Parents who don't know their children, part 20

New tutoring student sat across the table from me. Getting a late start on SAT prep, but eager, asked a lot of questions.

Met with his father later:

"I need someone to motivate him."

"Uh. He's pretty motivated."

"He's never been motivated. I tried to get him started on this in ninth grade and he just wouldn't do it."

"Wellll, that was then. He asked me a lot of questions and is quite motivated now."

"So do you think you can motivate him? He won't listen to me."

*facepalm*

My boss explains to me that the kid is lazy and needs help with his college essays. "Oh, we got an entire first draft done."

"Really?"

The kid's mother looked pleased and shocked.

Yes, well, our "lazy" student didn't know what to write about ... until we unearthed the successful business he started in early high school repairing PS3s. He fixed his own, his friends', then put out a Craigslist ad to fix more at a hundred bucks a pop. He'd screen the clients, make sure the problem was something he could repair, beat Sony's prices and repair turnarounds but spent so much time on his business, his grades suffered and he didn't have time for fun either. He had to pull the plug but he was raking in a grand a week for a while there.

Um. Think colleges might want to hear about a high schooler's too-successful business?

Yeah. Real lazy kid you got there. A "lazy" kid whose real issue is that he doesn't know who he is. Hmm. Wonder how that happened....

Going out for New Year's? Me?

I'm insane. I never go out, not without a boyfriend or date or -- or something.

But nothing was coming together for New Year's, and somehow I got sick of waiting, didn't like the idea of being at home, watching TV again. Not that I don't enjoy watching the ball drop on TV. But this year I wanted to go out.

So I picked an outing in DC, bought tickets, and darn it, I'm going.

But it's so different from what I usually do that ...aaaaaaaah! I'm nuts. Not so worried about the party as I am about getting there, parking, and getting back. (No need for a designated driver: I don't drink.)

I might have a miserable time. But darn it, just once I'm going out for New Year's Eve.

And not to a Chinese diner.

Rothy-cuteness: Curled up with kitties, happyhappy.

Curled up with kitties, happyhappy. Rothy knows how cute he is, and he knows how to use it.

Oooh, kitty!stretch, wriggle-wriggle, flirt! Cuddle in a little ball ... snuggle, snuggle, purrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Nose-to-tail, paw over face -- then peek!

Hi! Have you been watching?