I've been extremely busy at work, and have had family in town, so I haven't had a chance to update lately. I have checked in a few times, and stay informed with everyone's story on here. Please know each and every one of you are in my thoughts and prayers...
My difficult child is home right now. He's been here since Tuesday night. How did we get to this point? Well, he had court last Wedbesday. As of that Tuesday, he had not done one thing his prosecutor told him to do, so naturally, he started to panic. I started receiving texts from him, begging and pleading for me to give him one last chance to prove himself...and to let him come home. He stated he need a place to start his new path. I stood my ground and told him the only thing I could offer him was a ride to a treatment center. I guess he dwelled on that for a bit, and the text came through...telling me that if that was the only way I was going to believe that he is ready to change, then lets go. So, I immediately got on the phone with the treatment center, and made plans to take him Wednesday after court. The lady I spoke to even volunteered to fax me a letter to give to his prosecutor that stated that plans were in the making for difficult child to be admitted on such and such date. I went to bed that night with a small sense of relief. After all, I know to not get my hopes up with difficult child's cries for help. And rightfully so, because I received a text the following morning (the morning of court) and difficult child had a change of heart. After taking to his father, and a childhood friend, he had decided to enlist in the National Guard. I had mixed emotions about that. I felt he first needed treatment to help fix any underlying issues that led him to abuse drugs. But, he's 20, and I can't force him to do anything. The prosecutor was happy to hear of his plans, and the case was dismissed. So, off we go...
I went home that afternoon and typed up a contract because I knew the call would come asking if he could come home. And it did. The contract is very tight, and full of matter of facts. There's no room for mistakes. Or relapses. Or another second chance (actually, we're way past second chances. He knows that if he simply breathes wrong (insert sarcasm), he's out on the street.
He's completed the first 2 steps with the National Guard. The 2nd step was a bit challenging. He had past the test (may I brag and say he made the highest score out of everybody there that day and then it was time for the background check. While they looked past his DUI, it was the possession charge that was going to hurt him, per his recruiter. When difficult child received that news, he was immediately on the phone with the court in the town he was arrested (small town...2 red lights). The clerk listened to his story about him trying to get into the military in an effort to get his life back on track, and she said ok, let me call you back in 10 minutes. When she called back, she said the judge has agreed to expunge his case if he'll send in 50.00 and a letter stating why the judge should do this for him. He wrote up the letter, and I overnighted it and the money that day. His recruiter was very impressed with his efforts, and his enlistment process shall continue. He goes back next week for the 3rd step. His recruiter states that if all goes smoothly, he should be shipped off to basic training in a little over a month.
I have so many different emotions right now. I'm aware anything can happen in the next month, so it's safe to say that I'm walking on eggshells. I'm a combination of happy, relieved, scared, worried, nervous, but most important, I'm optimistic. I know he can do this. And I know that if anybody is going to make an honest man out of him, the military certainly has what it will take!
Off to bed, albeit with one eye open. Lol
My difficult child is home right now. He's been here since Tuesday night. How did we get to this point? Well, he had court last Wedbesday. As of that Tuesday, he had not done one thing his prosecutor told him to do, so naturally, he started to panic. I started receiving texts from him, begging and pleading for me to give him one last chance to prove himself...and to let him come home. He stated he need a place to start his new path. I stood my ground and told him the only thing I could offer him was a ride to a treatment center. I guess he dwelled on that for a bit, and the text came through...telling me that if that was the only way I was going to believe that he is ready to change, then lets go. So, I immediately got on the phone with the treatment center, and made plans to take him Wednesday after court. The lady I spoke to even volunteered to fax me a letter to give to his prosecutor that stated that plans were in the making for difficult child to be admitted on such and such date. I went to bed that night with a small sense of relief. After all, I know to not get my hopes up with difficult child's cries for help. And rightfully so, because I received a text the following morning (the morning of court) and difficult child had a change of heart. After taking to his father, and a childhood friend, he had decided to enlist in the National Guard. I had mixed emotions about that. I felt he first needed treatment to help fix any underlying issues that led him to abuse drugs. But, he's 20, and I can't force him to do anything. The prosecutor was happy to hear of his plans, and the case was dismissed. So, off we go...
I went home that afternoon and typed up a contract because I knew the call would come asking if he could come home. And it did. The contract is very tight, and full of matter of facts. There's no room for mistakes. Or relapses. Or another second chance (actually, we're way past second chances. He knows that if he simply breathes wrong (insert sarcasm), he's out on the street.
He's completed the first 2 steps with the National Guard. The 2nd step was a bit challenging. He had past the test (may I brag and say he made the highest score out of everybody there that day and then it was time for the background check. While they looked past his DUI, it was the possession charge that was going to hurt him, per his recruiter. When difficult child received that news, he was immediately on the phone with the court in the town he was arrested (small town...2 red lights). The clerk listened to his story about him trying to get into the military in an effort to get his life back on track, and she said ok, let me call you back in 10 minutes. When she called back, she said the judge has agreed to expunge his case if he'll send in 50.00 and a letter stating why the judge should do this for him. He wrote up the letter, and I overnighted it and the money that day. His recruiter was very impressed with his efforts, and his enlistment process shall continue. He goes back next week for the 3rd step. His recruiter states that if all goes smoothly, he should be shipped off to basic training in a little over a month.
I have so many different emotions right now. I'm aware anything can happen in the next month, so it's safe to say that I'm walking on eggshells. I'm a combination of happy, relieved, scared, worried, nervous, but most important, I'm optimistic. I know he can do this. And I know that if anybody is going to make an honest man out of him, the military certainly has what it will take!
Off to bed, albeit with one eye open. Lol