In spite of all the moves, separations, losses, abandonments, and general family disorganization and stress, Mrs. Delours reported that Randi exhibited no developmental difficulties; standing at 6 7 months, walking at 13 months, talking at 15 months, and being toilet trained at 2 ½ years. Randi had no serious childhood illnesses, and revealed no unusual behaviors (including no enuresis or encopresis).

Randi reportedly spoke French by age 3, and by age 5 knew some English and Danish. Over the course of her childhood (through age 12) the family moved at least thirty times in six different countries. Because of the moves neither Randi nor the family were able to make any enduring friendships. Mother's response was to surround herself with pets as substitutes for friends.

In kindergarten Randi often got into fights; in one instance she had her hair pulled out by the roots, leaving a bald spot, facial scratches, and a permanent scar. One of Randi's earliest memories (she was then 5 years old) was of a car accident in which she and the mother suffered head injuries. Mother reported that Randi also had a series of minor head injuries (secondary to falls and accidents), some of which may have been the result of child abuse.

When Randi was 6 the family quarreling became so intense that the parents considered divorce. In a fit of rage mother took Randi to live in America with her parents. Samuel, then 12, remained in Europe with his father "to take care of him." After a brief separation the father returned to the US and, reconciling with his wife, returned with his family to France. The hectic pace of the family did not diminish. If father was not "permanently" uprooting his family from one country to another he would "temporarily" uproot them by abruptly announcing that they were going on a long trip. With little notice, the family bags would be packed and off they went. In addition, Randi was separated from her parents during the summers, when they sent her to summer camp, where she would remain for two months.

Randi frequently described childhood memories of having been hurt or beaten. One incident involved a sailing accident in which Randi caught her foot beneath the planks. Mother recalled that "her father finally tugged her foot free causing her great pain." Two other memories which focused on her feet involved an incident around 8 years of age when her big toe was "completely frozen" while she was skiing; and later on when a horse stepped on that same toe. Whenever Randi recalled her childhood these memories immediately surfaced. She also remembered father hitting her head against a radiator and another time in which he "attacked" her because she was "impudent." Randi agreed that, however badly father beat her, it was nothing compared to his beatings of Samuel.

Throughout childhood and into adulthood, Randi had a variety of pets, including exotic birds, cats, dogs, and horses. Almost all of her small pets, however, "mysteriously" died; even a favorite family cat "accidentally" wandered into the clothes washer. Although Randi denied any wrongdoing, her mother and brother insisted that she was sadistic towards animals and killed them often after they had been with the family for a number of years. (see THE ROLE OF THE FAMILY IN THE DYNAMICS OF FEMALE TRANSSEXUALISM PART VI)