WILLY: If old man Wagner was alive I’d a been in charge of New York now! That man was a prince, he was a masterful man. But that boy of his, that Howard, he don’t appreciate . When I went north the first time, the Wagner Company didn’t know where New England was! WILLY ( stopping the incipient argument, to Happy): Sure, he’s gotta practice with a regulation ball, doesn’t he? ( To Biff.) Coach’ll probably congratulate you on your initiative!

LINDA: You shouldn’t have criticized him , Willy, especially after he just got off the train. You mustn’t lose your temper with him. WILLY: There’s more people! That’s what ruining this country! Population is getting out of control. The competition is maddening! Smell the stink from that apartment house! And another one on the other side . . . How can they whip cheese? There is no question that our achievement-oriented, competitive culture has created a pressure cooker for today’s adolescent. Teenaged boys are extremely sensitive to this stress, and as a psychologist I see its victims daily. Bright and capable boys complain of feeling inadequate and ineffective. But rather than working harder and staying up later, they react to this pressure by shunning their work altogether, propping up their fear-based rebellion with justifications like “I am not going to be one of those nerds who have no life,” or “Tests don’t measure intelligence or help you learn, so what’s the point of studying for them?” They protect themselves by turning to avoidance and denial—the primary coping mechanisms of adolescence. WILLY (angrily) : What’re you talking about? With scholarships to three universities they’re gonna flunk him?WILLY: But I gotta be at it ten, twelve hours a day. Other men —I don’t know — they do it easier. I don’t know why — I can’t Do you truly find your son lazy in all aspects of life, or are there any areas (even just video games or hobbies) where he seems to have a great deal energy to spend. WILLY (With pity and resolve.): I’ll see him in the morning; I’ll have a nice talk with him. I’ll get him a job selling. He could be big in no time. My God! Remember how they used to follow him around in high school? When he smiled at one of them their faces lit up. When he walked down the street...(He loses himself in reminiscences.) Honestly, I never thought that having the amazing opportunity of witnessing the transition of my son becoming an adult was going to drive me crazy, to make me doubt myself in one year more than I have during my whole life, to make me want to give up, run away and hide for the next 10 years. Because, parenting teenagers, is really challenging and frustrating sometimes :( . And I know everybody can say that but no one will truly realize it until one day their sweet babies are transforming into saucy teenagers!!

I have read several books about teenagers and parenting but this book has greatly surprised me so far. It is so simple but oh so real and raw and sincere and compassionate that I already know I will read it more than once. This book is a huge ray of hope for me, there's a saying that goes: "it takes a village to raise a child" however, to raise a teenager it surely takes more than just a village. Well, this book for me has become all that. I am not sure how I found it but I am truly grateful that I decided to buy it when I needed it the most.This book will take a few days at least, as there is a lot to it. The first part covers the why your son behaves the way he does, using relatable scenarios from his life and practice, along with a more heavy chapter about the science of the teen boy's brain and underdeveloped pre-frontal cortex. He covers so much that I have heard over the years: executive functioning, growth mindset, gender differences, scaffolding, etc. He explains it in simpler terms, as these are important if you truly want to understand your son. was eighty thousand miles on it. ( He shakes his head.) Heh! ( To Linda.) Close your eyes, I’ll be right up. ( He walks out of the bedroom.) LINDA: It was so nice to see them shaving together, one behind the other, in the bathroom. And going out together. You notice? The whole house smells of

They opt out because it becomes a no win situation for them - much easier for girls. They can’t talk about it because of fear of looking weak. The answer is NOT to change them but to adjust their education to fit who they really are whether it would be homeschooling, dual enrollment, change schools from the ridiculous system that is failing our kids , mostly boys. WILLY: When the hell did I lose my temper? I simply asked him if he was making any money. Is that a criticism?Though on the outside, they look like they’re impervious to academic pressures, in fact their behavior is a direct response to the stress they’re experiencing. Contrary to appearances, these kids aren’t just lazy—they’re overcome by demands that they fear they simply cannot meet. And so, in the face of pressures they feel they cannot handle, they choose to “opt-out” of the competition altogether. These “opt-outs” are the subject of this book. Is it typical for young teenage boys to be lazy but for them to become more diligent as they get closer to finishing high school? (I would not have thought so, but was advised by someone who is older than me — although not necessarily qualified that this is the case). HAPPY ( moving about with energy, expressiveness) : All I can do now is wait for the merchandise manager to die. And suppose I get to be merchandise manager? He’s a good friend of mine, and he just built a terrific estate on Long Island. And he lived there about two months and sold it, and now he’s building another one. He can’t enjoy it once it’s finished. And I know that’s just what I would do. I don’t know what the hell I’m workin’ for. Sometimes I sit in my apartment — all alone. And I think of the rent I’m paying. And it’s crazy. But then, it’s what I always wanted. My own apartment, a car, and plenty of women. And still, goddammit, I’m lonely. Frankly, I hadn't realized that a book like this needed to be written, but I guess that's my privilege speaking. In He's Not Lazy, Dr. Price, a renowned expert on ADHD and learning disabilities, explains how to help a boy who is not lazy, but rather, is conflicted about trying his best. Dr. Price will guide you to discover hidden obstacles to your son's success, set expectations, and empower him to accept responsibility for his own future. He's Not Lazy will help you become your son's ally, as he discovers greater self-confidence and becomes more self-reliant.