Starting Over Talk - Peer Coaching Support Site

5/1/06

Today’s show starts with the HG getting ready to have a meal. In a voice over Jodi says that today is the day that Cassie is going to meet her son and how she can’t imagine the joy that Cassie must be feeling and the fear of the unknown. Sommer also says in a voice over how she can’t imagine what Cassie must be feeling.

Cassie is on her way to the hotel to meet her son. In a voice over Rhonda states how over a year and half ago Cassie came to the SO over with one goal that over road all other goal- to meet the son that she gave up for adoption over 19 years ago.

Dr. Stan is sitting with Cassie’s son Dustin. In a voice over Dr. Stan says that before Cassie and Rhonda arrived he had an opportunity to talk with Cassies son and his girlfriend. For personal reasons Cassie’s son has asked that his identity be protected and out of respect and his courage for being there they will honor his request.

Cassie is all smiles and is very happy. In a confessional Cassie says that she is seconds away from meeting her son for the first time since he was 3 years old. Rhonda asks Cassie if there is anything she needs to share or say before they go in and Cassie says Thank you to Rhonda for all her help.

Rhonda and Cassie walk in the room Dustin (Cassie’s son) is and there with his girlfriend Natalie. Dustin asks how Cassie is she says good and then they embrace. In a voice over/confessional Dustin says that when he first sees Cassie there is a bond he can’t explain and his heart skips a beat. Dustin says to Cassie “I hear you have been looking for me” while they are still embracing and she said that she has been looking for me him for a long time. She says that his eyes are just like hers. They both well up with tears and she says in confessional that she knew she wasn’t suppose to give up looking for her son and how she understand that this is all new for him and how she needs to take things slowly because he needs time and support. Dr. Stan asks Cassie how does he look and Cassie says that he looks “beautiful absolutely beautiful” and Dustin says that Cassie is “breathtaking”. Cassie tells her son she brought something for him and reads a letter she wrote to him about a year and half ago. As Cassie reads the letter there is not a dry eye in the house. In the letter Cassie states that no matter what Dustin matters in the world. In a confessional Dustin says that when Cassie says that he matters it makes him feel like he has self worth and something to live for. She tells Dustin that it’s his decision if he wants to have a relationship with her. Dustin says that he thought that Cassie was dead and Cassie says that his mother adoptive mother loves him and was trying to protect him. He tells her that he is very proud she got her GED and he tells her that it’s overwhelming and he never really thought he would be dealing with something like this. He says he’s glad she isn’t some drug addict and that he isn’t very good at expressing himself. He says he knows she is his mom and that he knows he wants her in his life but he doesn’t know what to do. Dr. Stan tells him to think about what he wants to do and Cassie expresses that she wants him to take his time and think about what he wants as well.

Back at the starting over house Niambi is talking with Jodi and says that she wants to talk to Situation man and how she misses him. She knows that she shouldn’t be contacting him at the advise of the love addict specialist but she misses him.

Back at the hotel Cassie gives Dustin a poem she has wrote for him “in the heart of you” it’s a tear jerky for everyone including Rhonda. She also gives him a gold leaf that she bought the week after she gave him up for adoption and explains that the leaf represents her when she gave birth to Dustin. She also gives him a box that her birth mother gave to her when she met her birth mother. Dr. Stan talks to Dustin and advises him that he should seek some professional help to help him through this.

Rhonda and Dr. Stan leave so that Dustin, Natalie and Cassie can go out to dinner and have some alone time. Dustin and Cassie hug again… and he calls her “my little mini me”.

Antonia is talking with some of the HG about her poetry night. In a voice over she says that she wants to do well with the poetry night to turn the $100 into the $500.

Niambi is not a part of the group and Jodi expresses in confessional how she is definitely taking it personally that Niambi is not a part of the group. Meanwhile, Niambi is upstairs in her bed. In a voice over she says that she has been focusing on Situation man so much that it is holding her back from getting close with her housemates. Niambi comes down to the kitchen and her and some of the HG have a few words. I’m not sure what it is about except that Niambi seems very agitated and takes offense to almost everything that any of the HG say. In confessional, Jodi says that Niambi is not surrendering to the process.

Iyanla and Antonia meet. In confessional Iyanla says that Antonia is convinced that there is no relationship between her financial situation and the absence of her father in her life. Iyanla talks with Antonia about what she is missing in her life without her father. Antonia is adamant that she does not miss or need her father. Iyanla gives her a present of all single dollar bills, like Antonia’s father gave her when she was a little girl. In a voice over Iyanla hopes that this gift will help her make the connection between her spending habits and her absent father. Iyanla has her write on the dollar all the things she missed not having her father in her life. Iyanla leaves Antonia alone to write.

Niambi caves in and calls Situation man. He tells her that they are going to be alright. She says it would be sad if they didn’t find there way back to each other. She questions him as to why he has made no attempt to contact her. He says things like “you know” and “we’ll talk”.

The doorbell rings and it’s Dr. Stan for Cassie. Dr. Stan wants to talk to her about what her expectations are and doesn’t want her to be disappointed. Cassie talks about how great it was to see her son and how she doesn’t think she is going to hurt him by being in his life. Dr. Stan advises Cassie that Dustin may “act out” against Cassie. Dr. Stan reiterates that Cassie needs to take things slow so the relationship doesn’t blow up.

Iyanla goes back to Antonia to go over what she has written on the dollar bills and has her pin them on a cardboard man that represents her father while blind folded. Some of the things she wrote that she missed out on- was getting ready for prom, advise, taking care of her when she was sick, sharing family, financial advise etc.

Niambi and Iyanla meet and talk about her isolation from the other HG and her resistance to the process. Niambi says it’s an adjustment and she wants to get out what she can from the SO house. Iyanla talks to her about her self abuse and her negative self talk. Iyanla suggest that maybe Niambi has hit the wall and that she has to determine for her self what to do. That what she puts in is what she gets out. Iyanla questions Niambi as to why she is in the starting over house.

Antonia is in bed. Her and Jodi are talking. In a voice over Jodi talks about how her and Antonia share common ground with their feelings towards their fathers. Antonia shares in confessional that her father is not a topic of conversation in her house and she hasn’t thought about her feelings towards her father in over 10 years. Jodi tells Antonia to set an intention for the night and maybe she’ll wake up with some answers.

Tomorrow Christie faces a major decision. Cassie has second thoughts about her sons upcoming visit and Niambi struggles to stop her self abuse.

Even though I got to watch the show today, I still really enjoyed your recap..............thank you so much for your time and hard work!!!!!

I missed the show. Thank you so much for taking the time to recap. I enjoyed it so much.
Rain

Yesterday's show was not shown here b/c of the rescheduling of the Nascar race, so thank you for the detailed recap!

You're welcome!! It was my first one ever...lol Thank god for rewind and pause!!

I'll try and do another today! =)

Thanks for the recap...IT was to my delite for your time....