“Use your imagination.” How do those words work with your kids? Our daughter, Payton, lacked imaginative skills for years. Her imagination was so invisible that we wondered if she would ever develop in that area. I wished for her to be able to play like most other children, but it seemed it would be an…
Read MoreAll articles filed in Tracy Dee Whitt
Supporting adoptive and foster families and families living with autism.
Contents page is FIXED!
Happy to report the Contents page is up and running, hopefully without any glitches. 🙂
Read MoreContents Page is up and limping
Look for the new Contents Page at the top of the page. I have compiled a somewhat organized list of all the contents from this blog to help in your search for what you’re looking for. It took HOURS, and I hope it helps. The only glitch is with the General Adoption page, I apologize,…
Read Morehe almost left his disable daughter
This father’s story on CNN wrecked my heart. I would encourage everyone to read it. It tells of a child’s diagnosis of Down Syndrome and how it broke the father, leaving him wondering if life was worth living, if he should put his daughter up for adoption, or if he should leave his child and wife.…
Read Moretrauma focused equine therapy (adoption/foster)
I found this information in an email from The Child Trauma Academy on Spirit Reins Equine Therapy: “Participants learned that the brains of “prey” animals, such as horses, are organized much like that of a traumatized and hypervigilant children who are constantly scanning the environment for threat. The horse, for one, senses a child’s hypervigilance instinctively…
Read Morethe behavior battle (adoption/foster)
Behaviors come in all shapes and sizes. There is avoidance, vocal aggression, physical aggression, self-abuse, rude comments, bowel issues, sleep issues, food issues, and the list goes on, and on, and on. Many of you are in a battle with behaviors. Last year we had a Speech Pathologist and a Developmental Therapist coming to our…
Read Moretips for a better summer vacation (adoption/Autism)
Summer vacations are here, and maybe you’re excited about the fast approaching fun, or maybe you’re apprehensive about it going awry. No matter where you stand, it’s important to have understanding of your child, and a plan in your suitcase before you go. Before you go on your trip, PLAN, PLAN, PLAN, and TALK, TALK,…
Read MoreAdopting a child with HIV/AIDS
A few months ago I was looking at adoption blogs and came across a mother who has adopted children who are HIV positive. I was touched by this woman’s heart, and I admire her and what she has done. Have you ever considered adopting a child with HIV or AIDS? If the answer is yes,…
Read Moreadoption = special needs
The first time I heard someone mention adopted children and special needs in the same sentence was during a meeting with ten professionals. The psychologist speaking was not referring to the adopted children who are classified as special needs because of a cleft palate or a heart condition, she was alluding to any child that…
Read Morediscovering the child behind the label (adopting a special needs child)
This article first appeared in the April 2013 issue of Adoption Today. ******** A baby needed a loving home, how could we say no? We got the call from Child Protective Services on December 17, 2009, they told us no one else could take in a three month old boy. The list of issues his…
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lovin' adoptin' & autism 