We are a family with 6 children and I am a single parent. 2 of my children are adults and doing well. My other children are ages 16, 14 and twins 13. Their father is not in the picture.
My children were disrespectful, lying and stealing from me. I considered my 16 year old the “ring leader.” She was expelled from school for cocaine. When she tested positive I enrolled her in a wilderness program. She came home only to relapse as she had the same friends and I had no counseling in place. Also I admit I was an enabler, not wanting my children to miss out on their childhood.
I discovered that all 4 children were experimenting with drugs. One of my twins decided he wasn’t going to be part of the drug scene. The others threatened him with violence. I had to find something, so I did what most parents do and turned to the Internet.
I enrolled my 16 and 13 year old daughters in a 100 day program and my 14 year old son in a six week wilderness program. My other 13 year old son and I began counseling locally.
There wasn’t anyone to give me answers about what to do for aftercare! I was totally lost.
I believe it was the 100 day program that finally advised me. They gave me Bodin’s phone number and this is where the final adventure began. I spoke with them about aftercare and hired Bodin to research therapeutic boarding schools. They were very thorough in speaking with the counsel at the facilities where all three children were, met with my children and got a complete view of what would work for the children and for me.
The children weren’t thrilled that I was sending them on another “adventure.” After a few days, they all truly liked the programs Bodin had recommended! They not only are getting their education in a drug-free environment, but also received counseling, family counseling and have grown dramatically! They have changed into respectful young adults. They have realized that we saved them, not punished them!
My 14-year-old son loves where he is receiving therapeutic education! Amazingly, he now is able to communicate with words instead of internalizing emotions and getting angry. He also tells me he’s very happy where he is and thanks me for enrolling him there!
It’s really hard when you send your child “on an adventure.” I miss them terribly at times and cry. As a parent, I know without a doubt that I have done everything I can do to save all of the children. I’ve worked through more programs than most parents could imagine.
We’ve had no bumps along the way. Our Bodin consultants stay in touch with the facilities and check on my children’s progress frequently. They truly helped me to realize that what I was doing was right. I have a great relationship with our consultants and feel they truly care about our family and want to help save the children and the whole family unit. The consultants are amazing.
My children are still in the aftercare phase. There are a lot of changes that they needed to make as well as changes I needed to make so when they come home, the environment is different than before. We will continue to work with Bodin until each child complete the programs they are in now. I’m positive our relationships will continue beyond this because our Bodin consultants want to know the outcome for each child in the years to come.
I know financially things are tough for everyone now. I feel that making the investment in my children now, however, I can pay for it is of no relevance. Saving them is more important than anything.
If it wasn’t for the hard work of the Bodin consultants, I am sure we’d be relapsing again. They truly did double time to help our family.