It took a week or so, but she started to turn things around again. She started to progress in the program and made it to the next level. She was working in the Communications Dept. She was writing articles for the school newspaper and doing a lot of drawings for the school. She was in her glory. She was able to do the two things she loved to do most, writing and drawing.
It now came time for our first counseling appointment. I was excited and nervous, as was she. The counselor called to discuss the upcoming meeting. I was going to meet with the principal of the school, then three of the counselors and then my daughter was going to come in with two of her big sister's for support. The process of the meeting was that when my daughter comes in she was going to be able to yell at me and get things out in the open. That was to be the only time that she would be able to yell at me and to say anything she wanted.
The day finally came and as excited as I was to see her, I was very nervous for both her and I. I got there at 1:30, signed in and was brought to a meeting room in the school. I met with the principal of the school and she said my daughter was making great progress. She said the kids had three courses a semester and would receive 1 credit per course. She said that the kids could earn up to 7 credits per year. That was great news to me. Next, my daughter's three counselors came in and spoke about the how the program works. The kids get up and are to be to the house at 8:00 am during the week. They had breakfast and then cleaned their dorms. Next they would have group and private counseling as well as do their jobs throughout the day. School was attended after dinner at night. They went to school from 6:30 to 9:00 pm, Monday thru Friday. I was quite impressed. The kids were kept busy and had a lot of responsibility for themselves as well as the whole campus. They told me about some of the issues they have encountered with my daughter and how they all felt it was good that she got there so young. They all felt she would make great progress, but it was going to take time.
It was now time for my daughter to come in. The counselors told me that she would come in and we were not going to say hello or hug at that time. If we were to say hello that would distract her train of thought and it would be more difficult for her to say what she needed to say. I was also to sit and listen only. This was my daughter's chance to get out all her feelings toward me and what had happened to her. After she was done with her anger and everything she wanted to say to me, if she wanted to we could hug then. I was OK with it all as I did put her in this program. I only want to help her move forward with her life and whatever I need to do for that to happen, I will do.
She came into the room with two of her big sister's and she immediately started to cry. She looked so good. It was so difficult to sit still. I so much wanted to run to her and hold onto her forever. I just sat there, watched and listened. It took some coaching from her counselors to get her mad enough to say what she so much wanted to say. She started to yell, scream and cry. It was tough to understand everything that she was saying, but it was all said and done in about five minutes. She stood up and we ran to each other. I told her I loved her and how proud I was of her. She cried and said how much she loved me. We held onto each other for quite sometime. We finally dried our tears and went back to our seats. We discussed what she had said. She was angry that I sent her away and that I budded into her life. She felt that I had no right to invade her privacy. The counselors asked her if she thought that it was OK to drink and smoke pot anytime she wanted. In her mind it was OK as all her friends were doing it. Some of her friends drank and smoked with their parents and she didn't see a problem with it. Why couldn't I be more like them.
We finished up our meeting and I was able to stay for the rest of the afternoon and visit with my daughter. My daughter, one of her big sister's and I sat outside and talked for a couple of hours. It was wonderful to hear her laugh and see her smile. We had a great afternoon together. Time came to say goodbye and it seemed like we hugged forever. I told her I loved her and how proud I was of her.
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