Back from Camp Consequence

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LostMama

Guest
Our family went to Camp Consequence this past weekend. It was brutal for kids and parents. It was me, hubby, difficult child and our somewhat compliant children - 9 yo, 7 yo, 7yo. Our 3 year old was too young for camp so she stayed with a relative.

I had to lie to difficult child to get her there. Well, I didn't lie but I let her think we were going home. It wasn't until we pulled in the correctional facility that she realized something was going on. (The camp is on the grounds of our local jail.) Fortunately, they were prepared & knew how to deal with her when she flipped out. My job was to get out of the van and to lock the door behind her when she got out so that she wouldn't try to get back in. She did indeed flip out!

She cried and carried on for 2 hours. Then she put her jumpsuit on and complied with the program 100% for the rest of the weekend.

I won't lie. Camp was miserable. We could NOT talk to our kids until Sunday. We worked in a garden with the kids on Saturday but we weren't allowed to talk to our kids at all. I wasn't able to comfort my 7 yo when he was put in a time out. (He had run up and told me he wanted to go home.) Poor kid sobbed & it broke my heart.

The parents came back from the garden earlier then the kids and we worked on our family plan, mapping out rules and consequences.

And the results so far??

Our home has already changed dramatically. Our younger kids were having a REALLY hard time getting to bed. In the past, I'd kindly ask then husband would ask but they wouldn't really get in bed & stay in bed until one of us blew. That problem has been solved. It makes our evenings so much nicer! And that was from our somewhat compliant children.

Our difficult child?? She has been VERY compliant. She did tell me that she was just faking it and that she still planned on doing what she wanted. We found out that she's been smoking pot and she told me that she plans on cutting back now. Cutting back???? As a part of camp, we visited the women in jail and they told us how they got there. 90% of them are in jail for drug charges. A little pot turned into other addictions which turned into prostitution for some of the women. One of the girls was arrested for having a few pot SEEDS in her wallet. She's been in jail for 9 months waiting for her court date. Some of the girls were arrested because they were simply around others were got busted. Oye! And my strong-willed difficult child is just going to cut back??? We had her do a drug test on Sunday and it was negative so we know she is clear now. We'll do another one soon.

I have no doubt that we are in the honeymoon phase and that things will explode at some point. But for now...I'm really happy. Oh and she earned her first negative consequence for causing me to be late yesterday. I wish you could have seen difficult child's face when she saw that we had the fridge locked! Legally, you have to provide food for your child but it doesn't have to be what they want. So, I locked up all the snacky food & cereals. She got mad which is really the desired effect. Anyhow, the program is working & I feel in control. No more yelling! Yay!
 

Lucedaleblessed

Active Member
I saw something the media about it. They used to have the camp out in the woods.

Why did you take all the children to the program and not only your difficult child?

Was it a part of their program?
 
L

LostMama

Guest
I'm not aware of other programs like this. The info on ours is at ihelpparents.com It's based on 'The Parenting Project' and I know that other parts of the country have classes on that but I think our local program may be the only one that has a camp to supplement the program, too. They did tell us that they have had a few families fly in to attend camp. They attended classes in their area but need the stark harshness of camp to drive the point in.
 
L

LostMama

Guest
Yes, they used to have the camp in the woods. The article talks about what the program was like in the woods.

http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/122907/met_229833464.shtml

We brought the whole family because they really suggested it. They said that you want the 'problem' child to know that we are a family and that we are tackling the problem as a family. I honestly wish they would have been a bit easier on the younger kids but...I can't really argue with the success we have seen so far. I have to say that I was SHOCKED when my kids ate the nasty bran cereal with powdered milk that was provided for breakfast. Especially my picky eaters. Oh they ate that food at camp! They were scared not to. So we've actually solved another problem in that the kids know we expect them to eat what we serve.
 

Campwitness

New Member
In my opinion from expiriencing this camp first hand as a camper and now as a adult I can truly see the bullshit that lies beneath...Glen Ellison tells the psychologist that recommend this program a totally different story that what really happens there.I personally have never felt such a deep sadness in my heart than when I see kids ages 6&7 in this horrible program.
 

JES

New Member
Adults tend to overestimate their offspring, we tend to believe our kid is very smart, yes, FOR THEIR AGE! Parents need to realize that kids are NOT their friends but children in their charge, and that discipline, is not something to TRADE with them but a NEED to help them grow up in human society, there wouldn't be so many kids being rude, being kicked out of school, or filling the courtrooms and Juvenal Hall — and/or being easy targets for criminals.
I think the big wave came with the baby boomers that called their parents "old fashion" and swore not to be "mean" to their kids and not to deprive them of things. Nowadays kids, not only ignore their chores and still have TVs, computers, and all sorts of expensive things in their rooms but when they don't get what they want, many demands and threaten their parents and guardians… and they get away with it… sadly, if not stopped when young, many will end up committing even murder...

Kids aren’t born criminals, it is natural that the child will try to get away with something, but it's up to the parents to put limits. A pitti that Jails and cemeteries are full of those who never knew boundaries.
 

JES

New Member
In my opinion from expiriencing this camp first hand as a camper and now as a adult I can truly see the bullshit that lies beneath...Glen Ellison tells the psychologist that recommend this program a totally different story that what really happens there.I personally have never felt such a deep sadness in my heart than when I see kids ages 6&7 in this horrible program.
Sorry to read this, it seems that you are harboring thick hate that doesn't let you see further than your personal situation.
 

ksm

Well-Known Member
I hope this helps your difficult child, but I worry about your younger children...no way could or would I not console a 7 yo and not talk to them for a weekend. Ksm
 

Lucedaleblessed

Active Member
Wow. That is an old thread which was woken. It was not the latest update regarding the daughter progress after Camp Consequence. Later the daughter spiraled out of control and we sadly never learned what the final outcome became.

We look into something similar up in Michigan and also as with the poster of this thread the result seemed positive in the start but the reality is that we lost contact with our daughter when she turned 18 and could move out on her own. She has cut us off entirely. Later we learned about some of the criticism of the weekend boot camp in Michigan which we would have liked to have known back then. We can only second-guess our choices and there is no turning back once you take such a step. Was it worth it to lose contact with your child because you as a parent wanted to address truancy and illegal alcohol consumption? Today I do not think so.
 
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