Last week my husband and I took Adam to look at 2 Residential Treatment Centers. It was eye opening. The first one was definitely not a fit. The Therapist that showed us around talked to us in front of Adam as if he weren't there. Adam was becoming very agitated. By the end, I asked him if he knew why we were considering this option for our son. He showed me a paper that said ADHD on it. By this time Adam was in tears and running his fingers through his hair. He said, "Mom I haven't felt this bad since I was in the hospital." I told him we will never go there again. It was awful. He had a bad dream about it a couple of days ago.

The second place was completely different. She treated Adam with respect. She gave him the choice to interview w/or w/ out us in the room. He said he would do it on his own. She called back and said that Adam needs to be a little more stable ( we went to both places w/in 2 hrs of each other) to come to her program. We had already decided that it would be too traumatic because the kids there are dealing w/ such different issues than he is. (Foster and adopted kids.)

We told Adam that we are still looking, but that if he wanted to stay home, he needed to be on a schedule and step it up a bit. Wow. His teacher and Tutor were so impressed this week.  On several occasions, he sat down and completed assignments on his own. He wanted to go surfing 5 out of 7 days. He is took his meds on his own last night when I went out. He says he is feeling "normal" more times than not. He is doing his chores on his own or w/ just one prompting. His teacher said she considers him to be high

functioning.

Adam has not smoked pot in over a month now. He says he can tell the difference and he attributes it to his clarity. 

I am going back to the school district  to look at more options. I am still looking at other Residential sites, but am not sure that the trauma is the best answer right now.

I am not feeling the doom that I was feeling a few weeks ago. I am falling in love with the new Adam, without giving up hope that he will have a great recovery.

I am grateful for this site and how much I have learned here. Also, I love being able to vent to those who "get it."

God Bless,

Kathy