{A guest post today by one of FCC’s volunteers, Elise Adams}

My name is Elise Adams.  Several of you have met me or seen my online work around here as the Web Master and as-I-have-time Social Media gal for Family Challenge Camps.  From the first moment that I heard of FCC’s mission from Aimie Apigian I was intrigued.  It wasn’t until I ‘bit the bullet’ and came to camp with my family in tow that I deeply grasped the significance of the therapeutic parenting techniques taught and supported by FCC.

Shock and Awe

Sure, walking in to our first evening at Family Challenge Camp was overwhelming.  First of all I’d gotten lost on my way to the camp location–for the first time in my entire life (I’ve always prided myself on my nearly flawless sense of direction) so we arrive quite late.  But I’d braced myself for flight checks and I thought I was ready to call in the troops so we could really get a sense of what this was all about.  Still. I had NO idea!

Kids born while I was homeless…so?

I knew we had ‘issues’.  My second youngest couldn’t ever stop eating and food is nearly all she talks about.  My nearly 6 year old has taken the prize for the most dramatic ‘temper tantrums’ (that I soon learned at camps were really rages).  And even my cute-as-a-button nearly-two-year-old little boy was starting to tantrum.  What I didn’t see and wouldn’t have every understood if I hadn’t come to camp was how much my kids needed me to help them heal.

First, I wasn’t sure my kids could really heal.  I thought maybe we’d just go on a long journey of semi-denial mixed with as much truth as I could manage to insert into our lives along the way.  I certainly didn’t conceive of myself as a partner, a leader, of my children’s healing.  So when the girls didn’t come back from the Intervention Room for quite awhile and when they were so very happy to see me when they did come back I was completely surprised.  Coached gently by Aimie and the staff my husband I began to see that this truly blessed combination of strict, lighthearted yet firm leadership combined with an overflowing of nurturing, cuddling and constructive praise was causing a shift in our family.

Within 24 hours I knew that I couldn’t continue my mad dash for financial freedom while ignoring my kids needs for QUANTITY not just minimal-quality time with me.  If I was going to participate in their healing fro the results of my crappy choices I’d have to make THIS my very first priority.

Pouching a 2 year old—are you kidding me?

Yep. I was offended.  ’Maybe your son would feel more secure if you put him in a pouch.’  No way was I getting back into that cuddly phase.  He’d just jumped outa there–running, jumping and wiggling.  Now you want me to pouch him again?  Only they were right.  Again!  After an hour of fighting me he settled right into the Crazy Kid Carrier.  And the crazy thing is that he’s stayed re-attached since we’ve come home.  My cutest-kiddo cuddles up to me and settles in like it’s home.  His temper tantrums are hilariously short and he’s clearly up to normal 2 year old development…safe and secure in Mommy and Daddy’s no combined with a boost of the greater nurturing he needed too.

Honeymoon and after

When we came home from camp there was a period of overwhelm for Mom and Dad and a bit of a honeymoon for the kiddos.  After a few weeks of ever-stronger practice however the results, for us, are dramatic.  We go several days at a time without any tantrums or rages.  My ‘eating-constantly’ girl has started emoting much more normally.  Both my girls are talking openly and safely about their ‘black bags’, worries and happiness alike.  The acting out has been greatly reduced all around.  More importantly I am empowered to be an ever-stronger mother, even as I have MUCH to learn as we go.  My husband, as a direct result of experiencing the kinesthetic learn-as-we-do practice at camp, is the most secure and strong a dad as he’s ever been.  We both realized how much of our kids suffering is because of our own semi-treated PTSD and we’re taking concrete steps to go after our own healing as well

Bottom line

Family Challenge Camp exists to support and empower parents of challenging kids.  The toughest and most despairing cases and the closer-to-normal cases like my family as well.  This empowered, nurturing, STRONG parenting perspective changes lives.  It has completely transformed our family over the past 6 or 7 weeks.  And we support FCC and Aimie Apigian in reaching other hurting families with this same hope!  I personally hope you will join us at an upcoming camp, sign up for our newsletter and STAY IN TOUCH as we endeavor to help other kids and families heal.

Elise Adams  of elisephotini.com