"A" Day

Today, January 10, is "A-Day." It's not a national holiday. You won't find it on your calendar. "A-Day" is found only on the Grady calendar.

January 10 is the day I adopted my two daughters in 1980. I married their mother when they were 7 & 9, and I adopted them when they were 9 & 11. They became "Grady in '80." We've always celebrated "A-Day" with parties and gifts.

They lived with their biological father until ages 5 & 7, then with me until they left for college. They both married after college. One is an educator, the other works in a medical lab. One has three children, the other four dogs. Grandogs are not nearly as much fun as grandchildren. Both girls grew up into healthy, productive, balanced adults who have make me proud that they call me their "real dad."

Where's the psychology in all of this?

How about the opportunity to observe Nature vs. Nurture? Can you see any of me in my girls? Don't just think physical characteristics. What about personality traits, behaviors, morals/values?

How about watching Resilience? Resilience is the positive capacity in some people to cope with disruptive or traumatic events. How do young children respond to parental dysfunction and divorce of their parents, financial strain that follows the divorce, then their custodial parent remarrying? Why are some children resilient and others not?

How about why some children who gain a stepparent who makes every mistake the stepparent manuals say not to make don't display any of the "step" problem-behaviors that other stepkids struggle with?

There is psychology everywhere. Watch for it. Be a student of human behavior. Be curious. Ask questions about behavior. Be scientific in your observations. You might make a good psychologist.