A “parent workshop” weekend. Really? I have already admitted to myself that I failed as a parent. I am in the most emotionally exhausting and agonizing time of my life. My family system had malfunctioned. I dislike “group” meetings and I am supposed to feel comfortable in a room of total strangers? It really was something I did not want to attend.
All the promotional points that describe the value of wilderness therapy were meaningful in our daughter’s recovery: simplifying her life down to bare bones for a while, being away from everything, rekindling her love for the outdoors. Through mastery of physical skills she realized how capable she is. She turned the corner to a more authentic life at Entrada.
I've always joked about how parenting is one of the hardest jobs but comes with no manual or training requirement. My husband and I took each phase of parenting as it came, always a few steps behind the curve. With two healthy, happy kids, we seemed to be succeeding. Suddenly, when our second child, our son, was 16, we hit a bump. Our parenting education went into high gear as we sent him off to wilderness to deal with his depression and substance abuse issues. It became clear that there was a parenting manual - many parenting manuals. Books and classes, support of therapists and counselors. There were exercises, letters, webinars. We filled our parent tool belt with this information. So much information and all of it useful, enlightening, and, somehow, overwhelming. Why didn't we know about these resources before we were in the woods? Were other parents equally blindsided?
Dear Brad,
My wife and I expected to benefit greatly from our intensive but I have to say how surprised I was by how much we received from all of you and our experience. There is a lightness in both our being that comes from laying down burdens we didn't know we carried so heavily. Even in the midst of my stressful first day back at work, I feel a presence and mindfulness. The importance of a centering spiritual practice was made so clear to us, and we heard it. So everyday we can now face the challenge of bringing what we felt and learned into the stresses of the front country. We learned just how important process is and how it continues forever. Thanks to Gerard, Elise and Dan who helped guide and nurture us in the field.