I'm sorry you are not having a good day.
As far as the grades go, I think what my parents did is the only way to do it. I was NEVER pressured to get A's, but my cousin was. If my parents could see that I was trying they would think a C was great if that was my best. My cousin on the other hand would bring home tests with 95% on them and get asked "So where's the other 5%?" Long story short, I went to college & I have a business and economics degree, and I have a job in my field. She never went to college (barely graduated high school), is unemployed and lives at my house (I hope she never sees this). In all fairness, she did just get accepted to a college, but we will see if she follows through with that.
Just my 2 cents.