Dear Amy:
My son is graduating from high school.
I made him sign a note stating that if I helped him edit his college essays, he would practice his writing skills over the summer. (Many books recommend that parents, teachers and guidance counselors should help students edit their college essays, and that obtaining feedback is valuable.)
My child has now been accepted into two honors colleges — partly due to these submitted essays, and partly due to a relatively high SAT score, GPA and extracurricular activities.
These honors programs require advanced writing skills.
I know, however, that his writing skills are weak and I am afraid that he will do poorly.
I believe he has the ability to write well, if he practices, but with less than three months to go before he leaves for college, and after finding no suitable practice books, how should I make him practice?
— Needing Much Practice
Dear Needing:
You seem to be claiming at least partial credit for getting your son into two college honors programs. At the same time, you slyly diminish his work and accomplishments.
By your estimation, he really should not have been admitted, because he cannot do the work. You, however, seem like a good candidate.
You haven’t offered any tools for him to fulfill his part of the contract.
Your son should succeed in college — or not — on his own. Given the level of your involvement so far, he could face a shock when he gets to college.
Many students do, but they rise to the occasion through developing study strategies, visiting the writing center or asking professors for help.
