The First Years

A Story……………

 

 

They named the pup Hulk as they kids were huge Avenger fans.

His name proved to be quite appropriate as he could be so sweet and calm one minute and another startled and upset if you walked by.

They tried this and that to help the poor little Hulkster to get past it’s fears for years. How do you really let this little dog know it’s okay when it was so use to ugliness from the get-go?  Hulk never had a Sadie and Charlie licking it and cuddling with it making sure it was always fed and protected.

Hulkster learned to play fetch and was amazing at rolling over…the best ever!!!! But would he ever be the same as Oreo, Sadie, and Charlie? They were loved and cared for with their first pant. They had never seen the life that Hulk had.

Yes, he was now loved and safe, and did seem to get…kind of, that BUT the scars from early on always seem to be there.

………….Sometimes people ask us about how, after 13 years, our adopted child still struggles. We have found this dog analogy to be helpful in understanding. When you have a traumatic childhood, and have not had your needs met from the first years in life or worse, it is a part of their core. Of course there is hope, and God has not forgotten these children, BUT there are affects. For some it will be life long battles and for others a rough patch here and there, but we must remember what they have gone through. We must pray for these kiddos and stand with them!!!!!

_____

We are adoptive parents of a child who has experienced early childhood trauma.  Over the last month we have been in crisis mode and have been using this type of story to help people understand how damaging neglect, abuse, and/or drug/alcohol exposure can be on a child in their first formative years.  While we try to keep respect his privacy, we do  share some of our experience to help others who may be going through it or who may be around these children (teachers, volunteers, neighbors, etc.)  You can read about adoption and our story here:

Prodigal Son

We Aren’t Saints Because We Adopted

RECOMMENDED ADOPTION RESOURCES:

*Affiliate links used showing exact product used.

• The Connected Child
• Beyond Consequences, Logic, and Control
• When Love Is Not Enough: A Guide to Parenting With RAD-Reactive Attachment Disorder

The amazing photos are from a friend on Instagram – @Somewhereonmain.  Although this is a story, and not the real history of these pups, she rescues and fosters dogs from horrible lives in puppy mills.  Be sure to follow her work and beautiful home.  You will be inspired.