SENIORITIS, it’s a real thing. Some of you have seen this condition rear its evil head all throughout high school, but this year, it will live large. In spite of that, here are a few thoughts on how to help your child navigate through this last year of high school.
1. Don’t let them quit anything, this year, that they have been doing in previous years. Sometimes, after the senior year begins, students are so tired of high school that they start dropping off teams, out of groups, and participating less at church and other activities. Don’t let that happen! Encourage them to see it through to the end.
2. Give them responsibilities that they will have once they are living away from home. You can not start too early for this as you gradually work your way towards independence. This can start with household chores that will teach them to take care of themselves. Then, move into responsibilities that will help them learn how to manage their time and money.
3. Give them purpose during this spring by challenging them to serve others. This will remind them that the world is bigger than themselves and that there is a greater purpose for this year, other than graduating. Encourage them to be an active influence to younger students, either in a mentoring or discipleship role. Help them stay involved in the activities they have been in throughout high school and encourage them to seek out roles of leadership in school and church.
4. Keep them from being lazy. The senior year is notorious for becoming a worthless year of waiting for graduation. The more your teenager sits around, the harder it is going to be for him/her to get up and be productive. Laziness over time will create a major senioritis condition that will bring stress to the whole family.
All of this is much easier, said than done. The important thing is to help them keep going and enjoy the senior year. I have seen students over the years look so forward to the senior year, just to have it arrive and then miss it because they were looking for what was next. Don’t let that happen to your senior during the last stretch of high school.