It starts as "one missing assignment" and somehow turns into you refreshing the grade portal like it's a slot machine. Your kid looks… fine. Eating chips. Talking about a video game. Meanwhile your nervous system is writing a five-act tragedy. In this episode, Dr. Amy Patenaude breaks down why this is so often not a motivation problem. It's a load problem. A systems problem. An executive function problem. You'll learn what executive function actually is, why middle school and high school can suddenly expose the cracks, what a good evaluation should tell you (beyond a label), and what to ask for so you leave with a real Monday-morning plan.

• What executive function actually is (and why "just be responsible" isn't a plan)
• Why this often shows up in middle school and high school even if elementary seemed "fine"
• How "missing assignments" can be the last stop in a whole chain of breakdown points
• What a good evaluation should answer so it changes what happens on Monday morning
• How to talk about bottlenecks (starting, planning, working memory, turning it in) without blaming your kid
• Simple, copy-paste scripts for meetings and emails when your brain forgets English

• Create a 5-minute after-school landing pad: backpack spot, charger spot, "TURN IN" folder.
• Add two project checkpoints: (1) directions/rubric captured, (2) first tiny step started.
• Try the "one missing assignment" experiment: recover one this week, not twelve.
• Reset before requests: snack, water, ten minutes, then homework talk.
• Externalize time: set a 10-minute timer to start, not finish.

Pick one. One is enough.

• Boredom Buster Guide
• Big Feeling Decoder
• 50 AI Prompts for Tired Parents
• School Psych in Your Back Pocket: The School Testing Toolkit (K–12)

"This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not medical, psychological, or legal advice. Listening to this podcast does not create a provider-client relationship. If you're concerned about your child's mental health, safety, or development, please consult a qualified professional in your area."