Ethan’s Residential
“Time to get up, make breakfast and feed the lambs.” This was the call that woke Ethan at 7am each morning for a week when he went away on a school residential to Jamie’s Farm in Hereford.
Ethan and nine of his school friends signed up for 4 nights away. It was the longest time Ethan had ever been away from home and the first time he’d really had to fend for himself. Whilst Mum and Dad were understandably nervous, Ethan seemed to take it all in his stride! Armed with his suitcase and lunchbox he boarded the school minibus, started singing to the songs on the radio and drove off to Wales.
Jamie’s farm is built around a unique blend of farming, family and therapy. They aim to enable young people to thrive academically, socially and emotionally. They provide a mixture of farming activities and reflective sessions to help young people develop new positive behaviour patterns.
When Ethan was there, he fed lambs, he brushed the horses, went on walks (sometimes he struggled with the distance so he and a teacher just did what he could), and learnt how to make a few meals. At one point he was also given an axe to chop some wood!
When he was asked what the best bit was, he responded: “The dogs! There were loads of them and they were so friendly. One of them kept jumping up at me all the time for no reason. It was awesome!”
It really was a turning point for his independence. He realised that he was growing up and was capable of doing more for himself. And it wasn’t just Ethan who learned this. It was Mum and Dad as well! They realised that they’d perhaps been doing a bit too much for him. It turned out he’s perfectly capable of brushing his teeth, getting himself dressed – and even showering with the right incentive!
There were of course challenges. But that was part of the journey and his teachers and the staff at Jamie’s farm were there to help him process and understand.
Ultimately, from something that had seemed quite daunting when he signed up, Ethan absolutely loved his time away and would do it again tomorrow if he could!
Mum, Louise