trying to remain positive

T-Man is not stepping up to plate.  He needs to do one paper - that's all - to graduate - he's had no other homework - he didn't have to study for anything - just one paper that we offered to help him with numerous times and yet - he isn't doing it!  He leads us on and lets us believe he's "on my way home" to work on it and then..... nothing.  No show.  In fact, he blew off school yesterday to "work on his paper" and then after writing one sentence, he took off.  I know he's frustrated (he told me that he's very stressed out) and has a difficult time starting but isn't taking the next step by asking or accepting help.  Now he only has one absence allowed and he may be kicked out of the program.  I won't be home when he is supposed to get up and out the door.  Sigh. He always does this - he is within an inch from making it to the finishing line and then..... he quits.  He just plain stops. This has been a pattern for him the last couple of years and it's so frustrating.  Obviously, the last couple of years made it difficult for him to focus on school but I was hoping he'd be able to manage this.   Here's where the Serenity Prayer comes in.  I will repeat it a number of times to remind myself that I'm not the one in charge here.    Update:  He came home from school, after talking to his teacher, and she said he doesn't need to rush the paper.  There is no hurry.  She realized the stress he was putting on himself. Yes - even the stress of starting it seems to be the biggest obstacle.  The problem with telling him not to "hurry" is that gives him even more room to "wiggle".  Oh well, not my problem.  Hopefully, he will accept the help when he's ready.