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Impact on my family

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cleveland:
Last night, I started to think about the impact of the Seed program on my family. There were many direct consequences of my imvolvement. First of all, my younger brother was 'on the front row' before me. I came home from college and soon joined him, so impressed was I with his dramatic transformation. My younger sister, who was finishing high school, thought we were both crazy although she was willing to believe that we 'needed' the program.

Of course, I never said anything at all to her besides, "I am happy now, happier than I've ever been. And if you want to be happy too, you will do the right thing and get into the Seed. Outside of that, I really don't have anything to say to you. I love you."

Can you imagine? My sister and I had been really close, and here I am, essentially cutting all ties with her unless she gets 'straight.'

Eventually, my brother drifted away from the Seed while I continued to be closely involved. Nothing dramatic. Our contacts were few and far between, as he was living with my mother out of state and still in High School.

My parents, who were divorced, I saw infrequently. In seven years, I saw my father about 5 or 6 times when he would visit Florida - I saw my mother about 3 or 4 times. My grandmother visited Florida twice and I came up to Cleveland to see her in the hospital. That's it. I saw my sister not at all, or really my cousins, and we'd been really close too.

So, essentially, the Seed destroyed my family. We maintained the appearance of being a family but it was merely formalities - a couple of awkward visits with no connection. I would just tell them  how 'great' I was doing, and that was it. No self disclosure, no doubts, no deep conversations. And my 'druggie' sister I shunned completely.

When I finally left the Seed, imagine my surprize at my sister's anger. And my brother's distance. My father said that I had been a 'zombie' when I was at the Seed; my mother still wanted to believe that she had done the right thing.

I had been gone from the age of 19 to 26. It took a long time to recover some feeling of family, to deal with our issues together and heal. But in a lot of ways, it was too late.

Ft. Lauderdale:
My family was destroyed before I ever stepped foot in the Seed.
The distance  it did cause between us, was definatly for the best.
They were very self distructive and emtionally abusive towards me.
When I did move back home ( I was still in High School) My sister & I did not get along at the time she was using drugs but my 3 younger brothers I actually did connect with and sort of parented them.  I just kind of ignored my parents and tried to do the best I could.  Now when I was turned 19, I moved out actually moved to Ft Pierce.  I didn't have much to do with my family except for holidays and birthdays.  The more I could be around them without blowing up at their wierdness the more time I spent with them. (my parents that is)  
I am now probably closest with my sister & youngest brother. I really enjoy holidays with my entire family these days believe it or not.  I am a godfather to my sisters kids. (not that I think the church was so crazy about that.)  As time has gone on we have all grown very close.   My father actually went to AA five years after I went to the seed.  Ironically , he was very involved till the day he died.  Infact at his funeral the place was packed.  We were amazed at the other life he lived and how many people were so fond of him.

GregFL:
here it is in spades. Cleveland, this is what cults do to families. Our particular little cult destroyed many a family, divided them right down seedling/non seedling and supporter/doubter lines.

GregFL:
Ft Luaderdale, How in the Hell did your younger siblings stay off the program? There must have been extreme pressure for them to join up and drop their druggie attitudes.

Am I wrong?

Jimmy Cusick:
There WAS a song about "We love Art". I know because I remember the words.

There was a man by the name of Art, that decided to kive kids a bran new start.

So he opened up a building on Andrews street and him and the druggies started to meet.

Yes, we love him.
Yes, we love him

This was the start of all the kids needs so Art decided to call it the seed.

Thats what I remember. Talk about a CULT

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