My son at Aspen Ranch

[Whooter]

Hmmm….  Seems the locals are tad upset that programs are not abusive like they have been touting here for years.  Seems there haven’t been any kids locked up in hobbits or sat on by 300 lb staff members  since Nigels son has been there.  Never heard anything about detainees, prisons, guards, take downs, starvation diets, whippings or screaming at night.

Lol  Might need to roll it back a few more decades and talk about Straight and CEDU…ahhh the early years.  Now Lets get out there and inform some parents on how abusive these places are.

[Ursus]

I just got back from visiting my son.  I picked him up on Sunday and took him out for dinner.  I brought some of his favorite CD's so we could listen to music on the drive.  We had a great evening.  He said he didn't want to talk about The Aspen Ranch.  He only wanted to talk about his families and friends.  He talked about what he wants to do when he comes home---he wants to finish High School so he can attend college.  His goal is to take classes that will enable him to work in the music business, whether it be as a musician or in production.  We took a short hike after dinner (there are some buffalo nearby at a place called The Lodge).  
On Monday, I visited him at the Ranch.  I got to meet two more of his teachers.  We went down to look at the horses and we talked to the Equine Therapist.  My son loves his horse (Smarty).  He says that Smarty is a little "head strong" so they are a perfect fit.  I got to see his dorm and his room (both were clean and organized).  We took a hike to the top of a nearby mountain and had a long talk.  I asked him about all of the staff and he claims that his teachers are "the best" and that his therapist is "pretty good."  His only complaint was with one of the night staff (they watch the kids at night).  We talked about the kids.  He says he has made some great friends.  He has made plans with one of the boys to take a "roadtrip" up and down the west coast when they get out.  He also spoke of some kids that he didn't like.  He told me that he is really working hard at advancing to the next level, as he wants to go snowboarding with me in December/January.  He is also working hard at his studies.  I told him that I really see a change in his attitude and I asked him what he attributed it to.  He says he definitely has had a change in the way he thinks and that it is because he has had a lot of time to think.  He claims that talks he has had with some of the staff (the unlicensed ones) about their struggles and how they turned their lives around has really inspired him.  I asked him if these staff ever lead any of the group therapy sessions and he said that his therpist leads the sessions, but the staff are easy to talk to when they are just hanging around the dorm. He did tell me that he wants to come home and he wanted to make sure that I was going to make the decision on when to bring him home and I wasn't going to soley rely on The Aspen Ranch to make that decision.  I told him that I was going to make the decision and that I was very proud of his efforts and that I wanted to see him continue in this manner.  
As you can read, my son has really turned it around.  Whether it is because he really is changing for all the right reasons or just because he wants to come home, I don't know for sure, but at least he is "jumping through some hoops."  He looked healthy and strong (he has been working out in PE).  Our next visit is in early November.  I will keep you posted.

I wonder a bit about your son's desire not to talk about what's going on at Aspen Ranch (dinner on Sunday). Without placing undue focus on it, it does seem as though he's trying to avoid what may be a controversial topic between the two of you. This is echoed in his concern over whether you will rely on Aspen Ranch's determination, as opposed to your assessment, as to when he can come home.

[Troll Control]

Exactly.  These kids wise up quick once they understand saying anything negative about the program will cause them to stay even LONGER.  He's doing what he feels he has to do in order to have some hope of getting out.  

He's also getting a good education from his peers on how to lie, cheat, steal, smuggle in dope, get laid, etc at Aspen Ranch which is notorious for bad supervision and known as a "good hookup " school amongst the juveniles.  These kids are having sex every day at Aspen Ranch and smuggling in dope and and alcohol (or buying/trading it from the employees).

Two things are for sure.  1 - he's gonna hate NIGEL but won't say so until after he gets out or turns 18 and 2 - he's going to be far sneakier and more manipulative when he does finally get home.

[NIGEL]

Exactly.  These kids wise up quick once they understand saying anything negative about the program will cause them to stay even LONGER.  He's doing what he feels he has to do in order to have some hope of getting out.  

He's also getting a good education from his peers on how to lie, cheat, steal, smuggle in dope, get laid, etc at Aspen Ranch which is notorious for bad supervision and known as a "good hookup " school amongst the juveniles.  These kids are having sex every day at Aspen Ranch and smuggling in dope and and alcohol (or buying/trading it from the employees).

Two things are for sure.  1 - he's gonna hate NIGEL but won't say so until after he gets out or turns 18 and 2 - he's going to be far sneakier and more manipulative when he does finally get home.

To Ursus:
I never got the feeling he didn't want to talk about The Ranch at dinner because it is a controversial topic.  My impression is that we were both enjoying each others company and my son was very happy to be out to dinner (we went to Cafe Diablo in Torrey and had steaks).  He loves his extended family and he wanted to hear about them.  A couple of my son's friends told me to say hi and he wanted to talk about them.  On Monday, our conversations were pretty much all about the ranch and how my son was doing.  I asked very pointed questions and gave him every opportunity to tell me about what was wrong with The Aspen Ranch.  I left feeling like we had a great visit and that he has made tremendous progress.  Whether this progress is going to continue or not, who knows, but at least we are moving in the right direction.

To the "guest" above:
Your comments are so absurd that I won't comment further about them.

[Anonymous]

Whether it is because he really is changing for all the right reasons or just because he wants to come home, I don't know for sure, but at least he is "jumping through some hoops."  He looked healthy and strong (he has been working out in PE).  Our next visit is in early November.  I will keep you posted.

Nigel, I am so glad your visit went well.  Your son is progressing beautifully, you must be on cloud nine.
Thanks for posting, I enjoy reading your updates.

Substitute the word "dog" for "son" in the above shite and he might as well be talking about his Golden Retriever.  How is his  coat looking Mistah R?  Did they clear up the stank breath?  Once they've modified him they'll return him like a fresh, hot pizza and he won't do drugs, chase cars, piss on the rug or spend his days idly humping neighborhood bitches.  

Good boy.

shiny coat n' ther' fixin' im'...bahaahahaahhaaahahahahahahaah theheheheheheheehheehehehheehheh baahahaahahahahaha oh ahum, tee heeeheheheheheheeeeee

Still confounded by those goddamn contractions and how to use 'em properly.  You're trippin'.

[Ursus]

Exactly.  These kids wise up quick once they understand saying anything negative about the program will cause them to stay even LONGER.  He's doing what he feels he has to do in order to have some hope of getting out.  

He's also getting a good education from his peers on how to lie, cheat, steal, smuggle in dope, get laid, etc at Aspen Ranch which is notorious for bad supervision and known as a "good hookup " school amongst the juveniles.  These kids are having sex every day at Aspen Ranch and smuggling in dope and and alcohol (or buying/trading it from the employees).

Two things are for sure.  1 - he's gonna hate NIGEL but won't say so until after he gets out or turns 18 and 2 - he's going to be far sneakier and more manipulative when he does finally get home.

To Ursus:
I never got the feeling he didn't want to talk about The Ranch at dinner because it is a controversial topic.  My impression is that we were both enjoying each others company and my son was very happy to be out to dinner (we went to Cafe Diablo in Torrey and had steaks).  He loves his extended family and he wanted to hear about them.  A couple of my son's friends told me to say hi and he wanted to talk about them.  On Monday, our conversations were pretty much all about the ranch and how my son was doing.  I asked very pointed questions and gave him every opportunity to tell me about what was wrong with The Aspen Ranch.  I left feeling like we had a great visit and that he has made tremendous progress.  Whether this progress is going to continue or not, who knows, but at least we are moving in the right direction.

To the "guest" above:
Your comments are so absurd that I won't comment further about them.

Well... folks sure have different ways of communicating things sometimes... However, Guest did clue in to my concerns. Often, kids subjugate these sentiments and experiences for a l-o-n-g time, even once they are out of the program, possibly out of a need for psychological survival or for their world to "make sense." You may not even hear of some of the abuses that went on, in their appropriate context, 'till years later. And they don't even need to have happened specifically to your son, for them to have negative impact on him.

[Whooter]

Hey, Nigel, I am Happy you had a nice visit with your son.  He seems to be doing well and moving along.  So you are going back next month?  That’s quick, I had a few months in between visits, although it was a different program.  Does it seem like he will be carrying his interest for riding home with him.  My daughter worked at a horse farm after she came home and eventually adopted a horse.  She didn’t have access to horses at her program but it was one of her “to do” things for when she got home and she followed thru with it.


To the others here:

Your reading way too much into it.  His son has been living “The Ranch” 24/7.  If you hopped in the car with your dad and only had a few hours to visit what would you want to talk about?  He probably wants to hear about what’s going on at home , i.e. “News from the outside world!!”  lol and maybe talk about his new thoughts and his future plans..  

If he were having problems there then Nigel would know it right off… “Dad, you have to get me out of this place”….. “You don’t know what they do to us in there”….. “I am not going back in there ever!!!”

I dont believe Aspen Ranch will ever be one of the highlights of his life no matter how much it helps him because it will also be a reminder of the events that  lead him to be placed there.  As he grows and matures his time at Aspen Ranch will be viewed simply as a “Speed bump” in his life nothing really to rejoice nothing to regret.

[Troll Control]

Why bother logging in now, "Dot"?  Nobody cares what you say.  You've been trolling this thread for weeks under all sorts of pseudonyms, so why bother logging in now?  Needed another pro-persona?  There's your sockpuppet, NIGEL, and the rest of you already.

[NIGEL]

I just got off the phone with my son.  We talked about my recent visit and our feelings after I left.  My son has continued to work hard and is really trying to get to the next level (greenhorn) so we can go snowboarding over christmas.  My wife is visiting in two weeks for 3 days (this is a family visit where kids, parents, and therapists get together for some workshops).  I am then going to visit over Thanksgiving and the whole family will go out for Christmas.  I am hoping and praying that things will continue on this upward trend, as he seems much more positive and he has started to think more about his future.  He was sadest today when he talked about his friends.  He claims he has a lot of friends to appologize to and he is worried that when he comes home he is going to have to make new friends (my son has always had a hard time making friends).  We ended the call on a positive note (talking about him getting a dog when he comes home).  I will report again next Monday.

[Troll Control]

Ha, Ha, Ha.  Whooter is getting his sorry ass handed to him in several other threads.  The solution?  PULL OUT NIGEL!  Classic trolling.

[Troll Control]

Ha, Ha, Ha.  Whooter is getting his sorry ass handed to him in several other threads.  The solution?  PULL OUT NIGEL!  Classic trolling.

LOLS.  So true.  Desperate trolling, but so true.

[NIGEL]

Ha, Ha, Ha.  Whooter is getting his sorry ass handed to him in several other threads.  The solution?  PULL OUT NIGEL!  Classic trolling.

Next Monday I will make sure to say my son is doing terrible and he is being abused.  In group therapy he will have been abused by non-licensed staff.  He will have gotten drugs and liquor from the staff and had sex with one of the girls.  Will all of this make you happy?  

I would think you would be happy to hear how my son is doing.  I would think you would find it interesting to hear from a current parent on their experiences with The Aspen Ranch.  Right now my son is improving (I would hope you are all rooting for him), but I am not blind to the fact that he could also revert back to how he was before.  Either way, I will report on this forum.

[Ursus]

He claims he has a lot of friends to appologize to...

Classic 12-Step material. Did ya realize that your son would probably be subjected to a bastardized version of AA (in addition to everything else)?

Unlike community-based AA, which I have plenty to disagree with on its own anyway, this version he cannot walk away from, or "take what he needs, and leave the rest." This version is part of the program.

[NIGEL]

He claims he has a lot of friends to appologize to...

Classic 12-Step material. Did ya realize that your son would probably be subjected to a bastardized version of AA (in addition to everything else)?

Unlike community-based AA, which I have plenty to disagree with on its own anyway, this version he cannot walk away from, or "take what he needs, and leave the rest." This version is part of the program.

Ursus: He specifically mentioned two friends he wants to appologize to:  one friends family took him in when he ran away from my home and treated him very well.  He responded by stealing liquor from their liquor cabinet.  He feels he wants to let this family know how he now feels about this.  The other person is a friend of his that he introduced marijuana and lsd to.  That same friend got into a fair amount of trouble and is just now starting to turn things around.  My son feels he had something to do with this and wants to applogize.  I support both of these decisions.  Please let me know why this wouldn't be a good idea.

[Ursus]

Of possible interest to you, Nigel: Excerpt re. long term efficacy of RTCs from Surgeon General David Satcher's report.