Sunday, October 21, 2007

The Miracle Worker


One book that has been recommended for mom's of kids with RAD is The Miracle Worker. It is the story of Helen Keller and Annie Sullivan. Helen Keller had RAD. It was amazing to go back and read this short play about how Annie, only 20 years old at the time, was able to reconnect Helen with her family and the world. As I read the book I kept thinking "Oh there is RAD" all through out. Then I had to keep reminding myself that they didn't even know about RAD at the time the play was written. It is very encouraging. The thing that struck me the deepest was the part where Helen's mother asked Annie how long she would keep trying to sign into Helen's hand. Annie said over a million times before Helen would understand. Helen's mother asked why she would keep signing when Helen did know what it meant. Annie said "Why do you keep talking to your baby?" It was an "ah ha" moment for me. I keep showing and telling my children of my love, keep doing the attaching behaviors a million times, think of them as babies and realize they are slowly slowly learning. Here is Amazon's website for the book. http://www.amazon.com/Miracle-Worker-William-Gibson/dp/0743457587/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/103-4925957-5462217?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1192991956&sr=8-2

4 comments:

Denise said...

I have thought about this fairly often since you first told me about it. It makes so much sense. Living in a quick fix society like we do makes having the need to be so redundant seem extreme. However, for anyone who has had to deal with RAD, this concept is not only vital but a good reminder to us moms of how consistent we need to be with our children. Repitition induces learning - learning induces healthier, happier children. Thanks again for the reminder today and the resource info.

Tami said...

Wow, Helen Keller had RAD too? How did she make it through?!

Never give up, huh?

Brenda said...

I think she learned to trust and feel safe with Annie and that then transferred to her mother. Never give up is right.

Renee said...

Wow - never thought about it, but I'm sure that is right. I had never heard of RAD when I had my first foster child in 1997. She was the poster child for it. Hindsight...