As I’ve shared over the past few weeks about our mental health journey with our adopted son, the emails and Facebook messages have been pouring in. Obviously Mark and I are not alone in what we’re walking through.
Moms need to be with other moms who understand what their life is like. This is why moms groups are important. This is why military mom support groups are important. This is why moms who have children with special needs need to be in touch with one another.
I did a brief look for online support for parents of children with RAD, and while I found some good websites, I did not find any easily accessible support groups. So I decided to create my own through Facebook.
If you’re parenting a child with Reactive Attachment Disorder, this is for you! If you’re not parenting a child with RAD, you may very well know of a mom (or a dad) who is and needs support!
This will be a place to find encouragement, share stories, pool knowledge, and share resources with one another. The group is a private group so no one can read the posts unless they are a member of the group. It’s a confidential place to seek and share information.
If you are parenting a child with RAD or know someone who is, the group can be joined HERE!
What about you? What support groups have you found to be helpful in your life? Post your answer as a comment here!
Jill,
This is awesome! I am a sibling to an adoptee that struggles with several things, ADD/ADHD/RAD, and is likely on the Aspergers spectrum. We’ve been siblings for 22 years now, but, whew, what a whirlwind growing up!! (I’m 35). I feel for your parent friends, and for you. It hits a family hard! I want to offer up the encouragement of God’s grace in these situations, though, because He’s the only reason our family isn’t off the deep end!!! There is a joy in this journey of life with kids so affected by these issues. My sister struggles to this day, but God is making budding blooms in her life which once was a very dark and unfriendly place. I want to pray with you and lift up these struggles, especially since they hit so close to my own life. Thank you for talking about this!!!
Amanda
Amanda, thank you so much for your encouraging words! I will pass them on to the group!
This is an answer to prayer. Thank you!
Since I was a homeschooling mom, I went to homeschool support group meetings for help and commiseration. : ) It was 35 miles away, though, so I wound up starting a group close to home. It was wonderful! Those women became my closest allies and dearest friends. We kind of went through the “war” together, so to speak, our bond was that deep. I still meet with 3 of them on a monthly basis for lunch and to catch up. I can’t understate the importance of having women to share your struggles with–the men were relieved of an emotionalism that was difficult for them to handle, while we found REAL comraderie with each other because we were actually going through the same things. Not to say that our hubbies didn’t engage with us on these issues, but we had a chance to sound out our emotions without creating a home crisis just from airing them! It was good for the guys, good for the kids, and good for us and our spiritual walk. We grew together and I’m so grateful for that season of sharing our godly journeys.
Jeanne, it sounds like such a wonderful group of women! Thank you for sharing!
Make sure you have a good support system. There are support groups for parents of ADD and ADHD kids that have been very helpful for many. Connecting with other parents who know what you’re going through and who will listen without judgment will help you feel less alone and more resilient. I also recommend taking a break from time to time to do something fun and relaxing for yourself.
Good wisdom, Jan, about taking a break! I wholeheartedly agree!
I am an adoptive mom of 5 children, 1 who is RAD. It took 7 years before she was diagnosed, even though we went thru much therapy. It has been a long hard journey that ended 6 weeks, ago by removing her because she physically tried to kill my oldest, and verbalizes wanting to kill us. She is staying with adoptive grandparents, who still want to see the other kids. Only the 2 youngest are, willing to go visit grandparents ( they are MR, more forgiving) but the RAD child sends back death threats, thru the young children. I have had no support or understanding of our situation. I grieve over the pain my other children have endured. I am scared she will come back to hurt us. Feeling very alone.
Elizabeth, I understand! You are not alone!
Elizabeth, I’m sorry to hear of the ways your family is struggling. I will be praying for you. Know that you aren’t alone.
I have 4 Rad children. They have some of the worst sexual behaviors. I’m at a loss. We’ve all been in therapy for years. They grow and the behaviors get worse. My other kids and family suffere continually. I’m sad and scared nothing will ever change.
Your facebook page is not available?
It is available but is now a “secret” page. Please email me at jill (at) jillsavage.org and I’ll get you added!
I need to have a support group it very stressful I have a adopted daugther that is 10 years old she has rad she had been hospitalize so many times and it has not help at one point she is getting worse. The therphy and her psych sessions I don’t think that it is work and I am not sure that they know how to help. I have been told by the two psych doctors at the hospital to put her back in to state hands which is very hard if you are a mother to do that but it is getting to the point that is my only choice. Iam praying mother and trust in god sometime I fill all alone but I know that god has not left me I am very stress out. Sometime you need to know and talk to someone that is going through the same thing. I had not been able to find a group in my city for support.
I have looking for support groups for parents of children with RAD. Have not had any luck until now, I would love to connect with your group, My husband and I have adpoted our grandson who is suffering from RAD and PTSD.We would greatly appreciate any help and advice we can get. Thanks Angie Williams
Angie, I just sent you an invite through Facebook. The group isn’t as active as it has been in the past, but there are some great links to resources in there!
Hi! My name is Rachel, and I am a high school senior in South Carolina. I have two family members with RAD and am doing my senior research project on the neurological and behavioral characteristics of the disorder. I am hoping to be able to conduct research that will help other families of children with RAD. I need a large sample of parents who have children with RAD in order to conduct my research and would greatly appreciate your participation. I only have a short period of time to collect this data, so I would appreciate it greatly if you would help me get the survey to people. The survey takes approximately 30 minutes. No personal, identifying information will be collected and all responses will be anonymous. Care has been taken to ensure that all information remains confidential. If you would be willing to send this survey out to individuals in your group, it would be incredibly helpful! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd5KvzBWu4Wqr0nWzGeVulV2D0NHmw0GYFsa19kI8-kFcsm5A/viewform?usp=pp_url Thank you in advance! Rachel Oue