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Family Description
The Smith family consists of the mother, Sarah, age 33; three adopted daughters, Ashley,
age 13 and twin girls, Addie and Ellie, age 11. The maternal grandmother and great-grandmother
are also closely involved; Leslie, age 65, and Peggy, age 88. Important to mention that all
members of the family are Caucasian and Southern Baptist. The adoptive father, Eric, is
deceased. I interviewed the twins and the great grandmother, Peggy, at the grandmother's home.
Ashley was hospitalized at the time of the interview and her mother Sarah was there visiting her.
When I arrived at Peggy's home, the girls were seated at the kitchen table, playing on
their iPads. They were both dressed appropriately and well-groomed. Although they were
reluctant to get off of their iPads, they were polite and followed directions from their
grandmother. Ellie was quiet at the onset; however, they opened up as the interview progressed.
She began talking about her soccer game earlier that morning and how well she played, and she
was very proud that her team won that game. Ellie is in the 5th grade as she was held back in
kindergarten and placed in special education due to mild learning disabilities. She loves to sing
and play soccer. Her grandmother describes her as happy-go-lucky. Ellie enjoys school and says
she has lots of friends. Her main concern is Ashley's unpredictable behavior. She describes
Ashley as angry and always yelling and fighting with their mom. At least said that when Ashley
acts out, she goes to her room to distance herself, but sometimes Ashley will come in her room
anyway. She was diagnosed with ADHD.
Addie is in the 6th grade and an average student. She says she likes school, but other
children bully her. Her grades are reported to be mostly B's and C's. She has no significant
behavior problems at school, enjoys cooking and crafts such as sewing. Her grandmother
describes her as a great little helper. When she gets upset, she can temper and isolate herself for a
, 2
while before rejoining the family. She is diagnosed with enuresis and a 'lazy eye,' with no other
medical problems. I interviewed Addie and Ellie together, and when Ashley was mentioned,
Ellie would begin answering questions, and Addie would shut her down.
Peggy, the great grandmother, is a retired school teacher but very active in the
community and the church. Peggy does not spend time with Ashley due to her open hateful
behavior, foul language, and disrespect. Peggy hopes Ashley can get the help she needs so they
can be a family. I interviewed the grandmother, Leslie, and had multiple conversations what the
mother, Ashley, over the telephone.
Pertinent History
Sarah and Eric were a typical middle-class couple who had been married for four years
when they decided to adopt children due to Sarah's inability to conceive due to medical issues,
including spina bifida. Moreover, Sarah is an only child who lost her father to cancer when she
was fourteen years old. Sarah is exceptionally close to her mother and grandmother.
Additionally, she was also extremely close to her uncle, who died unexpectedly in 2019 of an
aneurysm. Eric was raised by a dysfunctional family and suffered sexual and physical abuse;
therefore, he had minimal contact with his parents and two siblings.
The Smith children were placed in foster care when they were three and five years old,
following their mother's overdose and their father's incarceration. Initially, the girls were placed
with their maternal grandparents, who subjected them to physical and sexual abuse. They were
placed in separate foster families, with the twins eventually finding themselves in a children's
shelter. Sarah and Eric began fostering the twin girls when they were six years old. They located
and adopted older sister Ashley around a year later. The transfer to the Smith residence was first
tough. Addie needed her space, and if you didn't give it to her, she would act out physically. Ellie
Family Description
The Smith family consists of the mother, Sarah, age 33; three adopted daughters, Ashley,
age 13 and twin girls, Addie and Ellie, age 11. The maternal grandmother and great-grandmother
are also closely involved; Leslie, age 65, and Peggy, age 88. Important to mention that all
members of the family are Caucasian and Southern Baptist. The adoptive father, Eric, is
deceased. I interviewed the twins and the great grandmother, Peggy, at the grandmother's home.
Ashley was hospitalized at the time of the interview and her mother Sarah was there visiting her.
When I arrived at Peggy's home, the girls were seated at the kitchen table, playing on
their iPads. They were both dressed appropriately and well-groomed. Although they were
reluctant to get off of their iPads, they were polite and followed directions from their
grandmother. Ellie was quiet at the onset; however, they opened up as the interview progressed.
She began talking about her soccer game earlier that morning and how well she played, and she
was very proud that her team won that game. Ellie is in the 5th grade as she was held back in
kindergarten and placed in special education due to mild learning disabilities. She loves to sing
and play soccer. Her grandmother describes her as happy-go-lucky. Ellie enjoys school and says
she has lots of friends. Her main concern is Ashley's unpredictable behavior. She describes
Ashley as angry and always yelling and fighting with their mom. At least said that when Ashley
acts out, she goes to her room to distance herself, but sometimes Ashley will come in her room
anyway. She was diagnosed with ADHD.
Addie is in the 6th grade and an average student. She says she likes school, but other
children bully her. Her grades are reported to be mostly B's and C's. She has no significant
behavior problems at school, enjoys cooking and crafts such as sewing. Her grandmother
describes her as a great little helper. When she gets upset, she can temper and isolate herself for a
, 2
while before rejoining the family. She is diagnosed with enuresis and a 'lazy eye,' with no other
medical problems. I interviewed Addie and Ellie together, and when Ashley was mentioned,
Ellie would begin answering questions, and Addie would shut her down.
Peggy, the great grandmother, is a retired school teacher but very active in the
community and the church. Peggy does not spend time with Ashley due to her open hateful
behavior, foul language, and disrespect. Peggy hopes Ashley can get the help she needs so they
can be a family. I interviewed the grandmother, Leslie, and had multiple conversations what the
mother, Ashley, over the telephone.
Pertinent History
Sarah and Eric were a typical middle-class couple who had been married for four years
when they decided to adopt children due to Sarah's inability to conceive due to medical issues,
including spina bifida. Moreover, Sarah is an only child who lost her father to cancer when she
was fourteen years old. Sarah is exceptionally close to her mother and grandmother.
Additionally, she was also extremely close to her uncle, who died unexpectedly in 2019 of an
aneurysm. Eric was raised by a dysfunctional family and suffered sexual and physical abuse;
therefore, he had minimal contact with his parents and two siblings.
The Smith children were placed in foster care when they were three and five years old,
following their mother's overdose and their father's incarceration. Initially, the girls were placed
with their maternal grandparents, who subjected them to physical and sexual abuse. They were
placed in separate foster families, with the twins eventually finding themselves in a children's
shelter. Sarah and Eric began fostering the twin girls when they were six years old. They located
and adopted older sister Ashley around a year later. The transfer to the Smith residence was first
tough. Addie needed her space, and if you didn't give it to her, she would act out physically. Ellie
