The RAD Child Surprise Called Reactive Attachment Disorder
The RAD child surprise diagnosis didn’t help. We were looking for the quick fix to a situation that had taken years of a perfect storm to develop. So THAT’S why she charms…
Category
Parenting
Patience Within Effective Families: Trends not Steps
We learned that patience within effective families is different for every individual person and every individual family. We learned more, too... Trends not Steps Amy was the patient one. In her…
When Adopted Kids Aren’t Fair You Need to Understand why
We adopted my oldest daughter from Russia when she was fifteen. She’s twenty-three now and I marvel at how far she has come. Emily has intellectual disabilities but she has learned to…
Reactive Attachment Disorder Help me, Please!
“My six-year-old daughter has Reactive Attachment Disorder. Help me, please! I can’t take it anymore!” My heart went out as it always does when I read pleas like this one, typed in a…
Staying Positive: Look at how far We’ve Come, not how far we Have to go
Last week my family and I drove to San Diego to watch the U.S. Marine boot camp graduation for my son. I didn’t realize I would be learning a life lesson from…
Family Priorities: When Number one on my List Shouldn’t be
Family priorities are the foundation of a successful family. Of course we’ve all been taught that family priorities should be our first priorities, but sometimes, it’s hard. There isn’t a holiday or…
Making Home Feel Like Home: Family, Happiness and Love in Spite of Challenges
The outside of our current home is not nearly as impressive as the feelings were inside the most humble place our family has ever lived. Neither Amy nor I came from money.…
Back to School With Reactive Attachment Disorder: 10 Things to do
Your child is heading back to school with Reactive Attachment Disorder. If you’re like me, that’s good news and bad news. My kids that have RAD feel just like I do. We…
Teaching Kids Responsibility: Parenting Teens
Teaching kids responsibility: My grandpa, Merlin D. Simmons, picking seed peas on the family farm with his father, uncle, siblings and cousins. Circa 1920 My grandpa thought teaching kids responsibility was easy. In his…
Bad Behavior in our Adopted Children; Is There a Trigger?
There almost always seems to be a trigger when my wife and I see bad behavior in our adopted children. When two of them get milk, they turn disobedient obstinate argumentative feral. Feral…
Compassion in Court: When Justice <strike>Is Served</strike> Serves
It wasn’t Emily’s fault that she needed compassion in court. Oh sure, she committed the crimes against members of our family; but it still wasn’t her fault. My daughter had committed felonies…
Challenge Limits Instead of Limiting Challenges
We challenge limits instead of limiting challenges in our family. Rippling biceps; six pack abs; toned calves and thighs… yep; that’s how my family members look. On the inside. Oh, we're not…