Kim, so grateful to know you if only through Facebook. Now we have this! (I'm starting a Patreon but don't tell , it's not quite ready for Prime Time.)
It's haunting how these kids survive. You're a gift. So many who pass through your family are lucky to meet a kind heart, for many it may be the first. Can't wait for your book!
Another powerful story that I'll be thinking about long after finishing. I couldn't agree more with you about how the system treats "problematic" kids, and the importance of attachment and relationships. I've been reading a book called Beyond Behaviors, to help me figure out how best to help my neurodivergent kid (who has some not ideal behaviors), and all of the research points to the same answer for any kid with difficult behaviors: be a safe relationship for them (connection is key!), and look beyond observable behavior to understand what is causing it. The kid's behavior is often an adaptive response to another problem they are dealing with, be it trauma, sensory processing issues, neurodivergency, etc.
Thunderous. So appreciate of and excited for your writing. I read Bipolar when our mutual friend Anne shared it. A quick but about me (because I know I'd be curious about demographics): I'm a career food-person (restaurants, then culinary school admin), master's in food studies, taking a minute to raise kids 1 and 4, studying to become a postpartum doula with a focus on feeding the people doing the work of birthing and/or raising babies
oooh Jess! I'm so excited to meet you (online of course). Thanks for telling me about yourself. Two of my kids come from trauma backgrounds and feeding kids with trauma is a big area of interest for me, and something I write about often enough and in my book, so I'm looking forward to having you weigh in and getting new ideas and thoughts about it from you. Welcome!
This was so powerful. Thank you for sharing this story that both honors and shares the stark reality of all who fall through the cracks in our systems, so large they are gaping chasms.
Kim, so grateful to know you if only through Facebook. Now we have this! (I'm starting a Patreon but don't tell , it's not quite ready for Prime Time.)
It's haunting how these kids survive. You're a gift. So many who pass through your family are lucky to meet a kind heart, for many it may be the first. Can't wait for your book!
Thank you, Jacqueline! And so good about the Patreon. When it's live, I'll shout it out! It should be a creative year. xo
Another powerful story that I'll be thinking about long after finishing. I couldn't agree more with you about how the system treats "problematic" kids, and the importance of attachment and relationships. I've been reading a book called Beyond Behaviors, to help me figure out how best to help my neurodivergent kid (who has some not ideal behaviors), and all of the research points to the same answer for any kid with difficult behaviors: be a safe relationship for them (connection is key!), and look beyond observable behavior to understand what is causing it. The kid's behavior is often an adaptive response to another problem they are dealing with, be it trauma, sensory processing issues, neurodivergency, etc.
I'd also recommend "changeable" by Stuart Ablon. It has been a huge game changer for us. https://www.amazon.com/Changeable-Collaborative-Problem-Solving-Changes/dp/0143129015/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1674606782&sr=8-1 It's prefaced on the idea that if kids can do better, they will. if they aren't doing well, it's because they can't. There is even a support group for the book called Plan B. Anyway, hit me up if you ever want to discuss these strategies. We are deep into it these days too.
Thunderous. So appreciate of and excited for your writing. I read Bipolar when our mutual friend Anne shared it. A quick but about me (because I know I'd be curious about demographics): I'm a career food-person (restaurants, then culinary school admin), master's in food studies, taking a minute to raise kids 1 and 4, studying to become a postpartum doula with a focus on feeding the people doing the work of birthing and/or raising babies
oooh Jess! I'm so excited to meet you (online of course). Thanks for telling me about yourself. Two of my kids come from trauma backgrounds and feeding kids with trauma is a big area of interest for me, and something I write about often enough and in my book, so I'm looking forward to having you weigh in and getting new ideas and thoughts about it from you. Welcome!
This was so powerful. Thank you for sharing this story that both honors and shares the stark reality of all who fall through the cracks in our systems, so large they are gaping chasms.
Holly - thanks for the shout out on Twitter. So appreciate your support. And yes, chasms is the correct word for this. Sigh.
Kim, you have such a beautiful heart and I love the richly descriptive and emotional way you write.