I was having a conversation this morning with mother of two adoptive girls. She was describing the journey she’s been on with her school in diagnosing her youngest as ADHD and now Aspergers. It’s been quite a painful and long ride for them as a family and even now with these labels – they find that […]

I was having a conversation this morning with mother of two adoptive girls. She was describing the journey she’s been on with her school in diagnosing her youngest as ADHD and now Aspergers. It’s been quite a painful and long ride for them as a family and even now with these labels – they find that they are still feeling lost. The mother is a health care professional and she has herself really looked into what might be going on for her children through the early years of the adoption process. She was convinced back then that both her girls had attachment issues and has found it hard to be heard with this line of thinking.

 

Labels, diagnoses, being heard, knowing what it all means – it’s a mind field for the best of us. I wonder if sometimes we need to stop looking for that label and start looking simply at the personality and presentation of that child’s needs right in front of us. Maybe we could break down the barrier between needing a diagnosis and just getting to know the child?

 

Recently we’ve been training a group of teachers in a local school and we soon will be hosting parent training next week. We’re so pleased with the feedback as it concurs with every time we talk on this stuff, the stuff that really matters. Don’t get me wrong, diagnosis have their place and sometimes a label can help. But in the main I think there is a lot that is missed whilst we are searching for those answers and not looking at the answers right in front of us.

What and who is your child? A whole being. Just as they are. Let’s explore that in more detail and find the freedoms that comes with that intimate knowledge and relationship.

This new year offers us that chance to refresh our commitments to each other, to a way of life, to striving for better. We wish you all the best as you do this in whatever capacity life allows you to, for you and your children.