http://www.omnitrace.com/birth-family.html
Reactive Attachment Disorder Blog

09/25/07

The talk

Posted by : Nancy Spoolstra in Reactive Attachment Disorder Blog at 06:26 pm , 575 words, 229 views  
Categories: My family
Continued from here and here ...


All the time I was talking, this poor young man sat there on the curb, looking so dejected and forlorn. What I had said was so different from what he had been told by Amy. His mom relayed to me in a subsequent phone conversation that this young man had mentioned that I said I loved Amy, but that I seemed at times to be very harsh in what I was saying. The mom acknowledged I was saying things her son very much didn’t want to hear. He has (had?) plans to make a life with Amy. For over six months, they have had a relationship of sorts. Apparently, he purchased all the furniture before he had a clue that her housing situation was in such jeopardy.

SPONSOR


I can’t remember all that I said, but the entire conversation lasted about 20 minutes. It was more a soliloquy, not a conversation. When I was done, I had him walk with me to my car and I left him a business card in case he needed to contact me. I gave him a hug, climbed into my car and left. I did not return to the apartment.


I received two voicemails last night from his mom (I was at a meeting.) He told her he would head home today, but that he couldn’t leave Amy by herself without options. He begged his mom to let him bring Amy home, but his mom declined. His mom has health issues in addition to her worries over her son. Taking Amy on would be a big mistake.


It is my understanding gleaned from another long conversation with his mom this afternoon that Amy and her boyfriend (more the latter, I’m sure) are looking into options with Amy’s friends, or perhaps with her brother Tommy. Tommy apparently offered housing to Amy over a month ago, but through the family grapevine, I learned that Amy very rudely shut him down. Although Kyle did not want me to hear this, apparently Amy told Tommy the “only thing we have in common is our hatred of our parents.” Tommy has most certainly had his issues with the family, but I’m not sure he appreciated her assessment of his feelings; not to mention her total lack of appreciation for what he was offering.


I don’t know what options Amy has. I suspect that anyone who knows her at all will be very reticent to let her move in with no firm endpoint in sight.


Amy’s boyfriend’s mom is doing what good moms do … she’s trying to protect her son. She learned all this information because she was looking out for him and she searched for and found my phone number. I told her some things on the phone, and then sent her to read this blog. In our conversation today, she told me how clearly she “heard” the effort, love and heartache that were reflected in my writings. I burst into tears, simultaneously wondering just how many times over the years the tears have flowed because of Amy? Amy, of course, is very, very angry that my view of her story is on the Internet (and that her boyfriend and his family have access to it now.) I would be too, if I were her. But I’m writing what I am living … I just wish it was fiction.


Photo Credit

Comments, Pingbacks:

Comment from: Lindy [Member] Email
Nancy, as painful as this is to read, please know that so many of us will be facing the same kind of situation with our RADs. We are not superhuman; we can only do so much in the way of parenting. The ball is in Amy's court and the pain she may inflict on others is not your responsibility. Just as we had to learn how to deal with manipulations, others will have to learn. Your energy, concern and love needs to go to the children in your home. Amy had that advantage for many, many years. If she ever
decides to move forward in a positive manner, she has to do it without your safety net. I know that you know this. Just know that those of us who are continually learning from you also know this. Keep up the good work and don't let this setback re: Amy derail you from the most important job you are doing with Dora and Beth. Thanks for sharing with all of us.
PermalinkPermalink 09/25/07 @ 18:37
Comment from: Cerise [Member] Email
I am surprised that you used Amy's real name since your posts are filled with negative information about her. Why not give her a pseudonym as you have with Dora?
PermalinkPermalink 09/25/07 @ 18:49
Comment from: Nancy Spoolstra [Member] Email · http://attachment-disorder.adoptionblogs.com/
Amy IS a pseudonym. What makes you think it isn't?
PermalinkPermalink 09/25/07 @ 18:53
Comment from: Cerise [Member] Email
Ahh, because I didn't remember reading that it was. Sorry about that and thanks for clarifying.
PermalinkPermalink 09/25/07 @ 19:23
Comment from: AdoptionBlogs Editor [Member] Email · http://editor.adoptionblogs.com
All of our bloggers here at AdoptionBlogs.com deal with and write about very personal information and know full well that pseudonyms are a standard practice when doing so (be it the name the blogger uses for him/herself, names they use for family members of both).

It is a safe assumption that all names used here are pseudonyms.
PermalinkPermalink 09/26/07 @ 06:46
Comment from: nancyderen [Member] Email
As a mom of a kid whose disabilities and issues would make her very vulnerable to the kinds of mistakes this young man is making, I think it is wonderful that you took the time to talk to both the young man and his mother. I would be doing everything she is doing too, to try to protect my kid. there are lots of disabilities that make it genuinely hard for young adults to think through consequences and judge people's character (FAS, traumatic brain injury, learning disabilities- my daughter has all of these and more!) It's so sad that Amy coudln't appreciate Tommy's offer of help any more than she appreciated what you've given her.
PermalinkPermalink 09/26/07 @ 07:49
Comment from: Brad [Member] Email · http://bradadoption.blogspot.com/
These children thrive on secrecy. In their eyes, the fewer people that know all the details, the better.

Brad
PermalinkPermalink 09/26/07 @ 08:06
Comment from: NCOZADD@aol.com [Member] Email
When my RADish joined the military, rather than call and tell us of his plans, he called and asked that I stop posting responses about him on Nancy blog. He knew that I had been doing this, but was embarrassed and worried that his recruiter or others might read what I had written.

DS did not get much sympathy from either of his parents. We simpy asked if anything I said was not true.

Nancy, it really sounds as if the mother of Amy's boyfriend has an open heart and mind - and a lot of love for her son - as well as the willingness to actively pursue options to protect him. It is easy to understand how there is much in Amy's current situation to bring her to tears. You are doing the right thing! {{{{hugs}}}}

Our kids do thrive on secrecy, as it makes it easier to manipulate others when the truth is not out in the open.
PermalinkPermalink 09/26/07 @ 08:23
Comment from: Sunbonnet Sue [Member] Email
Certainly the young man needs support and wise counsel. It's just that Nancy's plate is already so full..........
PermalinkPermalink 09/26/07 @ 08:34
Leave a Comment: You need to login to leave comments.:

Login | Register

Login To AdoptionBlogs.com

Search

Sponsors

Misc

Subscribe to Reactive Attachment Disorder Blog

 Enter your email address:
 

 

Who's Online?

  • Guest Users: 96