A 4ever Family

One of the best benefits of our adoption agency is the online support group. It is a wonderful resource for the before, during and after stages of adoption (and a most excellent place to get pictures of your children from traveling parents!)

Recently, one of the parents shared a website that offers an in depth look at attachment and bonding specifically in children who have experienced trauma at a very early age. And as has been said here before, no matter how perfect the adoption situation---nor how terrible the original family life, the loss of a first family is traumatic for a child.

From the website:

Welcome to A4everFamily! We’re glad you’re here. If you are a parent or will soon be a parent of a child (including an infant or toddler) who has experienced one or more of the following, we especially welcome you!

Adoption
In-utero stress (which may include birthmother's stress over pending adoption)
Foster Care
Orphanage
Sudden separation from primary caregiver
Moves between families
Move to a new country
Hospitalization
Unresolved pain issues such as reflux or ear infections
Neglect (including unintentional, due to orphanage stay)
Abuse

Adoption aside, one could argue that Baby Girl's first year was chock full of trauma. Between the myriad of illnesses she faced and the multiple doctor visits which prompted an array of invasive procedures, we wondered aloud, "Can a baby suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome?"

And wouldn't you know it?

This website had an answer. If you are the parent of a child who has experienced trauma early on in life, I highly recommend taking a look at this site. You'll be glad you did.