Into the Wilderness: Story 15 Salt Lake City became our second home. We didn’t know it would when we woke up the next morning after arriving after midnight. We slept late and missed the perfunctory hotel breakfast. We had a big day ahead. We had to buy Catina supplies for RTC and make the mostContinue reading “Home”
Author Archives: Cheryl Wipper
In the air
Into the Wilderness: Story 14 Up in the air, Catina’s hand clenched in mine, we wondered about the future. Catina was eager to get to her RTC, though we had yet to sign an agreement with the new RTC. FAPE state law requires a 10-day notification to public school of unilateral placement. Our lawyer hadContinue reading “In the air”
Transition
Into the Wilderness: Story 13 Chuck and I stood in the cozy reception area of the Blue Ridge Wilderness office, excitedly rocking from one foot to another. We were here to pick up Catina. As with our overnight visit, we had decided to surprise her with custom T-shirts; this time Walking the Moon, the phraseContinue reading “Transition”
The Next Step
Into the Wilderness: Story 11 Our SUV bumped back down the mountain after our evening in the woods with Catina. In the review mirror, she receded farther and farther away until she wasn’t there anymore. Leaving your child behind is one of the most challenging feats of parenting. It’s as if you leave a necessaryContinue reading “The Next Step”
Slow burn
Into the Wilderness: Story 10 Five couples, two single fathers, a single mom and an aunt- we were all seated in a wood paneled B&B living room on over-stuffed country sofas and chairs, mostly staring at our fidgeting or folded hands in our laps. We were together because we had something in common- our teensContinue reading “Slow burn”
Seesaw
Into the Wilderness: Story 9 “Good job, mom.” When a child graduates high school with honors, gets into a good college, becomes a high-earning professional, or achieves a special award, I will, like many, credit the mom. I know the nights of walking the floor with a screaming infant or staying up late to supportContinue reading “Seesaw”
Bear Hang
Into the Wilderness: Story 8 Night comes suddenly in the Blue Ridge mountains. One moment, the branches cast lacy patterns on the ground and the next they are barely discernible hulks in the inky air. We sat at the camp under the main tent, the rock-bound fire snapping in front of us. The girls satContinue reading “Bear Hang”
Beginning
Into the Wilderness: Story 7 Barely four weeks into her wilderness program, Catina’s therapist gave us the news. She wanted us to know early, so we had time to prepare, that she was recommending aftercare for Catina. What additional aftercare was there? Naively, we saw wilderness as an ending: six weeks of back woods hikesContinue reading “Beginning”
Toward a better world
Into the Wilderness: Real World Intercession I have been unable to write. The ruthless, wrongful murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmad Arbury and countless other Black and African Americans are, and rightly should be, our nation’s and our personal focus right now. The protests across our country call attention to the need to dismantleContinue reading “Toward a better world”
Fear
Into the Wilderness: Story 3, Catina I’m not afraid of much. I was afraid when I first stepped out onto the uneven terrain and unfamiliar territory of the southern mountains. I was still in shock. All I could think was that this wasn’t real: my parents were trying to scare me. They would take meContinue reading “Fear”
Walk the Moon 