Transition Home from Out-of-Home Treatment

Dear Parent,

No one likes to send an attachment challenged traumatized child to a residential treatment program.  Yet, there are times when safety and sanity require it.  When your child is ready to come back home, here are some things to help the process:

• Welcome her with open arms, delight, and faith.
• Give him a welcome home tour even if he has been on home visits prior (e.g. this is where the snacks are for you to have when you get hungry and dinner isn't ready; and this is where the dog pooper scooper needs to live when it isn't being used to clean up the yard, etc.)
• Be clear what the expectations are in a friendly, honest way (e.g. this bedroom is your sister's and for her to have the privacy she deserves you have to knock and wait for an invitation before you go in).
• Redecorate, if you haven't already.
• Re-train tasks e.g. I know you know this, but this is just a refresher in case you forgot (e.g. when you do your laundry, this is the setting for your clothes and this is how much detergent).

Your child has been living somewhere else with completely different rules and expectations for a long time.  He has been supervised nearly every second.  Home is different.  Being a family kid again takes some adjustment.  Beware of your own expectations.  

Don't forget to be playful and show delight in your eyes now that she is home. 

Love matters,

Ce

P.S. Check out the Love Matters Parenting Society membership for more support.