As two of my children approach graduations\u2014one 8th grader leaving middle school and one high school senior about to enter college\u2014I can attest to the very real, very serious condition of Senioritis.<\/p>\n
The first symptom is a noticeable lack of interest and energy. Unfortunately, this isn\u2019t limited to the expected school-related assignments, but with most normal human activities. In fact, it may appear that the only thing your child will graduate from is higher levels of apathy.<\/p>\n
Victims of Senioritis may appear to have some yellowing of the eyes. You may suspect jaundice, but don\u2019t worry, it\u2019s just that they\u2019ve used up all of their bathroom hall passes weeks ago.<\/p>\n
You may also notice a severe and rapid decline in cognitive skills. While it could be attributed to long and late studying for final exams, unfortunately the only math your student is doing is the computation of how many days, hours and minutes are left in the school year and how many cubic yards of garbage will come home from their lockers.<\/p>\n
Difficulties with hearing may also result. You can ask them what time the athletic banquet is or when they get their yearbooks and they simply stare at you as if the words were spoken in Spanish\u2014a language they just spent the last decade studying in school so even then it shouldn\u2019t be that incomprehensible\u2014but nonetheless they will mumble they think their teacher said something about that last week, but lately her words are coming out all muffled and monotone, to which you\u2019ll laugh and say, \u201cLike Charlie Brown\u2019s teacher?\u201d and they\u2019ll say, \u201cWho\u2019s that?\u201d which you\u2019ll then wonder what you just wasted the last 12 years educating them on when they can\u2019t recognize a simple pop culture reference but then it will make sense why every time you\u2019ve called them \u201cPigpen,\u201d in the past it never seemed to register and then you\u2019ll really start feeling guilty that you\u2019ve raised a mess maker who will never win Jeopardy! and then you won\u2019t hear anything either above your heaving sobs of failure.<\/p>\n
Nausea can also occur. While it can be due to anxiety or excitement, the more likely culprit is they\u2019ve resorted to eating the old snacks at the bottom of their backpacks.<\/p>\n
Other psychological disorders and behaviors are common. Like spending hundreds of dollars on Prom night food, flowers, clothes and cars to spend exactly 12 minutes at the actual dance. The obsessive compulsive use of car window paint and Sharpies. Amnesia regarding uniform and attendance policies. <\/p>\n
Be advised that Senioritis is not limited to graduating students. It is very common among parents of said pupils. They can be easily identified as the babbling adults standing helplessly in school offices with open checkbooks. Pale, with elevated blood pressures and profuse sweating issues, they are usually chanting from the fetal position in the corner, \u201cAre you sure you turned that in?\u201d or \u201cBut the Evite said 7:00, not six.\u201d<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, there is no known cure for Senioritis. The condition seems to be exacerbated by long banquets, presentations and ceremonies where its contagion level is at its highest. The only treatments currently are radical and random in their efficacy. For student patients, hours spent with other sufferers, laughter poring over yearbooks, new country music, Doritos and long summer days seem to bring relief.<\/p>\n
For afflicted parents, it is not so simple. Common methods are lame and last-minute attempts at scrapbooking, wine coolers, old country music and sappy reminiscing. Unfortunately, these are mere placebos, and those exhausted parents of seniors rarely take their medicine as directed, and all end up hoping for reinfection. <\/p>\n
Because it\u2019s the one disease that you beg for recurrence if it means your kid can be quarantined at home just a little while longer.<\/p>\n
Good luck boys, you’ve us proud every day.<\/p>\n
\u00a92014 Tracey Henry<\/p>\n
<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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