It was early morning, and Bethany Nelson was supposed to be getting ready for school. But the 13-year-old didn't want to go to class. Despite the prompts, pleas and pestering from her parents, she was defiant.
This battle of wills became a full-blown war when Bethany screamed, hurled objects and physically attacked her mother. It was such a volatile scene, the police were called.
The events that morning led to Bethany being placed in a group home. Eventually, at 15, she came to the Boys Town Family Home ProgramSM. For the next two years, she learned life skills that empowered her to manage her emotions, communicate her feelings and heal her emotional wounds.
While it took much patience and skill teaching from her Family-Teachers, the married couple who provided care for Bethany and several other girls in the Family Home, Bethany's behavior and attitude changed for the better. She became a role model and mentor to her "sisters" in the home and, after living apart from her parents for several years, was ready to be reunited with her family.
Before the Nelsons could come together as a family, however, they needed support and guidance.
A Family Consultant from Boys Town's In-Home Family Services met with Bethany's parents, Julie and James. The couple was anxious, even hesitant, about their daughter's return. Life was going well for Bethany, and they didn't want to jeopardize her success. Bethany, too, was nervous; yet hopeful.
To dispel their doubts and anxieties, the Consultant had monthly meetings with Bethany and her parents to discuss their goals and expectations. The Consultant also reviewed social skills and role-played situations with Bethany to reinforce the staying-calm strategies she had learned. With Mom and Dad, the Consultant provided coaching in Boys Town's Common Sense Parenting techniques and showed them how to use family meetings to address problems and improve communication.
All their preparation paid off when the family successfully reunited. Still, the Consultant continued meeting regularly with the Nelsons as their focus turned toward maintaining success and family harmony. Services ended only when family members were comfortable using their skills and strategies to de-escalate situations and resolve issues on their own.
In a years-long journey marked by turmoil and triumphs, regrets and resilience, the Nelsons never lost hope. Now, they're doing "awesome" and reaping the rewards of a home filled with more understanding and unconditional love.