How to motivate my college kid?

[bomerr]

<p>

It seems to me that today’s parents are involved in their kids’ lives to a degree they never have been in the past. </p>

<p>I have an S who is smart as can be, but he doesn’t study all that much. He is a senior in college. He has no interest in finding an internship or co-op. He is not involved in any activities at school. He is not depressed. He is simply living his life the way he wants to live it - not particularly motivated, not setting the world on fire. He is 21 years old. He is a man. If he was flunking classes, I would step in and stop paying tuition - I am not about to waste my money - but other than that, it’s not my business. It is his life. He will figure it out, one way or the other. </p>

<p>Eventually, our kids have to find their own way. We have to allow them the space to make their own mistakes, or perhaps we only think they are mistakes.

Teach a man to fish v give a man a fish.</p>

<p>I think the real problem is too many parents (that are involved with their kids) follow the give a man a fish philosophy. They don’t teach their kids how to be self-motivation or why it’s important to be self-motivated. I don’t think people can just become motivated over-night; it’s something that takes time to built up. The issue with letting someone go into the world who is still unmotivated is that by the time they gain enough experience to realize their mistakes, it can already be too late to do anything about it.</p>