I'm looking for advice on The Return Contract in my situation. My 31 year old son, the oldest of my 3 children, lives with me. He had a bad concussion at 17, the winter of his Junior year in high school and his personality has not gone back to himself pre concussion. Their dad and I splitup 6 years ago and dad and I have an amicable relationship. Dad moved out of the area and keeps in touch with the kids. The younger siblings are out on their own. in 2012 when the concussion occured there was not much info out about how to handle the situation with high school sports. We ended up taking him from NYC area to Boston because that was the only place around that was doing work with that age group back then. We followed the protocols of that time. His senior year was a rollercoaster. Socially distanced from friends because of recovery, did great in economics honors class but could not write a paper in his English class. He graduated because his English teacher gave him just passing grade. After high school my son did not go to college. He tried community college but could not do the required coursework, but did great in a music synthesizer class. He drifted from part time job to part time job and started smoking marijuana to calm himself. That has continued since then. He has worked as an electricians asst over the past 5 years and recently started working full time at a new job after his previous employer died suddenly. It's not what he wants to do but continues to go to work. He declares himself depressed but refuses to get counseling or even see a medical doctor to even run blood tests. He perseverates, and blames, his lack of moving forward on a knuckle operation he had 8 years ago. He doesn't have any close friends. He plays softball with some people he knows in the area in the summers but other than that he goes to work and listens to podcasts. He really doesn't want to talk with me about any meaningful topics. He talks to his Dad about a business product he would like to get made and sell. Other than that, he's not really interested in conversing. His personality right now seems to be interested in topics for a period of time and then changes focus. Last was religion. He was into reading the Bible and going to class to get confirmed. After the Confirmation in March he hasn't been back to church. I really don't know what to do now, in his best interest, after learning and joining this community. I started in this community because of a relationship with one of my other children but seems I need to address this situation first.

Wow, when I heard the subject for last night's call I thought, "I don't need this info". Well.. did I see myself. Gives me plenty to pause and think about, while not sleeping much last night. I really do need this year more than I thought. Much learning to be done.

Warning…This is a long one! I am not offended if you don’t read all. My middle daughter and I are in Orlando. I am so grateful for the modules 1-3 and Catherine lecture Tuesday May 5th! Day 1 “I put my ears on”. My daughter stressed with her work that she literally arrived at our long planned Disney restbit “unhinged” and disrespectful to the workers at the airport when she picked me up. She had an arrogant, I deserve everything attitude. We got into the car and she continued ranting. I just paused until the rant was over. Then I just parroted back “It sounds like to me your trip here was very stressful and you didn’t stop a long way and make sure that you had meals or even water am I right?” she agreed. Then I said how about we solve that problem first what are you hungry for? Day 2 As we we’re entering Universal Epoch Studios, She became unhinged again. This time the rant went in for longer and when it was over I paused again. This time I was box breathing because of the rant was personal. ( ignoring the personal insults of my adopted 33-year-old) What came out was, “ so what I hear you saying is that your job is so stressful that you feel like you have no place of peace?” she said yes, then I responded with “ Have you considered what options you’d like to take with that?” she calmed down and I did my best to give her space to think. She spun up two more times in the park. And I used the same tactic. I did eventually fail. And at the end of the evening, when she dressed me down for in the line to the bathroom “Didn’t you just go to the bathroom 15 minutes ago?” So I lost my resolve at 10pm and said “there’s no need to embarrass me in front of this line of people.” And I walked to find another restroom. And instead of following along behind. She left the park, while I was in the restroom. Without any text message or telling me where she went. It was closing time and she abandoned me. With no way to get to the hotel and not even an address for it. She finally answered the text message and told me she went to the car. I had to ask where the car was and with no signs in the parking she to get walk back to find me.

Thank you, Catherine, for the call last night. I needed to walk through my emotions.Your words were needed and deeply felt. I matter. I am valued. I am seen and known by others, in addition to my family. Thank you for creating this community of people who are walking through life in support of each other. I am enough as I am growing and learning. Thank you.

Is there a link for the small group intro this evening?