Hi
DS is 18 and second year A Levels. He's always been a bright (got mainly 7-9's in GCSE's) but also quite lazy student - up until A Levels he could achieve very well with minimal revision etc.
He's really struggled since he started A Levels and as he's part of the covid year that didn't have actual GCSE exams, he's yet to sit very formal testing.
Over the last year and a half his teachers have been frustrated with him - due to his GCSE's he was initially predicted 3 x A, however quite quickly it was apparent he wasn't going to reach that, so by the end of year 1 he was predicted B, B , C. Not the end of the world by any stretch of the imagination, but he was disappointed.
Since then, nothing has really changed. However he's applied for Uni's and he's had quite a "only the best is good enough for me" attitude - which is great, however he hasn't stepped up the work to now really get to it.
We're now 2 months away from his exams, and I've noticed recently he seems distant. He's a quite closed book kind of character anyway, but I've particularly noticed he's become less interested in the things he loves (his sport). He is still socialising and seems happy when with friends, and is a hard worker at his part time job.
Today we've spoken. I'll be honest and say I got cross with him. He's got mocks this week yet both today and yesterday he wasn't out of bed before lunch, and managed to fit in an hour max revision. I'm a bit annoyed that we've spent money trying to support him (books he's requested , a £50 a session tutor) and it feels like we've done all of this whilst he lays around the house doing very little. We desperately want to support him as he seems so keen to get to Uni, but it's annoying when he isn't trying himself.
Now though, I'm worried. I think there's more to the "laziness". I think he's getting low and everything is getting on top of him. I finally got him to open up a little and he said he isn't coping. I asked if I could do anything, could he ask for help, but his pride is sat firmly in the way and he's refusing. I even offered to email his teachers on his behalf and he was horrified, so I won't.
I just don't know what to do about it. He's firmly got his head in a large hole now, he won't talk about his future unless it involves talking about the excitement of Uni. He's absolutely in denial - he's made his UCAS choices and firmed one that wants better grades than his predicted ones (and over a grade higher than he's currently working at)
I'm worried about exams, I'm worried what's going to happen in the summer if he doesn't pull it out of the bag. He seems so down and overwhelmed.
I won't contact college, unless I become incredibly concerned. I have contact details of his best friend if I'm really worried, but DS is very private and proud he really won't take kindly to me doing that, it would probably push him away.
I'm just so worried about him 