These stories always give me such pain as I'm the mother of a number of very challenging special needs adopted children and an advocate for children. You'll notice that this boy and his twin were adopted at age 5. My guess, knowing the Russian adoption system, is that they spent at least part of their lives institutionalized. That changes a child.
This family needs support. No amount of punitive measures will ever reach a child who is unattached nor imprinted with pleasing his family. I've been in this woman's shoes and I know the heartache. You want a child to love you back and to make some attempt at behaving himself. When they don't and you don't have the proper support and guidance, tragedy can ensue--unless you have training and support in dealing with the challenges. It takes unending patience, fortitude and creativity....and a strong support system.
ETA: Physical punishment and inflicting pain will never work and is absolutely wrong, IMO. I want to be clear about that. That worsens the situation and further harms the child's spirit. But there are methods that work. There is hope.
I'm sure there will be many that call for trouncing the woman. But please do a little research, first, on what living with an unattached/unbonded child is like and check out the lack of services for families currently available. Like the article says, it's not all black and white. My prayers are with that family. They can make it. They just need lots of help....now!!
http://www.myspace.com/gshafer5571/photos/1497975#{"ImageId":29993103}
Alaska woman on 'Dr. Phil' charged with child abuse
"The wife of an Anchorage police officer has been charged with child abuse following her appearance on a Dr. Phil show in which a video shows her disciplining her adopted child with hot sauce and a cold shower, the Anchorage Daily News reports.
The 7-year-old victim was adopted with his twin brother from a Russian orphanage two years ago, according to a local adoption agency, the newspaper reports.
According to court documents, the Dr. Phil video shows Jessica Beagley, 36, yelling at the boy, putting hot sauce in his mouth, and forcing him, crying, into a cold shower...."
more at link
This family needs support. No amount of punitive measures will ever reach a child who is unattached nor imprinted with pleasing his family. I've been in this woman's shoes and I know the heartache. You want a child to love you back and to make some attempt at behaving himself. When they don't and you don't have the proper support and guidance, tragedy can ensue--unless you have training and support in dealing with the challenges. It takes unending patience, fortitude and creativity....and a strong support system.
ETA: Physical punishment and inflicting pain will never work and is absolutely wrong, IMO. I want to be clear about that. That worsens the situation and further harms the child's spirit. But there are methods that work. There is hope.
I'm sure there will be many that call for trouncing the woman. But please do a little research, first, on what living with an unattached/unbonded child is like and check out the lack of services for families currently available. Like the article says, it's not all black and white. My prayers are with that family. They can make it. They just need lots of help....now!!
http://www.myspace.com/gshafer5571/photos/1497975#{"ImageId":29993103}
Alaska woman on 'Dr. Phil' charged with child abuse
"The wife of an Anchorage police officer has been charged with child abuse following her appearance on a Dr. Phil show in which a video shows her disciplining her adopted child with hot sauce and a cold shower, the Anchorage Daily News reports.
The 7-year-old victim was adopted with his twin brother from a Russian orphanage two years ago, according to a local adoption agency, the newspaper reports.
According to court documents, the Dr. Phil video shows Jessica Beagley, 36, yelling at the boy, putting hot sauce in his mouth, and forcing him, crying, into a cold shower...."
more at link