Thursday, December 4, 2008

Tis The Season For RAD Melt Downs Fa la la la la-la la la la

Today is our Gotcha Day. 10 years ago today our boys moved in. I know many families celebrate their Gotcha Day forever. We did the first few years. We decided eventually that we are just a family. They came in by adoption. We may be a quirky one, but just a family. If you celebrate your Gotcha Day I think it is great. Everyone has to do what is right for them. ANYWAY, are you getting the holiday melt downs? We are. The attitudes are kicking it into high gear. All we can do is try to maintain consistency, keep the schedules as close to the same as possible, the food the same, tons of reassurance, lots of snuggles (if they allow it, otherwise touch how you can) and take care of ourselves. That is absolutely essential. Moms of kids with RAD need to get enough sleep, eat healthy foods, exercise when possible and take time for yourself. My treat today is going to class early and doing some Christmas shopping. I will probably stop for some yummy holiday flavored latte....eggnog maybe. Maybe the song should be "Tis the season to take care of mom fa la la la la-la la la la." The better care you take care of yourself the better you will be able to deal with the melt downs. I have seen the difference in myself when I do and when I don't. I have seen it in friends. Just Do It! (Nike swish goes here).

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

YES!

Actually, it is not just my RADish, they are ALL nutty! I thought I was just crazy... I mean, it is only Dec 4th, for Pete's sake. We have not put up our tree, I did all of my shopping online so we don't have to venture in to any stores, we don't hang up a bunch of stuff or deviate from routine... yet they are throwing tantrums left and right.

I think I need to spike my own eggnog.

Corey
www.watchingthewaters.wordpress.com

C said...

Don we now our massive rages,
fa-la-la
la-la-la
la-la-laaaaaaaa!

Brenda said...

As we mom's all
spike our eggnog
Fa la la la la- la la la LAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

Marty Walden said...

I've been reading your blog for a while and it has been helpful to me. I have 5 kids, 2 bio, 3 adopted siblings. Our oldest adopted daughter is now 19, was 10 1/2 when we got her. After 4 years we learned she had been sexually abused by her birth father. We knew things were bad and had been working with a RAD therapist for a few months. We had to put her in a group home for sexually abused children. She never came home again and made terrible accusations against us, had SS all over our lives but were proven innocent but by then the damage to our relationship was done. She's out of the system and we don't know where she is. Her younger brother and sister are now 9 and 10 and also have RAD. They have made progress but sometimes it seems like we will never have peace. They are triangulating right now and we know the holidays will be rough. Makes it hard for our bio kids because I homeschool so they are always at home. This has been an 8 1/2 year journey and I know I am probably an "expert" at RAD, but it's still exhausting me. I just wanted to contact you to ask you to pray for us and continue your good work on your blog. Having 3 RADishes is a very lonely place to be.

Brenda said...

Waldenbunch,

Oh how I wish I could give you a big hug. Thanks for sharing your story. I will hold you close in my prayers. Take care of yourself and make sure you get away from it regularly.

Anonymous said...

I love what you said about just being a family!

So what if the one with the meltdowns is mom? LOL! I've had a few holiday meltdowns of my own over the years. Thankfully, none so far this year for me!