Well, I took a drive through the Pennsylvania springtime for the spring concert at my son’s school, and then had breakfast with him this morning. Although he still can’t release the names of anyone he knows, he was permitted to provide hints about a few of his less highly classified activities, enough to allow me to deduce that he is already doing certain things he would not have done a year ago and that he is planning for more new ventures next year. He definitely seems more confident than he was in the fall, or even a couple of months ago. I’m impressed. But then my daughter has also made huge strides this year in her very different school. So I do have to wonder how much of their development reflects brain maturation and is independent of environmental influences. Thoughts?
LOL. You are too funny @twinsmama
@skieurope , My children are also endlessly amused by my idiocy.
Idiocy is just brilliance to the close-minded.
I beg to differ. 
Are you sure you did not spend time visiting my 9th grade son:)
My 9th grade son, who is about enter Mburg, has matured by leaps and bounds this year at his local private day school. We would not have considered BS his 8th grade year; he was scattered, unfocused, and not really working independently. This year, I can honestly say that he is absolutely ready to start BS in the fall. We had talked with the AD about having him repeat 9th, but 4 months after that conversation, we all agree that red shirting would do him no good (except maybe on the [insert sport here] field). I think a LOT of growth and maturity happens between 14-15 years.
Looking back, I’m realizing how far I’ve come as a student since I started high school and for the first time, had to actually manage my work. In November, I would leave all my work till Sunday afternoon, which turned into Sunday night, then Monday morning, and sometimes I wouldn’t finish.
Now, my work always gets done. I do a little bit Friday afternoon, and use most of Saturday to do homework. I study earlier. I procrastinate less. I’m sure this would’ve happened to me at BS, but like @twinsmama’s D, they also happened at public school.