My son still has some growing to do.

[sistawendy]

M'boy took his ACT today. For folks outside the US, that's one of the two standardized college entrance tests, the other being the SAT. Since he's got a learning disability, Aspiring Ex et al. arranged for him to have extra time to take the test, which is apparently a customary accommodation. He was taking the test on the UW campus from 0845 to 1430 today.

The ACT is in several sections. You're not allowed to skip back and forth between sections, but you're allowed to decide for yourself when to put down one and start another. You know where this is going: despite the extra time, my son didn't even start on the writing section.

Executive function, my son. Executive function.

I told m'boy, calmly even, that this wasn't good, and that he has probably hurt his chances of getting into a four year school. Since the writing section was technically optional - most students take it - and someone else (Aspiring Ex, I assume) signed him up for it, there ensued the Wendling's characteristically maddening attempts to spin things to make it seem as if it wasn't that bad. I don't buy it, and I don't think he buys it either anymore.

ETA: M'boy later insisted on looking up the UW's application directions, and they do indeed require the writing section. It looks as if AX was on the ball, as usual.

My poor son. He made a reasonable effort today, but he admits he could have practiced more to get up to speed on the other sections. He'd been told that time management was a big factor on the ACT, but he seemed to have forgotten that.

rigel_p pointed out to me this past spring that he doesn't seem to understand that something bad might happen to him if he doesn't learn to cope with (or better yet use) his various brain quirks. At least today might mark a turning point.

We went out for Korean food afterwards, because I'd promised him earlier and he didn't eat his snack until the test was over. (!) He demolished a plate of bulgogi and a bowl of green tea ice cream, and is currently asleep; he was up at about 0615.

Icing? His learner's permit for driving expired on October 9th. That's right: unbeknownst to anyone, he's been driving illegally for the last two weeks. He's got to renew that before he can get his regular license. Now that the ACT is done, he'll have time to study for that.

---

For better or worse, I can't find any episode of Magnificent Century with English subtitles after season 1. I think that's Allah God telling me to stop watching it.

Comments

[loree.livejournal.com]

All may not be lost. There are still three more test dates (http://www.actstudent.org/regist/dates.html) before the end of the academic year.

[sistawendy.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but there are application deadlines to consider, and getting accommodations increases the lead time by months. His mother & I will discuss.

To tell you the truth, I'm not sure it would be worth it. Even if we could line up another test date in time, this has been a convincing demonstration of just how unready he is for a four-year college, especially one away from home.

[tylik.livejournal.com]

So, when consequences happen, is he good at post facto rationalization? Good at them only if someone is around to help him with the rationalizations? Because having to deal with painful consequences can be useful (not fun, but it's one of those things), but not if we manage to avoid dealing with them in a useful way.

[sistawendy.livejournal.com]

So, when consequences happen, is he good at post facto rationalization?

Is he ever! He doesn't need any help, he doesn't seem to feel much pain, and he's been avoiding dealing with consequences usefully for years.

[randomdreams.livejournal.com]

Aw, man, poor kid.
Yeah, the number one symptom of lousy executive function is not understanding the harm that comes from lousy executive function.
I'm with loree -- if he can, sign up for and do another. I did mine twice, and the second time around, did significantly better.

[sistawendy.livejournal.com]

See the comment I left for loree. He'll be taking it again, but probably not this year.

[eeyorerin]

I took the SAT twice. I still suck at quantitative comparisons. And if he doesn't go this year, he doesn't go. College will still be there next year.

I don't want to talk about it here since this is a public post, but I am dealing with a Wendling-like person at my job and I can give you some insight on what that looks like from my side if you want. Send me a PM or an email.

[manintheboat.livejournal.com]

I bombed the ACT. Didn't take the SAT.
Eventually went to a 4 year college.
Am now a top person in my field.
Let him decide what he wants to do.

[sistawendy.livejournal.com]

I'm sure he'll figure out what he wants to do and do it in the long term. It's the next twelve months or so that I'm worried about.