(This post originally appeared on Lovin’ Adoptin’ in May 2013. I feel with all the new visitors I’d share again, plus a little reminder never hurt any of us, right?) Have you found that discipline and having consequences for negative behavior doesn’t work with your hurting child? As one mom phrased it, “They don’t care.”…
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Supporting adoptive and foster families and families living with autism.
inclusion vs exclusion: special needs in the classroom
You can listen to a recorded version by scrolling to the end of the post. Are there benefits to having special needs children in the mainstream classroom? Are there benefits for the typical students? Are there benefits for the special needs students? Should children with special needs be secluded in their own rooms? If you’re…
Read Morewill they adopt me? adoption from a childs perspective
She’s so sweet. Oh, he’s so adorable. I just love his smile. The first day I visited the orphanage, she ran to me and gave me a hug. These qualities are what draws adoptive and foster parents. It makes sense, but it breaks my heart. It wrecks me to think that children aren’t worthy of…
Read Moretips on bonding with an adopted or foster child
When our daughter, Payton, came to us, she was young, but she was completely broken. Naive people have said to us, “It’s a good thing she was so young when she came to you, she won’t be affected by what happened.” That’s the generally held consensus isn’t it? If a child is removed from…
Read Morecontradicting the norm: autism on the playground
My favorite vacation spot is Ouray, CO, and I’m lucky because it’s only two hours away. It’s dubbed “Little Switzerland” and has gorgeous majestic mountains surrounding the small valley town. I absolutely love the views and slow atmosphere in this quaint town. When my husband, Justin, and I go on our weekend getaways once a year,…
Read Moreattachment in adoption & foster care: the first things we need to know
This is a post I originally wrote in April 2013. Many of you are new here, so I thought I would bring back some of the basics in the following weeks. Hope you enjoy. ************* In Chris Cleave’s novel Little Bee, he writes Little Bee’s thoughts, “Take it from me, a scar does not form on…
Read Morewhat if my special needs child lives with me forever?
I love the site, Not Alone. You can understand why just by the name alone (Ha!). Sometimes when we’re riding the special needs bus we feel alone. We feel no one else really gets us, our child, or our family. This is one great site that supports parents who feel such. Todays post is on…
Read Morewhat’s next? a look at life after bonding takes place
As a parent of adopted kids I found myself wondering far too much, why? Why did my kids have to endure so much so early in life? Why do they have to overcome so much? I’ve realized these aren’t the questions that will bring about healing and restoration. The question I began asking is, what will my…
Read MoreI have Autism and the world treats me different
I have Autism, and the world treats me differently. If your child has Autism, you know what I’m talking about. The stares, questioning looks, noses stuck so far in the air you’d think they were preparing for a dental exam, questions, comments, avoidance, accusations, recommendations, and rarely, smiles. There are a variety of ways others…
Read Moretherapeutic parents need breaks, but balance is key (adoption & foster care)
Being a therapeutic parent is hard. It’s wearing. It’s tiring. It’s work. All. The. Time. It’s benefits in the end are rewarding beyond compare, but when you’re in the day to day it can be draining. Although my husband and I have come out of the most difficult parts of therapeutic parenting with our daughter,…
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lovin' adoptin' & autism 