motivating my kid

[Crankin]

It sounds like you are doing the right thing. I know it's not a big help, but my oldest son, who was perfect until 8th grade was totally unorganized and weird for most of the time he was in HS. My kids went to a very challenging public school (a "public prep" as it's called around here). The academic pressure was unreal. At any other school, both my kids would have been in the top ten perscent. They were both squarely in the middle of their classes. He only did well in the classes he was interested in, but somehow managed to obtain a B average, by doing well in just a few things. He skipped gym for a whole semester and we never found out until June... he had to go to alternative gym at the health club and slog off the miles on the treadmill and bike. I constantly had to be in contact with his chemistry and math teachers so he would do his work. It sucked, but he was motivated by extra curricular stuff, thankfully. He is now a successful adult, graduated college with honors, with just a few blips along the way. He's fluent in Italian, has traveled everywhere, has a good job, and a girlfriend. And guess what? I still see him as the kid who didn't do his chemistry homework!
Of course, son #2, AP Scholar, speech and debater, #5 junior level cyclist in USA in 2001, entered college as a sophomore, had a great first year and promptly came home and enlisted in the Marines...