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Books > Health, Home & Family > Family & health > Family & other relationships > Adoption & tracing birth parents
Innocent is the shocking true story of little Molly and Kit,
siblings, aged 3 years and 18 months, who are brought into care as
an emergency after suffering non-accidental injuries. Aneta and
Filip, the children's parents, are distraught when their children
are taken into care. Aneta maintains she is innocent of harming
them, while Filip appears bewildered and out of his depth. It's
true the family has never come to the attention of the social
services before and little Kit and Molly appear to have been well
looked after, but Kit has a broken arm and bruises on his face.
Could it be they were a result of a genuine accident as Aneta is
claiming? Both children become sick with a mysterious illness
while, experienced foster carer, Cathy, is looking after them. Very
worried, she asks for more hospital tests to be done. They've
already had a lot. When Cathy's daughter, Lucy, becomes ill too she
believes she has found the cause of Kit and Molly's illness and the
parents aren't to blame. However, nothing could be further from the
truth and what comes to light is far more sinister and shocking.
A Sunday Times bestseller, Terrified is the first book from
well-loved foster carer Angela Hart. It tells the emotionally
devastating but ultimately uplifting true story of Vicky, a little
girl who arrives on Angela's doorstep unwanted and unloved after
suffering years of emotional abuse at the hands of her mother.
Desperate never to return home, Vicky is haunted by many demons and
waking nightmares. This book tells the moving story of Angela's
determination to set Vicky free. 'A no holds barred insight into
the reality of looking after someone else's children. A remarkable
story from a remarkable woman, it brought back a lot of memories
for me.' - Casey Watson, author of A Dark Secret. 'A moving story
that testifies to the redemptive power of love. I hope Angela Hart
inspires many others to foster.' - Torey Hayden, author of Lost
Child.
The twins were born in Nha Trang, Vietnam, in 1998, where their
mother struggled to care for them. Ha was taken in by their
biological aunt, and grew up in a rural village, going to school,
and playing outside with the neighbors. They had sporadic
electricity and frequent monsoons. Ha's twin sister, Loan, spent
time in an orphanage before a wealthy, white American family
adopted her and renamed her Isabella. Isabella grew up in the
suburbs of Chicago, with a nonbiological sister, Olivia, also
adopted from Vietnam. Isabella and Olivia attended a predominantly
white Catholic school, played soccer, and prepared for college. But
when Isabella's adoptive mother learned of Isabella's biological
twin back in Vietnam, all of their lives changed forever.
Award-winning journalist Erika Hayasaki spent years and hundreds of
hours interviewing each of the birth and adoptive family members
and tells the girls' incredible story from their perspectives,
challenging conceptions about adoption and what it means to give a
child a good life. Hayasaki contextualizes the sisters' experiences
with the fascinating and often sinister history of twin studies,
the nature versus nurture debate, and intercountry and transracial
adoption, as well as the latest scholarship and conversation
surrounding adoption today, especially among adoptees. For readers
of All You Can Ever Know and American Baby, Somewhere Sisters is a
richly textured, moving story of sisterhood and coming-of-age, told
through the remarkable lives of young women who have redefined the
meaning of family for themselves.
If you are considering adoption, or are already headed down that
path, this book of stories, scriptures, and prayers will inspire
and encourage you along the way. Author Hillary Froning opens her
heart and shares the story of how she and her husband, Rich
Froning, adopted three precious children. Like talking to a close
friend, Blessed by Adoption features short essays, Bible verses,
and prayers that will move you and comfort you on your path to
adoption. The book also features reflections to help you process
your thoughts and feelings, as well as writing space for journaling
about your adoption journey. Blessed by Adoption includes: 30
essays by Hillary Froning about her adoption process, including
finding a birth mom, completing home studies, hospital stays,
telling friends and family, and all the blessings and challenges
along the way Bible verses and prayers to comfort you at every
stage of adoption Writing prompts and lined journaling pages to
help you reflect on your adoption journey
This is the go-to guide for practitioners, parents and carers who
want to expand their understanding and skills for therapeutic
parenting - a deeply nurturing parenting style particularly
effective for children who have experienced trauma or adversity. It
provides an easy to understand explanation of the latest theory and
research in trauma and neuroscience, and explains how these relate
to everyday parenting strategies. It provides clarity on complex
areas, such as early developmental trauma in children, and insights
into key challenges, including managing transitions, sibling
relationships, challenging behaviour, the teenage years, and how to
find time and space for self-care. With experience, professional
expertise, and text features to aid learning throughout, this book
is the one-stop shop for everyone wanting to truly understand every
aspect of therapeutic parenting and trauma.
Inspiring the film starring Judi Dench and Steve Coogan, and
directed by Stephen Frears, Philomena is the tale of a mother and a
son whose lives were scarred by the forces of hypocrisy on both
sides of the Atlantic and of the secrets they were forced to keep.
With a foreword by Judi Dench, Martin Sixsmith's book is a
compelling and deeply moving narrative of human love and loss, both
heartbreaking yet ultimately redemptive. When she fell pregnant as
a teenager in Ireland in 1952, Philomena Lee was sent to the
convent at Roscrea in Co. Tipperary to be looked after as a fallen
woman. She cared for her baby for three years until the Church took
him from her and sold him, like countless others, to America for
adoption. Coerced into signing a document promising never to
attempt to see her child again, she nonetheless spent the next
fifty years secretly searching for him, unaware that he was
searching for her from across the Atlantic. Philomena's son,
renamed Michael Hess, grew up to be a top Washington lawyer and a
leading Republican official in the Reagan and Bush administrations.
But he was a gay man in a homophobic party where he had to conceal
not only his sexuality but, eventually, the fact that he had AIDS.
With little time left, he returned to Ireland and the convent where
he was born: his desperate quest to find his mother before he died
left a legacy that was to unfold with unexpected consequences for
all involved.
Therapeutic parenting is not your usual parenting style. It's a
special, specific way to raise kids who have experienced trauma in
their past, and requires a lot of commitment and determination -
this is about far more than love and care. But where do you start?
This book is the ideal first step for anyone who wants to
understand how therapeutic parenting works. It offers simple
summaries of the key ideas behind it, fully illustrated throughout
with informative cartoons and graphics. Over 40 different issues
are covered, from dysregulation and fear, to setting boundaries and
parenting in the midst of trauma. The perfect introduction for new
therapeutic parents, family members, teachers or other adults who
need to help support you and your child, this Quick Guide will also
be a source of inspiration for more experienced parents.
* What are attachment difficulties? * How do they affect children?
* How can you help? This book provides clear and concise answers to
these important questions - and more. Much more than just a simple
introduction to the subject of attachment, the book is also full of
advice and practical ideas you can try. It tackles some challenging
questions, such as 'what is the difference between trauma and
attachment?', and explains how having an understanding of
attachment is only part of the overall picture when it comes to
caring for traumatized children. It is an essential read for any
adult parenting or caring for a child who has experienced
attachment difficulties.
Twelve year old Danielle has been excluded from a special school and her former foster family can no longer cope. She arrives as an emergency placement at the home of foster carer Angela, who soon suspects that there is more to the young girl's disruptive behaviour than meets the eye. Can Angela's specialist training unlock the horrors of Danielle's past and help her start a brave new life?
The Girl With Two Lives is the fourth book from well loved foster carer and Sunday Times bestselling author Angela Hart. Another true story from the experienced and bestselling foster carer – sharing the tale of one of the many children she has fostered over the years. A story of the difference that quiet care, a watchful eye and sympathetic ear can make to those children whose upbringing has been less fortunate than others.
Whether it's the joy-filled decision to welcome a child into your
arms or the difficult decision to give your child another
home-adoption is making the choice to love unselfishly and
unconditionally. Loved by Choice offers a clear and uplifting look
at adoption through true stories told from virtually every
perspective. Birth parents, adoptive parents, grandparents, adopted
children, families working out an overseas adoption, and those
creating interracial families are among those who share their joys
and difficulties. The collection is a tender celebration of
adoption, led by those who understand it best. "Heartwarming and
inspirational. By translating true stories from different
perspectives, Horner and Martindale intensely convey to the reader
the emotions that these people have felt-emotions ranging from
desperation to elation, from abandonment to fulfillment. Loved by
Choice is not only educational, it's an emotional read that, for
maybe the first time, discusses in-depth the impact that adoption
has on families and communities." Bill Owens, Governor of Colorado
"Loved by Choice is a perfect example of God's adoption of us as
his children and how the choice of love is extended to women in
unplanned pregnancies. It is a powerful review of how God uses
lives to save lives."Carol Everett, president of The Heidi Group
"The reader, at the end of this book, has learned a great deal
about the process of adoption, but that pales in comparison with
the impact of the stories on the heart itself. And that's the real
reason we should all read the book: to understand for the very
first time what it really means to be Loved by Choice." Joe
Wheeler, Ph. D., editor/compiler of the Heart to Heartseries of
anthologies
Meet Chelsea - a young girl who was adopted. Chelsea invites you to
learn about adoption from her perspective and introduces us to two
friends of hers who were also transracially adopted. Chelsea and
her friends help children understand what it means to be adopted,
the experiences and challenges that follow the adoption process,
and how they can help. Accessible and informative, this illustrated
book is an ideal introduction to adoption for children aged 7-11
and is a great tool for encouraging discussions for families,
teachers and professionals working with adopted children.
'Touching, tender . . . filled with wonderful humour' Sarah Haywood
'A very special book' Katie Fforde The Sunday Times bestselling
novel, perfect for fans of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine and
The Rosie Project. My name is Hope Nicely. Why am I writing this
book? That's easy. This book is going to change my life. My boss,
Karen, says a friend is a stranger you haven't met yet. I think
that's right. Veronica Ptitsky and Danny Flynn are strangers,
except I have met them now because they're in my writing class.
Karen says friends always have your back. They don't mean your real
back, of course. It's called an analogy. But I don't want any
friends, actually (only dog ones). I have my mum, Jenny Nicely, who
says adopting me was the best thing she ever did, even if my
thoughts bounce a bit differently to other people's thoughts. She
is proud of me for writing my book which will be a Big Achievement.
I tell her that writing my story is going to change my life. Except
when my life does change it isn't because of my writing but because
something happens to my mum, Jenny Nicely, and she isn't here
anymore. And, flip a pancake, this is not what I wanted. I'm not
very good at being on my own and I wish she were here to tell me
everything will be right as rain again soon. Maybe I do need some
human friends after all . . . 'A gorgeous, funny, heartwarming
read. Leaves you smiling' Ericka Walker, author of Dog Days
THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER 'What an extraordinary story... very
moving indeed' Vanessa Feltz, Radio 2 The astonishing true story of
a daughter's search for her own past and the desperate mother who
gave her up. Phyllis Whitsell began the search for her birth mother
as a young woman, and although it was many years before she finally
met her, their lives had crossed on the journey without their
knowledge. This is a daughter's personal account of the remarkable
relationship that grew from abandonment into love, understanding
and selfless care. 'I lit the candle and prayed for my birth
mother, asking God to take care of her. Even at such a young age, I
found it difficult to understand, but I always feared that she was
in danger and needed my prayers. 'It was the only thing at the time
that I could do for her. I feared that she might be coming to some
harm and that she was not happy, but I was helpless and had nobody
to talk to about my feelings.' Phyllis' story continues with A Song
for Bridget - also available now.
When I am ready, I need you to talk to me and help me understand my
feelings...' This reassuring story helps children aged 5+ with
attachment issues to understand their feelings, open up to a caring
adult and learn how to choose positive behaviours. Ben is made up
of lots of different 'parts' - to name a few, he has happy, caring,
angry, excited, hugging and yelling parts. Ben explains how all
these parts are okay, and that a caring adult can help you to
understand and manage them more easily. This book also features
activities to help children talk about their feelings, and a simple
introduction to attachment theory for adults.
Adult adoptee and family therapist Katie Naftzger shares her
personal and professional wisdom in this guide to help adoptive
parents remain a calm parental influence in the midst of stormy and
erratic teen behavior. This guide describes the essential skills
you need to help your adopted teen confidently face the challenges
of growing up and outlines four key goals for adoptive parents: *
To move from rescuing to responding * To set adoption-sensitive
limits and ground rules * To have connecting conversations * To
help your teen envision their future Parenting in the Eye of the
Storm contains invaluable insights for adoptive parents and simple
strategies you can use to prepare your adopted teen for the journey
ahead and strengthen the family bond in the process. It provides
answers, guidance and understanding - working as a road-map through
the tempestuous teenage years.
All families of children affected by trauma are on a journey, and
this book will help to guide you and your family on your journey
from trauma to trust. Sarah Naish shares her own experiences of
adopting five siblings. She describes how to use therapeutic
parenting - a deeply nurturing parenting style - to overcome common
challenges when raising children who have experienced trauma. The
book describes a series of difficult episodes for her family,
exploring both parent's and child's experiences of the same events
- with the child's experience written by a former fostered child -
and in doing so reveals the very good reasons why traumatized
children behave as they do. The book explores the misunderstandings
that grow between parents and their children, and provides comfort
to the reader - you are not the only family going through this!
Full of insights from a family and others who have really been
there, this book gives you advice and strategies to help you and
your family thrive.
For anyone considering or going through Fostering for Adoption,
this book gives you a detailed, personal account of the process
which takes you through all the stages and prepares you to cope
with the highs and lows. Fostering for Adoption is a relatively
recent initiative (Children and Families Act, 2014) in the adoption
legal landscape, seeking early permanence for babies and young
children where adoption is most likely to be the plan for the
child. This is often cited as a route to be in the best interests
of the child, enabling secure attachments and stability. However,
for adopters it is inherently risky, it is the adopters who take on
the risk in this situation, accept the placement on a fostering
basis and hope that the final outcome will be adoption. There is
currently a knowledge gap on experiences of Fostering for Adoption
which this book tackles. Written from an adopters' perspective of
the risks and challenges, as well as the benefits that it brings,
it is perfect for those who are considering the process as well as
their friends and family. A book on Fostering for Adoption can't
just focus on one story and one outcome so we've included case
studies which cover the key experiences adopters may face when
agreeing to accept a baby on a Foster to Adopt placement such as:
Caring for a baby a few days after birth The paperwork, rules and
fostering process The uncertainty and risk Meeting with birth
parents Contact Looking after a withdrawing baby A termination of
placement Written in an engaging and friendly style, this book is
perfect reading for anyone looking to adopt a child and for
adoption professionals seeking to understand the experience of the
adopter more profoundly. Praise for Fostering for Adoption "As
someone who has been through a similar journey this book resonated
with me. It is honest about the ups and downs and is a great,
informative book for anybody thinking of taking this route or who
have family or friends that are. I can say that this book will help
anyone at the beginning of their journey, to help them through the
process and - start the lifetime of learning about how we can
support our children." Lisa Faulkner, Author, Meant to be "Alice's
book will be a great companion to anyone considering or starting on
the foster to adopt process. It is well-researched and written and
doesn't shy away from the many complexities and the considerations
that adults must make in the best interests of children." Sally
Donovan, Author of No Matter What, and Editor of Adoption Today "I
thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, I found myself laughing and
getting emotional throughout. As someone who has themselves been
adopted, but who is also a social worker who has now adopted a
child, this book is brilliant from every angle. A must read for
anyone considering Fostering for Adoption." Jo, Social Worker,
Midlands "This book gives a balanced and honest view of the whole
Fostering for Adoption journey. It gets to the emotions and
seriousness of decisions being made about children's lives. This is
an important read for any potential adopter and will be on our book
lists for sure" Angi, Social Worker, Adoption Tees Valley
THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER 'A remarkable autobiography' Andrew
Billen, The Times 'You're struck by his raw honesty in tackling big
issues head-on' Tom Bryant, Daily Mirror 'So full of heart' Davina
McCall 'I was riveted by it in a heartbreaking way . . . you will
be gripped' Ranvir Singh, Lorraine 'So moving . . . it's a
beautiful book' Zoe Ball 'Commendable honesty . . . a poignant book
about the search for belonging' Daily Express 'Remarkable . . .
contains a lesson for all of us and delivers a resounding message
of hope and of love' James O'Brien ************* The brave and
moving memoir by Long Lost Family presenter and Radio 5 breakfast
show host Nicky Campbell reveals how the simple unconditional love
of Maxwell, his Labrador, turned his life around and helped him
come to terms with his difficult journey as an adopted child. Raw,
honest and courageous in One of the Family, Nicky opens up about
how being adopted has made him always feel like an outsider; the
guilt he has carried towards his Mum and Dad for needing to trace
his birth mother, and the crushing disappointment he felt when he
finally met her. And for the first time, he writes about his
emotional breakdown and how he has learned to live with a late
diagnosis of bipolar. Through it all his passion for dogs and
animals has been a lifeline. It is Maxwell's magic, a lesson from a
Labrador in simple unconditional friendship, that has allowed him
to see all the good in his life: from the security and safety of
his childhood home, the love of his wife and four daughters and
above all, to better understand the decisions taken by his birth
mother to give him up for adoption.
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