5 Signs Your High School Senior Has Senioritis

Spring is right around the corner, and for many parents, that means so is graduation. My son is officially in the home stretch of his high-school education. It’s the eighth inning and he’s in the lead, just itching to close out the game of high school. I couldn’t be happier and more excited for him, yet at the same time I’m worried he’ll rack up a load of errors in the bottom of the ninth—a bad case of senioritis can do just that. And, based on the following, I’m pretty sure he’s got one:

1. He keeps saying things like, ‘High school is so ridiculous.’

Not surprising that after several college visits, high school for him is starting to feel like preschool. It’s totally normal for seniors to be “over it” at this point, but I need to remind my son that only four short years ago, he too had the maturity of a 3-year-old, and an environment that doesn’t seem to fit him now, once fit him perfectly. To be honest, though, I’d be concerned if he still felt comfortable there. The fact he doesn’t is encouraging.

2. Motivation to do any schoolwork at this point is ZERO.

He’s been accepted to college, singed the housing contract, and met with the academic advisors in his area of study. It’s no wonder he really doesn’t give a crap about studying for a pop quiz on King George II.

3. Getting up early for school has gone from being difficult to being downright impossible…

…and is now accompanied by the statement, “It doesn’t matter if I’m late. I’m a senior.” Lately, mornings have been great teaching moments, offering the perfect opportunity for me to tell him, “You can work at a job for 25 years, even be the boss, but you still need to show up on time on Monday morning. It’s called being an adult.”

4. Friends he’s had since elementary school have since lost all their appeal…

…and he’s ready to finally meet a whole new collection of people. I’m ready for that to happen too, but I’m also reminding him to never forget about the people who knew him as a child. Those friendships, though they may be forgotten for a while, tend to come back later in life. It’s also a good time to teach my son that the toes you step on today may be attached to the ass you have to kiss tomorrow. Value everyone who enters your life. They are there for a reason.

5. He’s begun to talk about the future more, and the past less.

Few and far between are stories about middle-school sleepovers, high-school football games, dances, dates, and biology quizzes. Now our conversations are about college campus environments, majors, successful study habits, and time management. My son has been asking questions like, “Just how do I do laundry again?” and “What do I do when I get sick?” It’s scary and thrilling all at the same time.

Senioritis is a natural rite of passage, a natural progression of having outgrown the environment of adolescence. It means our kids can confidently move on to the next season of life where they need to be, and though it can be infuriating, Senioritis is not really a bad thing. Rather, it is a very, very good thing. Cheers to you and the high school senior in your life, even if they are driving you mad in these last few months!