Comment from first time user...

[freejack]

I was in Kids from 1985 to 1988. This is my first posting. Was quite amazed to find this thriving community of people who left the program. Quite a cathartic experience to read all of these postings. I have spent little time thinking about my experience in Kids, but often wonder what came of the people I spent so much time with. I see some names I recognize and it is indeed heartening to see that so many people have moved on with their lives.

I graduated the program in 1988 and became "estranged" within 6 months when the Newtons & Co. demanded that I be setback and start the program over again. Luckily I was 18 and my parents had had enough of the program. So from 1988 on I neither saw nor heard about anyone in the Kids program.

So I doubt that many people will remember me save for the fact that I think I might have been one of the few people in the program who lived in New York City. (I brought many newcomers home to our apartment in New York City and after myriad copout attempts, the powers that be decided I should only bring home newcomers from Utah who wouldn't feel at home or know where to go in the Big Apple)

I have so completely blocked out the Kids experience from my mind that reading these vaious posts brings back a wave of emotions. I don't feel traumatized by the experience, but it certainly altered the course of my life...

Anyway, it is really good to know that so many people from the program still communicate with eachother and I hope to hear more about the people I remember...
Kevin F.

[fartoogone]

I should have known it was you at "cathartic".

I have wondered about you many times.

I think I was even at an AA meeting in the basement of your parents Co-OP, at least it was close.

I have seen your parents on the street in NYC too.

Does your father still run marathons? Mom still make home-made pizza?

I hope all is well for you and mom and dad. Your family was really quite nice. I remember your mother sharing one night how awful she felt when she dropped young infant Kevin on the floor as a new mother. It made an impression on me, a host mom actually sharing something from her past.

How is your Asthma? Have you outgrown it at all?

I know I am not the only one who remembers the "nebulizer".

Best wishes.

ftg

[freejack]

Far Too Gone,

I am at a disadvantage not knowing who you are, but I think it's safe to assume I brought you home as a newcomer at some point...
My father is still running marathons and my mother's pizza making days ended the moment I stopped bringing home newcomers. They are both well.
Still have the asthma but not nearly as bad as it used to be - so no more "nebulizing".

I live and work in Washington DC, am married, and the father of a beautiful little boy.

I take it from reading some of these postings that you're not in the habit of disclosing your identity...would be interested to know who you are, but of course it's quite possible I wouldn't remember you anyway....

[KSmith]

Hello Kevin:  I do not remember you, but I was in Kids in Jersey in 85-86.  I do not live far from where you are now.  In fact, I work in Greenbelt.  I am glad to hear all is well.  You may remember me because I was always rebellious on the girls side.  I was also on every phase about 10 times each.  They tried to set me back after graduation too.  They did manage to sit me back in group as a graduate, but afterward, I ran away because I did not want to start all over again.  I was there for a little over two years.

[freejack]

KSmith,
I'm afraid I don't remember much and having an especially hard time remembering many people from the girls side other than staff members... As I look at more of this site the names and faces are slowly coming back to me.
When I first came in the program I made it to the 5th phase in about 6 months and then they started setting me back phase by phase until I was back on first again.
Spent about 6 to 8 months being rebellous but managed to avoid being restrained more than just a couple of times.  I floated around a long time but kept under the radar for the most part...
I was on the 3rd phase for the third time when I made the conscious decision to lie my way out of the program. I clearly remember making up my mind...I came back to the group after a day of school and was feeling really guilty about something ridiculous (don't even recall what it was - probably for looking at a girl for more than 5 seconds). I was so dreading having to get up in the group to talk about it...and then it just hit me - I don't have to talk about this! Who's going to know? I don't have to talk about any of this ridiculous garbage....
And from that moment I essentially liberated myself from the program. I let go of all the guilt and intense self-doubt and decided that I just needed to get out of this gulag... I had been there long enough at that point to know what I needed to talk about to appear tobe honestly working through my phases...so within a few months I lied my way back to 5th phase and graduated at the end of 1988...

The decision I made that day to con my way through is probably the only thing that saved me from being in the program for 5 years plus...

After graduating I hung out with other graduates for a time and even rented a beach house on the Jersey shore for a couple off weeks one summer...but as time went by I stopped coming by the program and stopped talking to people there - it was just too hard to maintain and I no longer saw the point...

But I was very lucky...when I severed contact my parents did not choose to "excommunicate" me the way many other parents did...my life would be much different had I been forced to completely fend for myself at the age of 18...

So in assessing my KIDS experience I always tell myself that it could have been far worse and if I could get through that I can pretty much get through anything....

[Anonymous]

Kevin F. ~  Glad to hear your doing well and you sound great !Good for you. Take care and be well. Katie Reid 86-91

[Anonymous]

Hi!
This is Rachel R's dad.
Think I know your family--did your father run in the marathon. Your mother Susan ?? was on staff for a bit.

Like to hear from you just to say hello.

[bex-b]

Hey Kevin,

welcome to the site.  I think I remember you as a graduate.  I started the program in March '89.  You wore glasses and reminded me of the Upper West Side??  Anyway, I was in the program with my brother Matt.  I am glad to hear you are doing well.

and to Rachel R.'s Dad... if we are speaking about the same Rachel R... I just wanted to say hi.  My best memories of the program are from your house, I used to love those salad feasts and seders that we would have.  I would love to talk to you.  My email is rebeccacampaubrown@msn.com if you get a chance to write.

Lots of love to all,

Rebecca Brown
March '89-October '90

[Anonymous]

Hi Kevin...it is Kay Zuverink (not my last name anymore though).  So nice to hear that you are alive and well and thriving in the nation's capital.  Any Monica sightings?  Also glad to know you have a young son...I do too.  Mikey, age seven and what a handful.  Regina Ardizone says hi too.  She has a six year old Maggie who is adorable and "high maintenance" according to Regina.  You can write to me if you want at kvitelli@nrcsd.org.  Later!!!!!

[Anonymous]

Good to hear from you Kevin. Frank S. 85-90 KOBC

[Anonymous]

I think Kevin goes by "Kathy" now.  I wonder if it bothers him when we address him as Kevin?

[Anonymous]

The Kevin we are speaking with on this particular chain of postings is Kevin F. from NYC.  The Kevin who is now Kathy is Kevin O. from New Jersey.  I don't think it bothers Kevin F. from NYC that we are calling him Kevin.

[Anonymous]

Oops.  Gotcha

[ottkat]

On 2003-05-08 09:20:00, Anonymous wrote:

"I don't think it bothers Kevin F. from NYC that we are calling him Kevin."

But I bet it would bother him, at least a little, if you called him Kathy. :roll:

[Anonymous]

:wink: