Why doesn’t our child return our love? What are we failing to understand? What are we failing to do? These questions can fill the minds of adoptive parents caring for wounded, traumatized children. Families often enter into this experience with high expectations for their child and for themselves but are broadsided by shattered assumptions. This book addresses the reality of those unmet expectations and offers validation and solutions for the challenges of parenting deeply traumatized and emotionally disturbed children.

Wounded Angels: Inspiration From Children in Crisis uses vignettes of children in crisis situations to portray how troubling behaviors can act as clues for ways children can grow stronger after traumatic stress. This text shows how children can guide caregivers and practitioners through hidden conflicts and, through case examples, provide opportunities to develop emotionally supportive relationships. Practitioners and caregivers can use Wounded Angels to encourage a resilient perspective for children. In return, this text informs readers how children find their own path towards healing.

Healing the Wounded Child The wounded child cannot be kept separate from you. If s/he is in fear, you need to love the one in fear. You must be willing to feel her pain. This is a sacred journey through fear to love. You must learn to approach the child, not as a judgmental parent, but as a loving one. For only love releases the pain. Only love gently brings the darkness into the light. The process of recovery does not end until there is no one left to blame or shame, including yourself. It does not end until you can see the light behind your shadow. It is time now to take the little child into your arms and rock her and speak to her softly the words of love s/he needs to hear. Do not be afraid of her anger or her pain but remember that all s/he wants is love. and that is the only gift you can offer her.

Many adopted or foster children have complex, troubling, often painful pasts. This book provides parents and professionals with sound advice on how to communicate effectively about difficult and sensitive topics, providing concrete strategies for helping adopted and foster children make sense of the past so they can enjoy a healthy, well-adjusted future. Approximately one of every four adopted children will have adjustment challenges related to their separation from the birth family, earlier trauma, attachment difficulties, and/or issues stemming from the adoption process. Common complicating issues of adopted children are feelings of rejection, abandonment, or confusion about their origins. While many foster and adoptive parents and even many professionals are reluctant to communicate openly about birth histories, silence only adds to the child's confusion and pain. This revised and significantly expanded edition of the award-winning Telling the Truth to Your Adopted or Foster Child equips parents with the knowledge and tools they need to communicate with their adopted or foster child about their past. Revisions include coverage of significant new research and information regarding the importance of understanding the child's trauma history to his or her well-being and successful adjustment in his foster or adoptive family. The authors answer such questions as: How do I share difficult information about my child's adoption in a sensitive manner? When is the right time to tell my child the whole truth? How do I obtain more information on my child's history? Detailed descriptions of actual cases help the parent or caregiver find ways to discover the truth (particularly in closed and international adoption cases), organize the information, and explain the details of the past gently to a toddler, child, or young adult who may find it frightening or confusing.

The world is full of hurt children, and bringing one into your home can quickly derail the easy family life you once knew. Get effective suggestions, wisdom, and advice to parent the hurt child in your life. The best hope for tragedy prevention is knowledge! Updated and revised.