motivation??

[a76bluebell]

I don't even know how to start this. He is a good kid. 16 years old, reasonably good grades, doesn't skip school, doesn't do drugs, hangs out with nice kids. I feel that he doesn't put forth any effort to achieve. He does enough to get by, yet I know that he craves the attention that success brings. He sets himself up for defeat. For instance, this morning was the first morning practice for wrestling. 10 minutes before we were to leave, he told me that he thought that he was getting mono again and wasn't going to practice. I took him to the dr. and no, he doesn't have mono. During the football season, he went to the practices but never put forth any effort in the weight room to improve himself and there fore didn't see much action on the field. It angered him and he said it was the coach’s fault and so forth. It's as if he sets himself up with an excuse for failure before he tries. He is a wonderful musician, and as soon as the music teacher told him that he had talent, he stopped playing. Anyone need a new tenor saxophone? Is this something that he just needs to work out? I am fine if he wants to be average, there is nothing wrong with being average! I'm an average person and so is his dad! With a little bit of effort though, he could be a state champion next year. I worry that it’s me that wants the success but I really would like him to feel the success, for him to work towards something and achieve it. At least know that he put forth all his effort. I am sure this doesn't make much sense but I would like your opinion.