The Trauma Van
by: Craig Peterson I chose to laugh, not cry. My minivan looks like a wreck. But the two of us could never part ways. We’ve shared too much history together. In 2001 with two new sons in tow, my family of seven needed more space. So while the rain came down in sheets, I negotiated […]
The Tide
by: Melissa Sadin The Tide “The tide recedes but leaves behind bright seashells on the shore. The music stops, and yet it echoes on in sweet refrains. For every joy that passes, something beautiful remains.” That was a poem that was on a wooden wall hanging in my childhood home. I had occasion to recall […]
Does This “In Your Face” Video Help Children with RAD?
by: Julie Beem While the “dress color” controversy and video of two escaped llamas is going viral with the general public, this video is definitely making the rounds on Facebook and in the blogsphere: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ypmGTGGN7A Whenever ATN finds something that can be useful to parents of traumatized children and to those who have RAD and […]
Tuesday Toolbox – I Love You Rituals
by: Gari Lister I think one of the most challenging elements to having multiple children who suffered early trauma is the dance of building both a cohesive family and one-on-one connections with each child. My younger girls no longer have severe attachment issues, but I have found that taking steps to enhance our connection goes […]
Upcoming Conferences and Trainings Coming Your Way
by: Gari Lister As the mom to three kids from trauma backgrounds, I find that my therapeutic toolbox needs frequent updates! My girls are very different, and the techniques that work with one do not always work with the others. There are a number of events scheduled for the spring and summer of 2015 — […]
The Borderline in My Daughter’s Personality – Part 3
This is the final installment in a three-part series that ran earlier this week. The first installment can be found here, and the second here. by: Julie Beem “Borderline feels like I’m going to lose my mind You just keep on pushing my love over the borderline…” Madonna As I read further into this article, I […]
The Borderline in My Daughter’s Personality – Part 2
This post is the second entry in a three-part blog. The third part will run tomorrow. The first part ran yesterday; you can read it here. by: Julie Beem “Borderline feels like I’m going to lose my mind You just keep on pushing my love over the borderline…” Madonna As I read further into this […]
The Borderline in My Daughter’s Personality – Part 1
Today’s post is the first in a series of three blogs about Julie’s daughter and borderline personality disorder. Parts 2 and 3 will run Thursday and Friday. by: Julie Beem “Borderline feels like I’m going to lose my mind You just keep on pushing my love over the borderline…” Madonna We’ve been at this whole […]
The Other “B” Word
by: Craig Peterson Before anyone’s imagination runs wild, I’m not talking about that “B” word but the other one we know all too well. “Birth families.” For nearly all of us who’ve adopted – whether domestically or internationally, our children will bombard us with questions about their birth families. Probably sooner than later. Maybe they […]
What if I Had a Behavior Plan?
by: Julie Beem The world is enamored with behavior plans for anyone whose behaviors are “out of line” with society. But do they work? I can’t speak for children with other disabilities, but children who have been traumatized and have attachment challenges just do not respond to traditional behavior modification plans. And frankly, I don’t […]