Editor's Note: Do you need sound, Biblically-based advice on an issue in your marriage or family?  Dr. David will address two questions from Crosswalk readers in each weekly column. Submit your question to him at TheRelationshipDoctor@gmail.com.

Dear Dr. David,

My son is in the 7th grade and he has struggled in school since the first grade, basically. We even held him back in the 2nd grade. He has been tested for everything you can possibly be tested for and he has passed everything. At his school they have even put him on a program where his work is modified. The school, his teachers, the principal and counselors have been wonderful to work with him and myself. He has even been taking medication to pay attention in class-- (for ADD, not ADHD.) He isn't hyperactive, he just has an attention problem. But, still it doesn't make a difference in his grades. I've grounded, spanked and done everything I know to do as a parent and I am at a total loss. He is, in my opinion, immature for his age. So, I feel like he just doesn’t care. I even took him to Sylvan Learning Center, but it was too expensive for us to do. Otherwise, I would've loved to have put him in the program. But, we just couldn’t afford it.

What can I, as a parent, do when I feel like he doesn't care if he passes or fails? What is there left to do? I feel like I have done all I know to do as a parent. I love him and I have spoken to him several times about how important having an education is, but even though he says he cares, his grades say different. Please help. ~ At a Loss

Dear At a Loss,

You join the ranks of many parents who struggle to find a way to motivate their children, academically, behaviorally, emotionally and spiritually. As James Dobson aptly said, parenting isn’t for cowards. As a father of two sons, I personally know the rigors of parenting.

Motivating our children academically has got to be one of the top frustrations of parenting. Not only do I know first-hand about trying to motivate two sons to perform in school, but—gasp!—I also remember my parents’ attempt to motivate me to perform in school. They had their hands full.

In many ways you sound like you’re doing everything I would encourage from a parent: working closely with school personnel, obtaining testing to rule in or out certain problems, finding additional resources when available, and developing a structure within the home to enhance the possibility of performance.

You indicate you’ve done all of these and yet your son seems immature and unmotivated. This is puzzling for a young boy, though we must consider that he is entering adolescence and motivations often change at this age. Nonetheless, most children enjoy school and the learning process, assuming the attention issues are managed appropriately. I have a couple of things worth consideration.