“I think what a lot of families need to remember is that teenagers want to be kids, too.” Carmen reflects on her own story, sharing that when a child has spent years in survival mode, acting like an adult is often a necessity, not a choice.

This can create a confusing dynamic for foster and adoptive parents who see a teenager switching between extreme independence and a deep, childlike need for care. Restoration happens in the small moments—the willingness to learn from one another and the choice to stay at the table when things get hard. This is the power of a family that refuses to give up.