Homeschool World Forum

Hello. I'm a single mom homeschooling my 12-year old son. I've been noticing that he doesn't like to do schoolwork anymore and he just sits around all day, browsing his computer. Whenever I try to confront him, he just tells me to go away and locks himself in his room. I'm worried that he might be having depression, though I'm not so sure since I only googled his symptoms in the internet. What should I do?

Depression is quite tough to diagnose but pediatricians may be able to assist in conducting an examination for mental health conditions. Why don't you bring him first to his pedia and perhaps he/she can make some recommendations if he needs to see a psychologists or other mental health professionals.

I think part of it is an age thing. My 12 year old son is also pretty unmotivated, though he isn't quite so disrespectful as to take the family computer to his room and lock himself in (The computer is not allowed outside of where Mom and Dad can see it). I have tried lots of stuff to no avail, though he does love reading, so I am going to try taking him to the library and getting him some teen motivational books (7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens, etc.) I don't know if it'll make any lasting change, but it's worth a try at least!