Pressure Cooker

I have come to the realization (or only now remembering...) that trying  to live a "normal" life for my trauma kiddos is so difficult for them that they inevitably have to "blow"  to bring themselves back to their normal. Just like a pressure cooker. The weeks since Lynn's return from her Thanksgiving "mini-run" were this for her. Too many relatively normal family interactions and activities finally reached their breaking point and the blow up was big. No contact for almost 48 hours, reports that  she is with drug dealers from NY or older men from our neighborhood - exchanging sex for drugs. When she finally checked in briefly this morning - after being badgered by many - she was sullen and distant saying she was fine and was old enough to choose this life. State Police are working hard to locate her. LIT team meeting this afternoon. We badly need to find her an alternative placement to finish out her Senior year.