thank you went to the TLP yesterday. He was pretty anxious, but happily never did reach the ultra high levels we've seen in the past. No sabotage. I think fear was the emotion of the day.
Staffing went well. This is going to be a *huge* adjustment for him. He was asking staff if he could contact friends at Residential Treatment Center (RTC) - staff doesn't monitor like that. He has the potential to have a tremendous about of freedom. He did turn quite green when one of the therapeutic supervisors told him that the goal is for him to spend as little time around TLP staff and "members" (residents) as possible once he's made level. He has to go to school and do his chores in the program, but outside of that he needs to create friendships and ties in the community so that the *next* time he moves, he won't have to ask if he can stay in contact. I quickly stepped in and reassurred him that they're not going to lock him out, but that they will be teaching him how to use transportation in the community, will help him get a job or volunteer position, will support him as he spreads his wings. I did explain to staff that we live in a tiny little village, plus he's been basically locked down for 7 years, so the bright lights of Chicago are incredibly intimidating for thank you.
I'm reassured about the house, not that I really had doubts. It continued to be immaculate, especially considering 12 teen boys live there, LOL. They weren't terribly organized (house mgr having been off this week) in terms of having dresser and a desk in his room for him, but that mattered not at all to him, and it's not like he actually *uses* a dresser, LOL - though that will be changing I suspect :wink: . Shift supervisor spent about an hour or so with us, explaining rules and expectations, answering thank you's questions, and thankfully addressing one of my biggest worries. A friend of thank you's from Residential Treatment Center (RTC) is in this placement, not the ideal influence. Supervisor gently steered thank you away from X in terms of him being a role model - didn't discourage the friendship at all but did point out that X has his own "issues with the program". I don't know if thank you heard him. Will be interesting to see how this shakes out.
thank you was anxious to socialize with his new house mates, so we left (Weeburt was with- me). I broke down as we walked down the steps - leaving my beloved son once again at another "placement", pure selfishness on my part, but a lot of grief anyway.
We have absolutely no idea of how thank you is going to do. We're hopeful but... for the first time ever, I have absolutely no clue of what to expect from thank you, which is probably positive. And as husband pointed out last night, if someone had told us 18 months ago thank you was going to be making this move, we would've told them they were crazy.
Staffing went well. This is going to be a *huge* adjustment for him. He was asking staff if he could contact friends at Residential Treatment Center (RTC) - staff doesn't monitor like that. He has the potential to have a tremendous about of freedom. He did turn quite green when one of the therapeutic supervisors told him that the goal is for him to spend as little time around TLP staff and "members" (residents) as possible once he's made level. He has to go to school and do his chores in the program, but outside of that he needs to create friendships and ties in the community so that the *next* time he moves, he won't have to ask if he can stay in contact. I quickly stepped in and reassurred him that they're not going to lock him out, but that they will be teaching him how to use transportation in the community, will help him get a job or volunteer position, will support him as he spreads his wings. I did explain to staff that we live in a tiny little village, plus he's been basically locked down for 7 years, so the bright lights of Chicago are incredibly intimidating for thank you.
I'm reassured about the house, not that I really had doubts. It continued to be immaculate, especially considering 12 teen boys live there, LOL. They weren't terribly organized (house mgr having been off this week) in terms of having dresser and a desk in his room for him, but that mattered not at all to him, and it's not like he actually *uses* a dresser, LOL - though that will be changing I suspect :wink: . Shift supervisor spent about an hour or so with us, explaining rules and expectations, answering thank you's questions, and thankfully addressing one of my biggest worries. A friend of thank you's from Residential Treatment Center (RTC) is in this placement, not the ideal influence. Supervisor gently steered thank you away from X in terms of him being a role model - didn't discourage the friendship at all but did point out that X has his own "issues with the program". I don't know if thank you heard him. Will be interesting to see how this shakes out.
thank you was anxious to socialize with his new house mates, so we left (Weeburt was with- me). I broke down as we walked down the steps - leaving my beloved son once again at another "placement", pure selfishness on my part, but a lot of grief anyway.
We have absolutely no idea of how thank you is going to do. We're hopeful but... for the first time ever, I have absolutely no clue of what to expect from thank you, which is probably positive. And as husband pointed out last night, if someone had told us 18 months ago thank you was going to be making this move, we would've told them they were crazy.
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