I stopped writing as things became complicated and I did not know how to continue. So many things happened in a short amount of time and it was tough to keep it all straight. I have struggled with whether to continue or not as I do not want to say anything that would hurt my daughter. I just feel, I started this and I should finish it. My only intention to this story is to try and help other parents who have had to make or are trying to make this kind of decision for their child. I still feel, I was in a life or death situation and if I did not do something quick, I was going to lose my daughter forever.
At the end of 2010, I was asked by the administrator of Elan if I would be willing to talk to perspective parents. People who were considering Elan as an alternative for their child. I said sure. I was happy with my daughter's progress and would like to let other parents know things were going well.
By January 2011, I had not had any calls from perspective parents so I contacted the administrator and let her know that I had written this blog. I told her I was not sure it was appropriate, but if she wanted to pass the link on to other parents to read she could. She read the blog and asked if she could put a link on their website. I said sure. I will do anything I can to help another family.
It only took one week before I received my first email from a guy who called himself Jeff Wimbelton. He said I needed to get my child out of Elan as soon as I could. He said they were brainwashing my child's mind. He and I exchanged several lengthy emails over the next two weeks. He would tell me about how the kids were made to do certain things and I would come back with my insight on how I saw things. He finally got to me and had me so scared I called my brother in NH. I told him what was happening and asked if I could come talk to him. I was in tears. I sent my brother all the correspondence and my younger daughter and I hopped in the car and went to NH. I had asked my brother if one of his kids could keep my daughter busy while we talked. I did not want to scare her and have her worrying about me.
We reached NH. My daughter went to hang out with my niece and nephew and I sat at the kitchen table with my brother and sister. His first question was "How do you think your daughter is doing". I said I felt she was doing great. He said I would know if she had been brainwashed and asked if I thought she had. I said no and I really felt she was doing well. She wrote great letters asking my advice and telling me what was going on there. I felt we had a great relationship. She told me how she was struggling with things and I would send her letters trying to show her a different way to look at the different situations. She would write back and tell me how much she felt I was helping her and I would tell her how wonderful I felt she was doing. My brother said he did not feel she was being brainwashed and this Jeff guy had no idea what he was talking about. I was so relieved.
When I got home the next day, I decided to contact my daughters' counselor and ask to meet her off campus. I told her I needed to talk to her mother to mother. I really liked my daughters' counselor and I felt she had been honest with me. I still had things stuck in my mind that Jeff had told me in his emails and I needed to hear if those things were still happening. I told Jeff I was going to meet her and he thought I was crazy and I believe that is the last email we shared.
I met with my daughter's counselor and I told her about the emails. I told her I was worried about the fact that there were only five girls left in the program and soon my daughter could be the only girl amongst 30 boys. She assured me things were good and they had a few more girls starting within the next month. She couldn't believe someone had gone to all that trouble to chase after me, when I was clearly ok with how my daughter was doing. We said our good-byes and I headed home.
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