[DogwoodMama]

I am struck by the fact that this is an *adoptive* family also. My brother and I were severely "disciplined" (hit) by my stepmother who adopted us because she was "afraid" of having out-of-control kids... This is why it is so important that adoptive families in particular focus on *attachment* and non-corporal parenting strategies. I think here at GCM and the adoptive parents I know IRL do an awesome job doing that. It just occurs to me that this boy was particularly at-risk and after reading other news stories I am upset that the abuse (which was reported previously) was not enough to get the child removed and the adoption stopped. There *were* red flags, but the mother basically lied and had other children lie as well. :/ As part of the adoption process for me & my brother, we were also visited by Wake County social workers, and we were "encouraged" by our stepmom not to mention the whippings, which we did not and they didn't probe about that I recall either. Some things never change I guess.