Five Reminders for Older-Child Adoptions

123RF Stock Photo

1) Respond to your child's emotional age rather than the chronological age.
2) The child's biological family is always present. Whether they are physically in the child's life or not, they are a part of the child's history and psyche.
3) Your child likely experienced multiple parenting styles before you and thus has a complex attachment history.
4) Your child has a history that you weren't present for. Thus, there can be many emotional triggers of which you are not aware.
5) Educating yourself about trauma is essential!

This post was originally published at www.rebeccahawkes.com.