First time I went to California with my sister Annie and my dad. I love California. My sister Annie she happy going with me to California. We are went to rollercoaster and we have so much fun. We stay in San Diego in hotel and we like it. [Actually, we stayed in the Los Angeles area.] And we went to buffets and we eat lots of food. And I have fun to spend time with my sister, Annie and my dad. I went to Las Vegas too. And we watched concert in Las Vegas. [Watched the trapeze act at Circus Circus.] I promise to my dad that after California I will be good but I lied to my dad and also I broke some rules. And we going to California this September and I am excited. [My son, -Steve, is graduating from Basic Training in the Marines-, so we are going to San Diego for that.] And after I am going to be good and never give up for [the rest of] my like and be good.

I never before went to Las Vegas whole my life. I like it so much. We went to the beach and we swam [while we were in California]. We happy so much and Anya and Sasha came on the train to visit us in the California because I don’t see her for a long time. [Anya was our adoption coordinator in Vladivostok, Russia. She has since relocated to Fresno, California. She and her daughter, Sasha, spent some time with us in Los Angeles.] Now I do miss her and my family miss her too. I like Anya and Sasha because they awesome. And we went to eat sushi and Anya and Sasha come with us and we are have so much fun together and when we went to rollercoaster I got so scared to ride them. And my dad told me that if I am not going to ride rollercoasters then we can go back home. And also my sister, Annie never get scared on rollercoaster she have so much fun with rollercoaster. And also Annie keep telling me that don’t be of scared rollercoaster and going to be fine with you. I just want for them make sure they have fun with trip to California or Las Vegas.

We took lots pictures and Dad took lots pictures of me and my sister Annie. And I use my camera for my friend, Anya and her baby [little girl] Sasha and take some pictures for myself. I love my family and Anya and Sasha.

I thought I am going to get my own way but I did not get my own way because I told my dad that I do not want to eat pizza and he got mad at me because I thought I am going to get my own way. But I talk to my dad and I said to him I am really sorry about it what I did to you. But I am understanding about what happened about food situations. And my dad said to me why I have to pick to eat but not my dad. But I said to him OK, I am understanding with what happened and why it’s mistake on me. [Emily and I got into a disagreement about whether she always got to pick where and what we ate.]

Next time I am going to California with my dad in September with my family. Then I am not going to get my own way because it’s not right to do for myself to be selfish. [Were still having trouble trying to understand that life doesn’t need to be all or nothing.] I promise that I can do forever [whatever???] it takes to be good, make sure I will be happy.

I published several blog articles about our summer vacation and how it affected Emily with her condition of Reactive Attachment Disorder.

Read Part I: Preface

Read Part II: Hypervigilance

Read part III: Overstimulation

Read Part IV: Inconsistency

Return to Emily’s blog

Return to John M. Simmons blog

Register for our Weekly Newsletter!

About the Author

Emily Simmons was adopted from Russia at the age of fifteen, in 2006. At that time she joined three younger biological sisters and four new brothers in her new family. Emily has struggled with several forms of mental illness and she is intellectually challenged. She has been in several institution type settings and now lives in a group home. She is still very involved with her parents and the rest of her family. Emily often says: “Family, most important thing!”