Avery’s Story
My parents adopted me when I was a baby, just 2 hours old. When I was younger, I constantly felt mad and scared. It was hard for me to be alone. Nighttime was the worst and I would scream and cry and do whatever to not go to bed. I fought with my mom a lot during the day. I refused to do chores or schoolwork without a fight. I mostly fought with my mom and brothers. I refused to take a shower clean my room or take care of my hair. I looked a mess. As I got older, I got more and more mean to my mom, and would throw things at her and hit her. I felt bad inside, like I was born bad, and couldn’t ever do any-thing right. I always got in trouble and my brothers never did, at least that’s how it felt. I thought I was a terrible person and couldn’t change. I felt like I couldn’t trust my mom with what was going to happen next.
When I was 11, my parents told me we were going to Family Camp, I had no idea what that would end up being. At camp, I felt scared, mad, and nervous. What I learned at camp was that my mom was strong and loved me and that it was ok to trust her.
Things were different when we got home and I started to get better. I started feeling less mad and could take a shower and do schoolwork. After a while, and after I had gotten much better, I got worse again. My mom and I went back to camp, and that’s where I healed completely. Miss Nancy could tell in my eyes that I now trusted and loved my mom and was ready for a blue bandana. She traded my red one for a blue one and told everyone that I no longer had RAD.
Now, I am good. I believe that I am a good person. I can’t stand my room being dirty or feeling dirty. I trust my mom, even when I’m scared. I know she loves me and I love her too. I even fight less with my brothers, we are even friends now.
I now work alongside my mom, helping other families get the help they need for their RAD kids. My mom is awesome, and I am learning how to be awesome, just like her.
Written by Avery L.
