Perspectives on Challenged Family Building

“Why did you eat all the cookies?” “Why did you take your sister’s iPod?” “Why isn’t your room clean yet?” “Why didn’t you take the trash out?” “Why did you hit your brother?” This list could go on infinitely! The traumatized adoptee’s behavior prompts “Why?” from his baffled parents—over and over!

In some instances, “Why?” is [...]

As many adoptive parents know, a moment of praising, complimenting or “patting the adoptee on the back” can cause a sudden period of poor behavior! As soon as Mom or Dad says, “Wow, you have been good all week!” or “You’ve been getting along so well with your sister”, things go downhill—quickly!
 
Yet, all parents want [...]

Ronnie arrived for therapy in a good mood. The family had just been to see the Karate Kid at the movie theater. He was eager to talk about how much fun he had in watching the “bullies” in the movie being “overcome.” This offered the ideal opening to talk to Ronnie about the fact that [...]