The difficulties continue. This year was DH's turn to have SS11 for Thanksgiving. No school, of course. But DH made him get on his Chrome book and complete a few assignments that hadn't been submitted. A couple of in-class grades also popped up as zeros. DH asked if he'd even turned anything in. SS just shrugs.

Today, DH gets calls and texts from the school letting him know SS wasn't at school. BM texted then to tell DH SS had a fever and was throwing up. DH replied maybe he needed to see the doctor. No response. He's spending the day with BM's parents and they reported he's feeling a lot better.

Uh-huh.

I can count on one hand the number of times this kid has been sick in the seven years I've known him. And suddenly he's sick five times in four months? Each time on a school day. Each time with a sudden and miraculous improvement.

DH said he's suspicious, but "you can't fake fever and vomiting." I told him he might want to Google faking sick. There are tons of sites out there.

Anyway, I told DH SS probably should see a doctor to make sure there's not a legit problem.

Regardless, his mom and her parents aren't going to make him keep up with assignments while he's out, which means he'll get even more behind. And when he comes back Sunday, DH will have to sit with him and make him go through and do whatever had piled up.

SS is smart. No question. But he's lazy and he got used to As and Bs with minimal effort. Now he's being challenged and can't cope. Yet he's not being given skills to do so and is instead being allowed to avoid and avoid so it becomes a mountain of work.

Ugh. I'm staying out of it.