Here in the UK nearly 4000 families applied for the new series to be aired next week on Channel 4. Seven children, all girls were selected, of which one was my daughter.
None of the parents went into this lightly. All of us looked very carefully at the pros and cons. The biggest con being 'airing your laundry in public' plus the impact the programme would have on the child, siblings and extended family. This had absolutely nothing to do with being on TV and was all about the opportunity to help my daughter in a way that I could never afford or is available (we don't have Brat Camps in the UK). Once I knew that my daughter was likely to be selected I spoke to the parents of the previous series, read all press coverage and checked out forum boards such as this one, in the UK and US. Plus checked out the camp's safety record, approach, staff qualifications etc., before giving my daughter the choice of whether she wanted to take part - it was very much her decision.
All the girls knew to a certain extent, what they were getting into, having seen the previous series. My daughter thought she would be sitting in a stone circle eating porridge, for most of the time, yet gave up a family holiday to go to Utah. Deep down, she knew she had a big problem and she wanted help. All other avenues that we had tried had failed and we had nowhere else to turn.
Publicity for the show is everywhere, in the press, on radio, trailers (featuring amongst others, my daughter).
My daughter has received nothing but support from her friends, school and family. She's handling more negative comments from people who don't know her, or her background with humour and we all know that this weeks news is tomorrow's fish n chip paper. On the whole, the pubicity is vary positive. She WAS a brat..... she isn't now.
The cost of sending my daughter to brat camp was around £30 - £40K and now it's quid pro quo time. Given the same circumstances again, knowing what we know now, we would do it all again.
My daughter did very well at brat camp and it was certainly a positive life changing experience for her. Our family has benefited enormously from the teenager she has become as a result of it and she is happy and focussed on what she would like to achieve in her life. And she's kept in touch with all the staff, as have all those that appeared in the programme.
Was it worth it?
Boy, was it worth it!