This article in Newsweek crossed my desk this morning, and I just had to bring it to your attention. I have tried repeatedly to post a comment but can’t seem to get through. Perhaps some of you can wade through all the comments from all the other struggling parents and offer them a hand of support?
The article is about a mom who is now in prison for the murder of her adopted daughter from Eastern Europe. The mom snapped after 18 months of trying to parent her preschool-aged child. It goes without saying—but I will state it up front—that under no circumstances am I excusing this woman for her response to this child. She doesn’t excuse herself … But if you read this article, you will recognize all the same elements of our families that I so often discuss on this blog. The agency “involvement” in all probability included “bait and switch”, and of course, this family received little or no support, education and understanding as they attempted to integrate a severely emotionally disturbed child into their home.
This mom is now serving a long prison term; she is divorced and her husband is raising their other daughter, also adopted from Eastern Europe. The whole story is a travesty.
I encourage all of you to read the article, try and post responses, write to the editors of Newsweek, both by email and snail mail, and let’s use this article as yet another springboard to try and generate some services for our families. On a positive note, I learned from Nancy Bostock that her public appearance appears to have had some positive impact in Florida, as she has learned the Florida Senate Committee for Families and Children is attempting to address her concerns. Proof positive that if we raise our collective voices, we will be harder to ignore. As Nancy Thomas is fond of saying, “Together we can make a difference!”
why didn’t anyone comment on these two posts???
Maybe there are no comments because it’s scary to think about….those of us who are challenged every day by our RAD kids know that we are always checking ourselves and our abiliy to control our emotions. Who knows what would actually put any of us over the edge. Emotional breakdowns happen all of the time. The lucky ones don’t have any kids around to witness or experience the alarming effects of losing touch with reality. This is a very uncomfortable subject to address and it hits too close to home.
several years ago.. I think it was 1988 to be exact… a large adoptive family landed itself in Va Beach… they at one time had a farm, but traveled with about 18 kids they adopted… on a bus, it was bad… I think they started out doing a good thing.. I am pretty sure their last name was Dale
one day while they were here as part of the missionary traveling bus tour… one of their kids, very behaviorly challenged died from a beating from the father…
this still has a big impact her in Va Beach, Va…
I don’t think education is the only factor to make vast improvement…
I think really helping these kids would, respecting adoptive families, etc…
I think Lindy makes a great point.
planet hollywood vegas december…
[...]n Iâm impressed, I must say. Really not often do I encounter a weblog thatâ rm[...]…