My DC was placed with me over 10 years ago. We struggled for years with challenging behaviours and trying different parenting techniques. No professionals around us were able to give any real practical advice so we just slogged it out as a family finding ways of managing.
Even after our DC was diagnosed with 'disordered attachment' (about 4 years ago) and we finally understood what was going on I could not find any really helpful practical advice from the professionals around us. We have worked it out ourselves over time and things are much improved.
About a year ago someone recommended Sally Donovan's books to me. I read the 'Unofficial Guide To Adoption' and it blew me away. For the first time in 9 years I was able to read about another adopter who had experienced almost exactly the same as me in parenting a traumatised child. Sally is an adopter herself and has been brave enough to share exactly how it feels.
I heard her speak at an event earlier this week and again, I was struck by how reassured it felt to listen to someone who knows what it's really like. She gives a lot of practical advice and humorous anecdotes, she gets it!
So, for any of you who are considering adopting, in the early stages of an adoptive placement, or long in the tooth adopters who are experienced but feeling isolated and misunderstood, go and have a read of Sally's stuff. I wish I'd read her stuff a long time ago, I wouldn't have doubted myself so much.
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Sally Donovan - if you haven't read her please do.
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catsnickedallmypens · 01/12/2016 19:27
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