Here are some adoption books that I recommend. If so, consider buying books that talk about adoption. You may not have other adoptees to introduce your child to. In an ideal situation, this would be other children in your area. This also allows them to and ask those tough questions that are on their mind.Īlso, expose them to other adoptees. But, they need the opportunity to express their thoughts and feelings about their adoption. Oftentimes, they worry about hurting your feelings by talking about their family of origin. Make sure they feel able to talk to you, even if it feels hard. Let your child know that they can talk to you about anything. So, avoid leaving them to feel this way and avoid hard conversations. This makes everything worse and contributes to their behaviors. As a result, they may not know that how they’re feeling is actually very normal and instead feel all alone. Many adoptees grow up not knowing or having relationships with other adopted kids. It’s important that you normalize what your child is going through and how they’re feeling. But, this is when you actually need to have them. I know it can be tempting to avoid tough conversations especially when things are going well. Talk to Your Child About Their Adoption in an Age-Appropriate Way Let them know that you are here for them, they are safe, and you love them no matter what. So, allow them some grace as they work through their feelings. You may struggle to realize that what your child is going through is a very normal response to adoption trauma. As a result, you are likely very stressed and emotional. You’re in the thick of the holidays and trying to deal with your child’s behaviors. Remind Yourself that the Holidays are Hard On Your Adopted Kid Too I want to help by providing some tips to help your family during the holiday season. You need support and guidance as you’re navigating the challenges occurring in your home. It makes it seem like your child should be grateful they got adopted.Īfter several weeks of this behavior, you’re exhausted. Although you know they mean well, it still hurts and often dismisses your family’s experience. They may say things like “they’re so lucky to have you” or some version of that. But, they can’t fully understand the implications of the trauma they experienced. They may know your child was adopted, and know some of the details. They notice your child’s behavior, but they don’t understand it. Their hurt is often directed at you and that hurts.įurthermore, the holidays bring the family to town. You want to make their pain disappear and support them, but it’s not that easy. You feel frustrated, helpless, and guilty. And, we see ads featuring picture-perfect happy families. We’re inundated with Norman Rockwell paintings. The pressure to make the holidays picture perfect is often ingrained in us from an early age. But, this puts a profound amount of pressure on you and in the end, it doesn’t often work. You may have tried to give them an amazing holiday experience to take their mind off their pain. But, this may not be the reality for many adoptees and adoptive parents. The holidays are the “most wonderful time of the year” for countless families. Often, they act out this trauma through their behaviors. Even if you’re the only parent they’ve ever known, they still experienced trauma. Your adopted child may not remember their birth parents or their adoption. So, today I will take a moment to share how you can support your child as they navigate the holiday season as an adoptee. Especially younger adoptees who struggle to voice their pain to those they love. This can be a challenging time of year for all members of the triad. We will work diligently to meet your needs by focusing on exactly what you need to become the best version of you.While being National Adoption Month, the holidays are also approaching fast. We believe that although there are studies and clinical guidelines that address therapeutic approaches, one size does not fit all. Our mission is to provide a holistic approach to treatment and services, ensuring our clients walk away as the best versions of themselves, strengthened with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to implement the tools successfully learned into their personal and professional lives.Īt United HCC, we understand that your individual therapy needs are just that, "Individual". We have worked in a variety of mental health settings, providing each of us with a unique set of skills to aid in your mental wellness journey. Collectively we have experience partnering with adults, children, couples, and families seeking help with depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, PTSD, grief, life transitions, family conflict, and relationship concerns. We are a group of therapist who offers services in the state of Florida and Virginia.
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