Hi All,
I just found out last night that E, difficult child 1, has joined the Navy. I actually think this is a good move for her. She went to the base in Illinois where they do basic training and spent 7 days there in the recruiting process. I asked why she didn't just go to a local recruiter in the Seattle area and she said she wanted to go see it for herself and also felt she had to get out of Seattle for a "minute" because she was afraid she was going to do something "stupid."
She was scared to death to tell me--thought I would be mad, so she made up some nutty story (she needed money for a car repair to get back to Seattle) that actually did make me mad. I told her I think this actually sounds like it could be a good decision. She says that she feels soulless from the stripping and knows it is a deadend. She barely can make enough money to pay rent, is tired of struggling all the time, plus wants me and husband to feel proud of her. Also, she wants her son to have a mom with a stable job, home, etc.
So, she goes back to Illinois on August 10th and starts basic training on Aug. 17th. She said she got a 95 on the aptitude test so she was proud of that. Also, she is in really good physical shape from her job (lots of work on the pole). She seems to know that basic training will be really tough. I said, "well, you'll probably bond with some of the other women" and she said she is supposed to think of them as a team. If one screws up they all pay the price. That is just how it was at her Residential Treatment Center (RTC). If one girl on the team there screwed up all the girls were punished. So, she is used to that kind of thing.
Also, she did really well with the structure at both of her rtcs so I think she will like the structure. She said she needs structure so she doesn't go do something stupid.
Anyway, there's lots more I could tell you but I'll stop there. I hope she makes it through basic training. I think she will--she's a pretty tough girl. I hope we can go see her at her graduation.
--Jane
I just found out last night that E, difficult child 1, has joined the Navy. I actually think this is a good move for her. She went to the base in Illinois where they do basic training and spent 7 days there in the recruiting process. I asked why she didn't just go to a local recruiter in the Seattle area and she said she wanted to go see it for herself and also felt she had to get out of Seattle for a "minute" because she was afraid she was going to do something "stupid."
She was scared to death to tell me--thought I would be mad, so she made up some nutty story (she needed money for a car repair to get back to Seattle) that actually did make me mad. I told her I think this actually sounds like it could be a good decision. She says that she feels soulless from the stripping and knows it is a deadend. She barely can make enough money to pay rent, is tired of struggling all the time, plus wants me and husband to feel proud of her. Also, she wants her son to have a mom with a stable job, home, etc.
So, she goes back to Illinois on August 10th and starts basic training on Aug. 17th. She said she got a 95 on the aptitude test so she was proud of that. Also, she is in really good physical shape from her job (lots of work on the pole). She seems to know that basic training will be really tough. I said, "well, you'll probably bond with some of the other women" and she said she is supposed to think of them as a team. If one screws up they all pay the price. That is just how it was at her Residential Treatment Center (RTC). If one girl on the team there screwed up all the girls were punished. So, she is used to that kind of thing.
Also, she did really well with the structure at both of her rtcs so I think she will like the structure. She said she needs structure so she doesn't go do something stupid.
Anyway, there's lots more I could tell you but I'll stop there. I hope she makes it through basic training. I think she will--she's a pretty tough girl. I hope we can go see her at her graduation.
--Jane
