I have not posted here before. I really need some advice. My son is 9 months old. He came home 7 weeks ago from Guatemala. He had previously been in an orphange and then was moved to foster care for 3 months before we picked him up. He came home a little underweight and definately delayed...as he could not sit well unassisted.
7 weeks later he can sit, crawl the length of the house, pull to standing and cruise. He has gained 3 pounds. Sounds good right? He is the fussiest, most miserable child 90% of the time. One of my daughters was in tears this morning asking me "why does he not like us?"
Here are the issues. He screams if I don't hold him. I hold him so much in my arms and in a sling that my biceps and back feel like they are going to explode. He doesn't scream when I hold him but he continues to whine. He tries to get out of the sling and reaches for the floor so I take him out and put him on the floor...he then screams to get back up in my arms. He actually sleeps through the night this past week (we were up several times a night before that)...but getting him to bed is a nightmare.
He bites me, slaps me, holds his breathe and screams when he doesn't get what he wants. I am doing the attachment parenting...carrying, rocking, singing. He does make eye contact with feedings and strokes my face lovingly. He smiles after naps and is happy for about 30 minutes and then the ugliness starts.
I feel like I'm going to lose it. I have no time for my other kids, can't shower by myself, and feel like everything I am doing is not making this child happy. I feel helpless and sometimes angry. I have a good friend who is also going thru similar things with her adopted child...so I do have someone to vent to and my husband is supportive.
Is this normal? Will this behavior continue forever? I am committed to this baby...but I have to say that I'm beginning to dread getting up every morning to face 14 more hours of crying, whining, and anger.
Anyone else feel this way??