My child did not sacrifice his childhood, his safety OR his health. In fact, we sent him to the program so he would BE safe, and he was.
How do you know that? Oh, because the PROGRAM told you. And, of course, your child's cries for help were just "manipulation". :roll:
His nutrition was better, he was away from drugs and alcohol and he was healthy.
How do you know his nutrition was better?
How do you know he was away from drugs and alcohol? In many of these facilities, the staff often give students drugs and alcohol.
And how do you know he was healthy?
Hey, here's a revolutaionary idea: How about you BEING A PARENT and taking care of all this on your own?
He did give up a year of his life to mature and gain perspective- I wouldn't refer to that year as part of "childhood".
Children do not "mature" in programs. If anything, they regress to infanthood. They are not allowed to experience independence, because they are not allowed to make even the simplest decisions. They are not allowed to experience maturity, because they are constantly treated as babies who must be contained, restricted, restrained. Their growth is stunted.
What "perspective" did you son gain? What lessons has he learned? He leanred to survive in a highly hostile, abusive environment. He's learned how easly will his own parents abandon him. He learned never to trust you again. He learned he must put on a show for you if he doesn't want to be sent back into hell.
Giving an angry, at-risk teenager the chance to turn his life around doesn't seem like such a sacrifice. Yep-he lost the ability to steal things, hurt other people, ruin his future, destroy his family.....what a terrible sacrifice he made.
Children who go through these programs lose the ability to trust others, because they have learned they can't trust their own parents, who are supposed to protect and support them. Their parents abandoned them (by sending them away) and betrayed them (by dismissing their cries for help as "manipulation").
Children who go through these programs lose the ability to feel safe. After months or years of being constantly watched, punished harshly for even the slightest infraction, being watched at all times-- even while showering or undressing (99.9% of all programs do this), and having to follow excessively restrictive r8ules taht change on the whim of the unqualified, untrained staff-- these children learn that they can't be safe anymore. They learn that there is always someone watching, waiting to hurt them.
Children who go through these programs lose their innocence, their ambition, their drive, and in some cases their will to live. Their souls are murdered. You have sent your son off to be slaughtered. Way to go, mom. Pat yourself on the back and tell yourself again that you made the "loving choice". Ignore your son's nightmares, anxiety, and reports of abuse-- it's all "manipulation" anyway, isn't it, "Mom"? :roll:
