Our just 16 year old son entered the Wingate wilderness program in February of 2018. What lead up to his arrival that day was more painful and confusing then I’d like to remember – more anger and heartache, worry, and disbelief than anyone should ever have to go through. The day my husband dropped him off was the first time I’d breathed in 6 months. In truth, it probably took me about a week to take a breath. He was finally safe and somewhere I knew he would be! No more sneaking out, no more lies, no more fights, no more nights wondering where he was, no more worry, no more pain. But that first intake of breath brought a new problem. Now what? What do I do while he’s gone? It feels like my life has been given back to me, in a way, but what if there was something I could do now that would help him when he gets home. Is there a way to help things go better? Is it possible to rebuild our relationship without him even being here? Is it possible to live together again in some resemblance of peace? I realized I wanted help for ME! I knew that I could be part of the solution. I just didn’t know how. I attended Wingate’s parent seminar which teaches Arbinger's Living With an Outward Mindset seminar when our son had been in the wilderness about 7 weeks. It was LIFE CHANGING. As far as I know it is the ONLY wilderness program that teaches Arbinger. It helped me take ownership of my part of our dysfunctional family dynamics and stop blaming my son for everything I was feeling. Wingate helped set ME on the path to change and eventually influence change in my son. I am forever grateful to you, Wingate. So incredibly and profoundly grateful to the exceptional people who worked with us and our son. From the first person we talked to, to the wind-walkers to admin to field director and the therapist. Thank you. Thank you. And even though our journey and our son’s journey has not been perfect, (they never, ever are…) we have been able to slowly but surely progress, step by step, because of the concepts and tools introduced to us at Wingate. Dear Wingate, our family owes much to your beautiful way-of-being. ;) You will always have a place in my heart.
Beth Hillman
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