Attachment and woundedness

Here is another good post from a fellow adoptive mom, Mom's Like Me.  Go check out her post. On her blog she tells about how an emotional wound is like a physical wound, it limits the child in similar fashion. One you can see and are reminded to be patient and kind and help the child heal, the other is hidden. You have to remind yourself that it is there to help the child heal. I add to this, the idea that sometimes when things are going well, we forget our child's woundedness. That feels great for the moment, but a moment later, all can break loose and we find ourselves dealing with the aftermath of "forgetting" for a moment.  But, in truth, it does ebb and flow. In time that wound heals and fades. It comes up at unexpected times, just like grief. But, it does fade and it does heal.......... how much, no one can really say. This holds true for kids with emotional wounds and for kids with internal differences, like Autism Spectrum Disorders, Bi-Polar, Sensory Processing Disorders, ADHD/ADD, etc.

Autism Awareness Day

Posted By: NATIONAL AUTISM ASSOCIATION INC

To: Members in Think Autism.

World Autism Awareness Day For the many of us who see our loved ones with autism struggle to speak, eat, sleep, communicate, make friends, stay safe, have a conversation, be comfortable, or struggle because they're bullied or mistreated, we want to make sure they have no such struggles throughout their lives, especially when we're gone. Blue has been assigned as the color that symbolizes their struggle, their hope, their state of being--happy or sad. It has also been assigned as the color to make the world stop and ask, "What is autism?" Chances are that years ago we would have wanted to see the color blue light up the Empire State Building, or see blue shirts on anyone who recognizes a day like today. Being surrounded by that color may have given us the opportunity to ask "What is autism" instead of simply hearing the diagnosis, ironically, out of the blue. Better awareness could have led to earlier intervention, which is key. For many, understanding the research could make all the difference. For those who know very little about autism, the color blue could mean a diagnosis at age two rather than age three, or even two-and-a-half. Every second counts. On this World Autism Awareness Day, the recognition of the diagnosis that now affects 1 in 110 will hopefully lead to an earlier diagnosis and even more days of progress, resources, funding and action. It can only serve to keep the issue at the top of the minds of everyone who can make a difference. Many of us are fully aware of autism since we live it and breathe it each day. But for those who do not, today is a day for them to get to know autism, and to understand what our loved ones need so eventually one day they may finally have it. On this day and throughout this month, consider doing one of the following: - Support autism legislation or forward an autism action alert. - Volunteer for one of the many great autism nonprofits or local autism groups. - Do something kind for a family affected by autism. Take them a gift card for groceries, pay for a therapy session, offer to mow a lawn or to babysit, encourage neighbors to lend a helping hand. - Donate to one of the many great autism nonprofits. - Change your profile picture to support autism throughout April. - Tell someone about autism. Seeing the many requests from struggling families, and knowing how low on resources our community truly is, it is our hope that no matter what color you wear today or how you support autism, the world will become more aware and our community will become better equipped. May lots of differences be made today and every day. Keep fighting for it - With continued hope, The NAA Team

Book lists

This is a list of book lists (the * means that it is a particularly Christian book)

Please see the tab at the top of this blog called Books and Resources for a fuller list of Adoption and Ethiopia related books.

Parenting in general:
Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp*
How to really love your child Ross Campbell*
every single book by Cynthia Tobias such as You Can't Make me, but I might be persuaded*
Families where grace is in place by Jeff VanVonderen*
Heirs of the covenant by Susan Hunt*
Raising Maidens of Virtue by Stacy McDonald*

Adoption and race for parents:
The Connected Child by Karen Purvis YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK!
Toddler adoption the weaver's craft by Hopkins-Best
Taming the tiger while it is still a kitten by Nancy Thomas (the book is not particularly focused on Christians but I hear she is a Christian) I found this book to be a complimentary (the Deborah Gray's book) list of attachment signs to look for and practical ideas for attachment. It is more of a booklet. I do not know anything about her particular theory's as this book does not address that.
Attaching in adoption by Deborah Grey
I'm chocolate you're vanilla by Marguerite A. Wright
Before You were mine (on making a Christian life book)*
Twenty Things Adopted Kids wish their parents knew by Sherrie Eldridge

Adoption for kids:
Emma's Yucky Brother by Jean Little (not a yucky book but a yucky title that I don't favor. For siblings already in the home and pertaining to older child adoption).
Rosie's Family Lori Rosove
I love you like Crazy Cakes by Lewis
Horace by Holly Keller
Who are my real parents by D. L. Fuller
Welcome Home forever child by Christine Mitchell (older child adoption)
Little Miss Spider by David Kirk

Kids Books that talk about race or feature African American persons (because this is important in our family and they are just good books):
Colors come from God Just like me by Carolyn Forche*
Brown Like Me by Noelle Lamperti
Little Bill books by Bill Cosby
He's Got the Whole World in his hands by Kadir Nelson*
Jump at the Sun Bible classics they also make fairy tale classics*
I, Matthew Henson by Weatherford
By my brother's side by Tiki and Ronde Barber
You Can Do it! by Tony Dungy
Many books by Patricia Polacco
Any book adapted and/or illustrated by Rachel Isadora

Ethiopia:
There is no me without you by Melissa Fay Green
The sign and the seal by Graham Hancock

Ethiopia for kids:
Pulling the Lion's whiskers and other Ethiopian tales by Ashabranner and Davis
The storytellers beads by Jane Kurtz
Jane Kurtz books for kids -all of them
The Perfect Orange by Frank Araujo
Fire on the Mountain by Jane Kurtz

Aspergers:
Asperger's and Girls featuring Tony Attwood and Temple Grandin
Girls Under the Umbrella of Autism Spectrum Disorders By Lori Ernsperger and Danielle Wendel
Parenting Your Asperger Child by Alan Sohn and Cathy Grayson
Oasis guide to Asperger Syndrome by Bashe and Kirby

Aspergers for kids:
All Cat's Have Aspergers by Kathy Hoopmann (kids book)
I am Utterly Unique by Larson (kids book)
Brotherly Feelings by Sam Frender and Robin Schiffmiller (for siblings-kids book)
The Goodenoughs get in sync by Kranowitz (for kids)

Grief (for kids mainly):
Tear Soup by Pat Schwiebert and Chuck DKlyen (this book is appropriate for ANYONE)
I'll Always love you by Hans Wilhelm


I love you books: Runaway bunny by Margaret Wise Brown
I love you through and through by Rossetti-Shustak
I love you because you're you by Liza Baker
The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
No Matter What by Debi Gliori
Mama do you love me by Barbara M. Joosse
Don't forget that I love you by Anna Currey
Guess How much I love you by Sam McBratney

If you are interested in other book lists and reviews please see my book blog. http://wayfarerbooks.blogspot.com/

Also for updated book list go to the top tab section and click on books and resources.