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Old 11-22-2008, 03:55 AM
c.a c.a is offline
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Five is not too young for therapy. Maybe a counselor would help her and you get though this difficult time. Is there a play therapist in your area?

Sometimes we look for the unusual when the simple is in front of us. I have friend who is a Dr. who always says, "Don't look for Zebras when there is a pony in front of you."

My first thought would be that she is grieving the loss of her grandfather and confounding it with other issues.

I don't think that trying to distract her from her grief is helpful. It sends a message that her feelings are not important or are not valid or that there are things that she just shouldn't talk about with you. I do think that how you communicate with her about loss and grief now will set the stage for your relationship with her as an adult.

Are you also helping her address it directly? Talk about grandpa, let her know that it is ok to be sad and to miss him (and to talk about her bio mom). There are lots of great books for kids her age that talk about losing a loved one - and adoption. And talk about other losses as well.

So many times on these forums, I see adoptees talk about their parents not being able to talk about their adoption and their feelings of loss. It is often "my adoptive parents just never wanted to talk about it".

Talk talk talk. Let your daughter know that it is ok to miss her grandpa. It is ok to have feelings (whatever they are) about her birth and adoptive history. Start now teaching her that she can talk to you about anything and that you will listen without trying to distract her.

This is hard stuff. And I am sure that you are still grieving the loss of your dad. Are you sharing with her how you feel about the loss? Are you grieving with her?

Good luck. Her loss is still very new. And so is yours, Are you taking care of yourself? Tell us more about your dad. What was he like as a grandpa? How will you remember him? What memories would you like her to keep and her siblings to keep?
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