Loving Bella
Raising a Child with RAD
recent posts
- Watching Her Panic While the World Celebrates—Parenting a Child with Trauma During the Holidays
- “Why We’re Choosing a Calm Christmas for Our RAD Child This Year”
- The Hidden Game That Tears Families Apart: Triangulation
- When Every Little Thing Becomes a Battle: Power Struggles in RAD Homes
- She’s the Sweetest in Public-and the Scariest at Home
about
Category: Complex Trauma
-

While the world celebrates, I watch my daughter brace for danger no one else can see. This is the reality of parenting a child with trauma during the holidays—why boundaries matter, why gifts aren’t harmless, and why love sometimes looks like retreating to protect a fragile heart.
-

This year, we’re choosing peace over holiday chaos — because Christmas looks different when your child has RAD. Here’s how we’re building a calm, connected Christmas that actually works for our family.
-

Most parents want to love their child unconditionally—but when trauma enters the picture, even the strongest families can feel caught in a web of conflict. Triangulation is one way children test loyalties and boundaries, often leaving parents feeling exhausted, frustrated, and unsure how to respond. In this post, I share what triangulation looks like, why…
-

Every. Single. Thing. Is a battle. From socks to showers to lunch, my child with RAD fights for control over every moment- and the people who love her the most are the ones she fights the hardest. Here’s what it’s really like inside a RAD home.
-

She looks perfect in public. But behind closed doors, it’s chaos, rage, and survival. This is what life with Reactive Attachment Disorder really looks like- and why masking is the first symptom we need to talk about.
-

Parenting a child with trauma requires patience, structure, and deep love. For families raising a child with Reactive Attachment Disorder, safety plans and constant structure aren’t overreactions. They’re survival. This post offers a raw, honest look at what you don’t see behind closed doors- and what we wish the world understood. Before you judge, read…
-

Parenting a child with Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) is nothing like typical parenting. Well-meaning comments like “She just needs love” or “Have you tried…?” can feel like daggers when you’re already giving everything you have. This post shares what not to say to RAD parents—and what to say instead. We don’t need advice. We need…
-

Conversations primarily focus on abuse from older children towards parents, neglecting the experiences of parents with very young children exhibiting harmful behaviors. Parents facing such challenges seek understanding and support rather than judgment. They describe physical and emotional abuse from their children, highlighting their love and efforts in managing complex trauma-related behaviors.
-

The author shares their six-year journey with Reactive Attachment Disorder, revealing the emotional and physical toll it has taken on their family. Despite challenges, they highlight coping strategies such as therapy, support from family and friends, and taking personal breaks. The importance of understanding and healing is emphasized, reinforcing that they are not alone in…
-

Father’s Day isn’t easy for every dad—especially those parenting a child with Reactive Attachment Disorder. I sat down with my husband, Brett, to talk honestly about the grief, the growth, and the grit it takes to father a child who struggles with connection. This isn’t a story about picture-perfect parenthood. It’s about showing up. And…