[missw005]

I don't know, whoownsthis, this kinda smells like a honeymoon......

But obviously I hope (for your sanity) that it's the real deal! I've been reading this thread and everyone's posts. It was quite a relief, I must say. But whoever said that toddlers are easier are quite mistaken....
My 6 y.o. has driven me to the brink of insanity many, many times. And he's a boy - so boys aren't immune - but I do agree somewhat that in my 10+ years of foster care, the boys were a bit easier than the girls. J still rages and tantrums - though his new ADD/ADHD meds help with the duration and intensity - so we're down from hours of crying to 15 minutes or less. (Still crabby for a long time afterwards, but it's a heckuva lot better than the screaming, kicking walls and dressers, crying, yelling nasty things...)
I also had a problem finding proper psychiatric care for him. We do live in a rural area, but it wasn't a lack of professionals - it was a lack of any of them being open to new patients. Let alone that most of them didn't want to work with a 4 or 5 yr old. We finally lucked out with a new therapist that comes up here from another town an hour away - she comes up once a week and my boy sees her every other week.
She admitted right away that she's never worked with someone as young as J, and that she wasn't sure she could help him. My parents saw that as weakness, but I saw it as a strength - most professionals I work with for the boys would NEVER admit they didn't know something (we had a harrowing experience at the ER w/my youngest - he almost died - because the Dr. wouldn't listen to me ). I think she's finally getting to him, after several months of therapy, and I think she'll easily be able to grow with him.

But back to your new girls - I hope they work out for you. You've been through H*ll and back already, so this should be a much easier go of things. I wish you all the best!
Will keep you in my thoughts -

Sandy

[whoownsthis]

Thanks, Sandy! I have a sneaking suspicion that this could be a honeymoon thing, too, especially since the girls were kept pretty busy AND they only see their younger sister once a month. Maybe all of the excitement kept them civil. ?

I'm also concerned (cautiously optimistic) about the middle girl's (6 next month) "former" RAD diagnosis. Last year in preschool she was very aggressive, even throwing chairs! But this year in kindergarten (new school and with a teacher who gives her choices), the aggressive behavior has stopped and her therapist changed her diagnosis to Anxiety Disorder. If attachment behaviors resurface with us, we'll drive those 3 hours to the attachment therapist!

[missw005]

You go girl!!!
Just keep telling yourself..."I'm in charge", "I can do this", "I AM the parent," and when all else fails, "I NEED chocolate!"

Sandy