Canyon Acres Children and Family Successes…

Robert’s Story

I was adopted at 8 months old. When I started school, I had a difficult time making friends and, although I love my parents, I began kicking and hitting them. I didn’t know how to deal with what I was feeling inside. I came to live at Canyon Acres on my 9th birthday. Although they threw me a birthday party on my first day, I wasn’t about to let them think they could get close to me. After all, if I was so unlovable that my parents sent me to this place, why would these people be different? They’ll just send me away, too. So, the first six months I raged, I ran, and I hated everyone…most of all myself.
When I raged, they held me. When I ran, they came after me. They even went to school with me for three months so I wouldn’t destroy my classroom or run away. I couldn’t shake them.

They moved me to a new school. They also worked with my mom and dad to help them understand me. Now I’m one of the best students and school is going well. The group home was another story. I couldn’t believe the compliments they gave me were true. I couldn’t seem to stop myself from hitting and kicking. The psychiatrist changed my medication to help me control my body and someone called a TBS coach came and was going to help everyone straighten me out. I tried to hate her. I even hit her in the stomach to make her understand I was “broken” inside, but she kept coming back and waited patiently to teach me all these neat things to help me not feel so angry or sad. She helped me get done all the things the big people felt were important. She even helped my family. She went with me on my home visits and taught my parents the things I learned.

All these people helped my mom tell me she loved me, and helped me see my parents could keep me safe. THIS WEEK I WENT HOME WITH MY FAMILY! I never thought that would happen…ever! Thank you, Canyon Acres!