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
Russian Adoption
Russian Adoption
The RAD Child Development Called Reactive Attachment Disorder
For two of my daughters, inconsistency in needs being met and the rotating caregivers that provided for those needs made up the incubator that caused RAD child development to thrive. Reactive Attachment Disorder:…
The RAD Child Journey Called Reactive Attachment Disorder
My wife and I had three sons biologically before adoption added another six. (It’s a long story…) Three of our children that we adopted have Reactive Attachment Disorder. One has been diagnosed…
Girls From Russia are Hard (It's not Russia, Though)
Of course it has nothing to do with nationality, but that is what Sarah perceived. She was too inexperienced to understand her statement as judgmental, nationalistic, politically incorrect, or anything other than…
Dear God Please Forgive my Daughters First Mother
Dear God, please forgive my daughters’ first mother. I know that isn’t what I used to ask from you. I know I said I wanted her to burn in hell. I know…
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…
When Adopted Children Don’t Feel Safe at Home
My wife’s father was a notorious sex felon. She left her first family at fifteen and entered the foster system where the form of abuse changed without stopping. She could relate to…
Successful Adoptions Take Time so Give Yourself a Break
I often get messages from concerned parents who want to know if they are a bad mom or dad. Because of the type of writing I do, most of these queries come…
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…
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…