Dandelion on My Pillow, Butcher Knife Beneath: The True Story of an Amazing Family That Lived with and Loved Kids Who Killed

In fact I had a VERY difficult time putting it down so that I could get some sleep!!! Although I could easily relate to many of the experiences discussed by Nancy Thomas, it was so neat to get a confirmation of my experiences with RAD kids and the system!!! Great going, Nancy!!!

It is an eye opener to the reality of living with deeply abused and disturbed children. The encouragement it gives to all of us who struggle with difficult behaviour in children is immeasurable, giving hope where there is none. Nancy and her family write so openly and honestly about their experiences sharing their triumphs over attachment disorder.I would highly recommend any who is involved with abused children to read this real life account.

Unfortunately, those that give this book a negative review are sadly mistaken regarding what is involved in RAD therapy. TRUE holding therapy is NOT holding a struggling child down while he or she screams in rage. Holding therapy is very gentle, where a child is held lovingly like an infant is. Mother and child make eye contact and mother sings or tells child stories. I have seen holding therapy and when a child is healing, it is a beautiful, powerful thing to all involved. Further more, although Nancy Thomas' techniques for parenting and therapy are non-traditional it is done with the child's safety as priority. Until you live it or work with it, you will never understand it. Do more research. Nancy Thomas may not be a scholar writer but she knows what she is talking about!

My husband & I are parenting children like the ones Nancy talks about in her book, & her story was an inspiration to us...an inspiration of endurance! Some days, it is hard to comprehend living with such children for yet another day, but Nancy empowers us parents of RADs to persevere & persevere with hope, joy, & love. Her methods have been extraordinarily beneficial to our children, & I think I would have collapsed by now without knowing that someone else out there does indeed understand. Nancy's books are vital, as some states (like mine) have ZERO resources for RAD. We needed to be validated. We needed to know we're not alone, & if her books serve no other purpose, they serve those. True, like others have said, some of the language is hard to read through. It can be far to "flowery" at times & sounds like a high school writing student who's been urged repeatedly to use "descriptive imagery." Well, in a book about RAD, most readers don't care what the mountains or leaves looked like, but considering the weight of most of the content, the unbearable descriptions can be forgiven (or skipped over). Bravo! Bravo! EVERY RAD parent should read this book (as well as Nancy's other books)!

This book was sadly wonderful. We have an adopted son, now almost 21 years old, whose behaviors we could see in many of the examples. I could really identify with the frustrated, worn-out mothers. I marvel at Nancy's strength. She should be right up there with Mother Teresa. I just wish I could have had the book to read about 20 years ago. This is a MUST READ for anyone who has dealt with a child who has an attachment disorder. I must have my own copy for reference and to share with others.