Bookeeping #1 - The Boy Who Was Raised As A Dog

*This is the start of a new series. Bookeeping will essentially be book reports on those I have read and find powerful.*

The Boy Who Was Raised As A Dog by Bruce D. Perry and Maia Szalavitz.

I took my time reading this book. Making sure I didn't miss a word of its body. I remember when I saw it in the bookstore; the title told me it was worth the money and time. I read and reread the book many times during the first year of my having it. The mix of mind-twisting personal anecdotes and the psychiatrical analysis of their details made for a gravitating, yet extremely informative book. This is a hard medium to accomplish - at least by my standards; Explaining professional-level psychiatry and phycology in a way that is upbeat, entertaining, and moving definitely is something rare.

The first chapter I cringed through, detailed a story of a young lady who experienced constant sexual abuse from a babysitter over a two-year span; all before the age of seven. As my heart lay on its side, crying for the young lady, I didn't expect life or abuse could get any worse; let alone for a 7-year-old child.

That is until I moved to chapter two. The story of a little girl named Sandy; who at three years old witnessed the rape and murder of her own mother by a former partner. After watching blood fill the floor around her mother's dead, assaulted body, the man then proceeded to take the knife to little Sandy's throat, making two large, horizontal gashes, then leaving her for dead. Miraculously, Sandy survived this unimaginable violation of her innocence; only to be targeted by the gang the killer belonged to. Sandy was ordered by court to testify as a witness to this atrocity; and in doing so the gang of the man in question put a bounty on her little head. Forcing her from family to family, house to house, running from death.

The author, Bruce D. Perry, recalls a dozen or so, gut-wrenching and bizarre, stories. All pointing to the conclusion: our children are direct actors of their history's experience. Meaning if you treat a child with hate and neglect, they will directly mirror that onto their surrounding environment. And if you shower them with love and joy, they will do the same.

This book can hold a great message of hope for the future of any individual, and the world. The Boy Who Was Raised As A Dog serves as proof that no matter how big the wound, kindness, trust, and love will always prevail.

But most importantly, this book taught me the severity of the vulnerability of a child's brain; and the great effect it has on the future. I would highly encourage anyone to read this book, but even more so if you are someone who is around kids frequently, is thinking of having kids, or already do. This could change not only the outcome of your life, but the millions of lives that your kid will have an effect on.

What traumatized children can teach us about loss, love, and healing. - Bruce D. Perry