DD3 is my youngest child. Her sisters are close in age and there is a three year gap between her and dd2 so she's always been the 'baby'. She's also a late summer born so the youngest in her friendship group.
She was a very easy going, get along with everyone kind of child but not very academic, kind of average but not hugely interested. Consequently it feels as though I've been trying to motivate her for years. Since she went to upper school at 13 her self esteem has plummeted and she's seen herself as 'thick'. This led progressively to refusing school in year 11 as she was petrified of failing GCSEs. As grades were awarded on coursework,teacher assessment etc she only passed Hair & Beauty which she loved and did very well at. She is now in year12 and at her school's Hair & Beauty Academy doing a BTEC which was going really well. She attended lessons via Zoom in lockdown and was completing all her work, even for her Maths and English resits. Since returning to school she has lost all motivation, is skipping classes, says she doesn't want to do hairdressing any more but has no other ideas. Additionally she's constantly asking me and her sisters for money.
I've explained that I can't afford to keep giving her cash (her dad also gives her money) and that she needs to think about how she's going to support herself in the future. I think she should focus on her Maths and English GCSEs and her BTEC even if hairdressing/beauty aren't long term career choices as they'll keep her going until she decides what she wants to do. She says I just don't understand and I can't make her do anything...aaargh!
I'm out of ideas to help/support her and also rapidly running out of patience as I work full time but don't earn a lot and she goes through money like water.
Please tell me what you would do.