TTI SURVIVOR. Part six. LIFE AFTER THE PROGRAM.

When I was nearing the end of the wilderness program I was hopeful that soon I would be going home but I was also wary. It was not unknown for kids to have it sprung on them that they would either be made to do the whole program again from the start or be sent not home but to a follow on residential program. When I was actually allowed to go home I felt so relieved. Unfortunately my relief was short lived.

No sooner was I home than my dad told me not to get settled in as I would soon be going to a two year long residential program. TWO YEARS??? Twelve weeks had felt like forever and now I was facing being sent somewhere for two years. Apparently the only reason I was not sent straight from wilderness to residential was because they had to wait afew weeks for another kid to finish the residential program before there would be a place for me. My dad tauntingly told me to expect another visit in the night from the transporters. 

Afew days later my mom told me to pack and that we were going to leave while dad was out. She told me that she had had enough of his abusive behaviour and that I certainly would not be going to another program. We stayed briefly with a friend of my mom. Then we left for the UK. (My mom is actually from the UK). We initially stayed with my mom’s uncle till we found a place of our own.

I’m still dealing with the trauma of the wilderness program but I’ve had alot of help from a wonderful child psychologist. On the whole life has been better since I came to live in the UK. I love how much later school starts here than in America. Also,I’ve got two lovely pets,Kitty the cat and Dolly the dog. (When I was in America I had a puppy which my mom bought me when I was 8. Afew months later my dad made me watch while he shot it. That was to punish me for taking too long to complete a long list of chores he gave me). I’ve also made alot of great new friends over here. However, the best thing of all is that I met Andrea who is my adorable girlfriend.

I saw my dad when he visited the UK recently. He does seem to regret his behaviour and to be making an effort to be better. He even admitted that he was wrong to send me to the wilderness program and I accepted his apology. I’m prepared to forgive him and move on from the past but he knows that if the nasty side of him comes back I will go no contact. The choice is his.

Because I’ve been through such terrible things I want to be able to help other kids who have been through bad things. For that reason I have set myself the goal of becoming a child psychologist.