Rating: 
Summary: This was a great book!
Review: We are foster/adopt parents and this book was really helpful. It was the first book I read in our venture to foster troubled children. I have in fact read this book twice. I would recommend this book to anyone who feels they need guidance with severely troubled children and their lack of attachment.
Rating:
Summary: Parenting a "Katie" of my own.
Review: When I read this book, it was difficult at first; since it was too much like real life. Daniel Hughes does a wonderful job of providing real life examples and behaviors of an Attachment Disordered child. As I read the book, from a mother's perspective, I found myself riveted to the pages, looking for answers to the same questions that "Katie's" Mom/Foster Moms were looking for....how to break down the barriers to love!! The scariest part was that "Katie" could very well be my child....I wondered how Daniel Hughes had managed to know so much about my life.....right down to my thoughts, words and feelings. He has done a remarkable job of giving the reader insight to the Primary Caregiver's (mother's) relationship or lack of, with this deeply hurt child. As well as, the challenges faced within the family structure (Mom is generally seen as the ogre)...splitting and manipulating are key tools used by these children. Yet, on the other hand he has balanced that with the eyes and knowledge of the therapists (some good and some not so good)....but then this is the reality of living with and parenting a child with Attachment Disorder. Thank you Daniel Hughes for making my life seem real and for making me realize that I am not crazy and my child is not the perfect angel 'outsiders' perceive her as!!!
Rating:
Summary: Parenting a "Katie" of my own.
Review: When I read this book, it was difficult at first; since it was too much like real life. Daniel Hughes does a wonderful job of providing real life examples and behaviors of an Attachment Disordered child. As I read the book, from a mother's perspective, I found myself riveted to the pages, looking for answers to the same questions that "Katie's" Mom/Foster Moms were looking for....how to break down the barriers to love!! The scariest part was that "Katie" could very well be my child....I wondered how Daniel Hughes had managed to know so much about my life.....right down to my thoughts, words and feelings. He has done a remarkable job of giving the reader insight to the Primary Caregiver's (mother's) relationship or lack of, with this deeply hurt child. As well as, the challenges faced within the family structure (Mom is generally seen as the ogre)...splitting and manipulating are key tools used by these children. Yet, on the other hand he has balanced that with the eyes and knowledge of the therapists (some good and some not so good)....but then this is the reality of living with and parenting a child with Attachment Disorder. Thank you Daniel Hughes for making my life seem real and for making me realize that I am not crazy and my child is not the perfect angel 'outsiders' perceive her as!!!
Rating:
Summary: Building the Bonds of Attachment
Review: Wow! A GREAT book that is an easy, engaging read yet is informative and realistic about how totally messed up kids can be when they get into the foster care system. I know several Katies and, believe me, there is no exaggeration in the behaviors Hughes describes. I've recommended Building the Bonds of Attachment to many people around my office and have handed it to foster parents when i talk to them about working with some of our attachment disordered kiddos. It has opened many eyes to what these kids go through and why they act in the bizarre ways they sometimes do. The skills of the foster parents and therapist described here are unfortunately not the norm--but there are lots of us out here who are learning all that we can and doing all that we can to provide appropriate treatment to these tortured souls. This book was educational, an encouragement, and a source of inspiration to me.
Rating:
Summary: Building the Bonds of Attachment
Review: Wow! A GREAT book that is an easy, engaging read yet is informative and realistic about how totally messed up kids can be when they get into the foster care system. I know several Katies and, believe me, there is no exaggeration in the behaviors Hughes describes. I've recommended Building the Bonds of Attachment to many people around my office and have handed it to foster parents when i talk to them about working with some of our attachment disordered kiddos. It has opened many eyes to what these kids go through and why they act in the bizarre ways they sometimes do. The skills of the foster parents and therapist described here are unfortunately not the norm--but there are lots of us out here who are learning all that we can and doing all that we can to provide appropriate treatment to these tortured souls. This book was educational, an encouragement, and a source of inspiration to me.
Rating:
Summary: Five stars from me!
Review: Wow, this book gave us a LOT to chew on... "The Attitude" is a challenge to implement, yet in the little ways I can try it, it's been a great success. (Practice, practice...)
PEACE & PRAYERS to you foster & adoptive families out there!
-"citizen"
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Book But Beware...
Review: Yes, this book reads like a suspense novel - and - it IS chocked full of facts and information about Reactive Attachment Disorder. The "but" is this: Katie's foster mom is portrayed as someone closer to sainthood than Mother Teresa. I had the privilege of speaking with Dan Hughes about this and he admitted that perhaps he did make her a bit too saintly. My problem with it is that it makes real mothers feel worse than they already do about dealing with our children with RAD. Most real human mothers could not maintain the level of calmness, acceptance, and day-to-day living with a child like Katie without breaking at some point. At least I couldn't nor could any of the adoptive mothers I've asked. Read and enjoy the book but remember that the foster mom isn't real, you are.
| 
