12 April 1998, Easter, here 4 1/2 months
Began at church; wanted to stay with me in church and not go to Sunday school. Kicking the seat, pulling on my fingernails. Asked her several times to stop. Left church in middle of the sermon; she was mad that we left. Threw things at me in the car; screamed at top of lungs, hit me in back of head.
3 March 2000, here 27 months
An icky one today. Lasted over an hour an a half. I tried holding her, locking myself in my room, holding her and rhythmically counting, smiling, laughing, surprising her, ignoring her, tickling, holding her upside down by her feet, having her kick the pillows on the sofa, punch the pillows, into her room, and a few more. Any time I was near her she was either hitting, kicking, trying to bite me, or hanging with both hands and all her weight off the back collar of my t-shirt, and threatening to kill me and herself. She's a stubborn little thing.
20 April 2000, 29 months
Yesterday, Wednesday, was quite good regarding Hannah's behavior. It's still very draining and exhausting for me. I'm doing a combination of Nancy Thomas and Dan Hughes' parenting approaches. She's with me, next to me in the office, near me when I fix meals, and in the car with me for errands. I'm getting almost no work done.
21 April 2000, 29 months
We made it until 1:30 today before she had a meltdown. Previous to that she had done strong sitting, drawing a picture of spring, picking up her room, strong sitting, practicing softball, grocery shopping, lunch. After lunch, I told her to wipe of the table and she lost it. She hurled herself at me. I said, "I guess you need a big hug." As I hugged her, she grabbed a huge handful of my hair and pulled some of it out.
9 May 2000, 29 months
Well, I've got Hannah's diagnosis. After two and a half years, onto our third therapist, and lots of self-education, I've received a variation on what I expected. She has RAD (Reactive Attachment Disorder) and PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Both are from the rough first six years of her life.
