One of the most difficult situations for parents and children today is helping your child stay in school.

For some reason we have had a rise in teen age students dropping out of school. Knowing that this is a mistake that even obtaining a GED can not totally fix. Parents struggle to keep their child interested and attending school daily.

Many times it is an overwhelming responsibility.
When you send your child out the door thinking they are attending school. Only to get a letter home prior to their first report card saying they have missed so many un excused days that they have failed all the credits for that part of the year.

So what can you do as a parent to keep on top of your child's high school education? Here are a few good suggestions for troubled parents.

1.) Call the school randomly and check to see if your child is actually in school.

2.) Stop in and talk to the child's counselor. Ask about how they are doing.

3.) Keep an open communication line with your child.
If you have good re pore with your child. Chances are they will tell you when something is not right at school.

4.) Never hesitate to call your child's teachers.

5.) Be involved if you have time. See if you can volunteer to help on a float or bake sale.

6.) Talk to your child's friends and keep a good relationship with them. They often will be the first ones to let you know something is not cool.

7.) Ask for a general grade score at different times during each semester. Teachers are happy to up date concerned parents.

8.) If you notice mood changes in your child daily when you are getting them ready for school. Ask them to talk to you about it.

9.) If your child decides to skip school or wants to quit. Suggest trying another school. Find a school that can keep your child interested in his or her education.

10.) IF all else fails PRAY. Remember that you can wake them up...send them out the door...but you can not live life for them. So allow them to take on all the responsibility for making a wrong decision.
This could be a turning point for them.

Education is very important in todays world. But for some adopted children it is no surprise that they take the easy way out. It also is no surprise that the adoptive parents feel like failures when this happens.

Understanding that sometimes the emotional vulnerability of a child is more important than education is hard to comprehend.

But allowing your child to own their own choices and feel the devastation they create by wrong choices are also a part of life lessons. So do not take on the blame or guilt for something they go against your best wishes and do on their own.

Any parents out there with good comments for concerned parents? How have you lived through dealing with a high school drop out? Your comments are always welcome.