And he's so much nearer the edge of that than anyone wants to admit.

So I am frustrated.