As the school year winds down, many children are buzzing with excitement—but for adopted children, this transition can stir up a complex mix of emotions. Shifting routines, saying goodbye to familiar faces, and anticipating the unknowns of summer can feel overwhelming, even destabilizing.

Adoption is a journey of love, resilience, and transformation. While it brings new beginnings, many adopted children carry deep-seated experiences from their past that can surface in unexpected ways. Trauma triggers—sights, sounds, emotions, or situations that remind a child of past distress—can lead to emotional outbursts, anxiety, or withdrawal.