Strugglin'

Trying to figure out what our children are trying to say is one of the hardest struggles adoptive parents...heck and parent faces.  Add on top of that a special need and it can become all consuming.  Our kiddos don't always say I'm sad, scared, or overwhelmed.  They scream, pinch, run, cry, shut down, and explode. We are right here right now, and We. Are. Strugglin'

We will be shortly seeking an official diagnosis for our littlest.  He is struggling with so much aggression lately particularly with his impulse control.   It is frustrating to live it with him, but its more frustrating to be him.  

As his Momma it hurts my heart to  watch others struggle with his behavior as well.

 We knew what we were accepting when Mason came home.  We read books, blogs, and talked to another FAS mom about her life.  But Reading about the struggles and living them are TOTALLY  different.  

I am in research mode, which is what happens when life gets tough around here.  So as I research I find more and more of what we are doing all wrong and can try to adjust....the struggle is others.  Getting others to buy into this way of doing things.  When his brother is pinched for the 3rd time when all he wants to do is love on his little brother, when you are overwhelmed with all the work that has to get done and you look away for just a minute, when your job is to keep all the children safe...these strategies are hard to swallow.  It's a different mindset from all other parenting, teaching, and brothering You've ever done.   It involves a God size amount of forgiveness, patience, and grace.  But most of all prayer.  

We are not the perfect parents.  We yell sometimes, we get exhausted, we even doubt ourselves BUT we keep praising God in the hard times knowing He's got this.  

So as we keep chugging along, any spare prayer you could offer for wisdom, patience, and peace is so very greatly appreciated!