I think your choice is wise. I stretched the Board rules
almost six years ago when I joined the CD family by naming
my grandson easy child/difficult child. It was important to me then and it is
still important (although less reasonable, sad to say) now
that I differentiate between OUR son and the teen who makes
dangerous and poor choices out on the street as a difficult child. Fran
graciously accepted my name choice and out of deference to my seniority has just let me ride with it.
At home and in my presence you would never ever have thought
that my grandson was anything other than compliant, funny,
bright, darling, talented and very loving. BUT in his peer
group he is or has been a user, a seller, an obnoxious alcoholic and who knows what else.
When he was in Residential Treatment Center (RTC)'s he assumed a leadership role and made
top scores etc. BUT he was a "top dawg"...just like he had become on the streets. At 17 your son has to filter through his choices on who he wants to be. Working with a different
peer group will widen his experiences...for better or worse.
I think he is "doing his time" but perhaps sees it as a stop
gap before coming home to his "real" life.
It's all complicated and scarey. I think your choice is the
right one. I'm going to post a little thing that I carry in
my wallet since the second Residential Treatment Center (RTC). It's sad but true. Hugs DDD
