In our ongoing series, Common Questions & Concerns, we address the challenges that parents often face as they help their children transition to their “new world,” learn to trust and development secure attachment:
Question: We returned home with our child (adopted internationally) about 3 weeks ago. We are finding the adjustment much more difficult than we expected. For example, she is nearly 10 months old and is still not sleeping through the night. In addition, she cries what seems like all the time and is very irritable and unhappy in general. Frankly, it is making it very difficult for us to feel bonded with her and we are growing frustrated and tired. What are we doing wrong and what should we consider in order to get things back to normal?
Finding the Real Child, from the Spring 2006 issue of The TCU Magazine, details the remarkable story of Kristen. This story of hope illustrates well the healing power of parent/child connections. The article also offers a brief history of TCU’s Institute of Child Development, and provides an overview of the Institute’s work to help children and parents.
“Children from Hard Places.” This is the phrase used by Dr. Purvis and others to describe children that have experienced some type of abuse, neglect or trauma during their lives (including prenatal exposure to substances or high levels stress, difficult labor or birth before or medical trauma). Obviously, this phrase applies to most children who were adopted or spent time in foster care.
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Listen to Dr. Purvis’ 2007 interview on Think (KERA) about her book, The Connected Child, and the interventions and practical approaches that have helped countless parents create healthy and healing connections with their children. audio recording of this presentation (mp3 file)
Our desire is to make available highly relevant information and resources through this site and to do so free of charge. However, occasionally we share with you great resources which are only available for purchase. Such is the case with Dr. Purvis’ Lecture Series DVDs. This DVD series contains footage from campus lectures given by Dr. Purvis and can be ordered online. The cost is $60 per DVD (or $250 for the complete set of five DVDs) plus shipping.
Over 100 people joined Texans Care at the Texas Capitol on October 3rd to hear Dr. Karyn Purvis speak on The Attachment Dance: How Abuse and Neglect Drive Attachment Problems. Opening the presentation, Dr. Purvis analyzed drawings that children had made of their families and pointed out indicators that a child either feels a part of a [...]
The adoption of a child is always a joyous moment in the life of a family. Some adoptions, though, present unique challenges. Listen to Karyn Purvis’ interview on Midday Connection on Moody Radio as she talks about some of these challenges like building bonds of affection and trust, learning to deal with behavioral disorders and other [...]