My name is Kristen*. I am 34 years old, and I have four children. My two oldest children currently live with my parents, but I have custody of my two youngest children. When I came to The Vine, my boys had a lot of trauma and a lot of behavioral issues that needed to be addressed. As I started addressing their issues and other things in my personal life, I had the desire to help others who struggled with the same issues. So, I took a career in children’s behavioral health. I thought if God has helped me deal with children’s behavioral issues in my personal life, then I should share everything I have learned with others who are struggling as well.
I am currently a family support provider with the Department of Mental Health. Family support providers are the support to the parents of children who have behavioral issues. Before I did that, I was a registered behavioral technician. I did behavioral therapy for kids on the autism spectrum. My eight-year-old son has autism level one, so he is very high functioning, but it has affected his life. When I started looking into a career that mirrored the experiences in my personal life, I wanted to go the route of helping families whose children have behavioral issues.
My boys and I are about to move out of The Vine and into our own place in another state. I have spent the last three-and-a-half years at The Vine dedicated to bettering myself for all of my children.
My boys and I are about to move out of The Vine and into our own place in another state. I have spent the last three-and-a-half years at The Vine dedicated to bettering myself for all of my children.
As I worked my way through the different phases at The Vine, I gained independence and learned how to do basic life skills like budgeting, meal planning, car ownership, etc. Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children (OBHC) has been a great help when it comes to figuring out how to just do life.
While I am excited to begin the next phase of my life outside of The Vine, I will miss the community that is here. You just do not get community like The Vine anywhere else. For example, one time my son was at a doctor’s appointment and someone asked him, “Do you have any siblings?” My son responded, “Yes! I have a ton!” I said, “You only have one sister and two brothers, not a ton?” And he replied, “No, I’m talking about my family at The Vine!” That is what The Vine has been to us – a family.
Yes, there are expectations, curfews, rules, etc. at The Vine, however, if you are serious about bettering your life, then those rules are not an inconvenience to you. The more you are at The Vine and the more you get into the routine, the rules do not even compare to the blessings you receive. While at The Vine, I have trusted God enough to watch over me when everything was very uncertain, and I have seen Him make a way, and I know He will continue to do so.
As I worked my way through the different phases at The Vine, I gained independence and learned how to do basic life skills like budgeting, meal planning, car ownership, etc. Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children (OBHC) has been a great help when it comes to figuring out how to just do life.
While I am excited to begin the next phase of my life outside of The Vine, I will miss the community that is here. You just do not get community like The Vine anywhere else. For example, one time my son was at a doctor’s appointment and someone asked him, “Do you have any siblings?” My son responded, “Yes! I have a ton!” I said, “You only have one sister and two brothers, not a ton?” And he replied, “No, I’m talking about my family at The Vine!” That is what The Vine has been to us – a family.
Yes, there are expectations, curfews, rules, etc. at The Vine, however, if you are serious about bettering your life, then those rules are not an inconvenience to you. The more you are at The Vine and the more you get into the routine, the rules do not even compare to the blessings you receive. While at The Vine, I have trusted God enough to watch over me when everything was very uncertain, and I have seen Him make a way, and I know He will continue to do so.
Prayer Requests
Please pray for my family. Pray my children do not suffer the same way I did in addiction, life and trauma. Pray for generational curses to be broken so that my children can be even better than I ever thought I could be. Pray for my faith to remain strong and steadfast and increase day-by-day as I enter this next phase of life. Finally, please pray for our family’s health in general and that we remain healthy and happy.
*Name changed to protect privacy.
