March Into My Heart: a Memoir of Mothers, Daughters, and Adoption

by Patty Lazarus

March into My Heart is a poignant and inspiring story of family, adoption, and the search for the irreplaceable bond between a mother and daughter. Patty Lazarus was happily married and busy raising two sons. By all accounts she was a very lucky woman. But still, something was missing. Despite her love for her family, she felt a deep longing for the mother-daughter connection she’d always dreamed of. After enduring her mother’s tragic illness and untimely death, Patty knew that adding a girl to the family was the only way to ease the pain she felt. She and her husband set out on a four-year, arduous, complicated, and emotional journey through infertility, miscarriages, and adoption ending in a small town in rural Missouri where they would finally meet their new daughter as she came into the world.

Genres: Adoption, Parenting, Biography Memoir, Nonfiction, Memoir

276 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 10, 2013

About the author

I am a published author, blogger and mother of two sons and a daughter I adopted at birth in the U.S. After spending nine years as an Account Manager for Microsoft, I left to focus on raising our children and became actively involved in their schools and several Seattle area charities as a board member and fundraiser. I live near Seattle, Washington with my husband and three beautiful children, and I enjoy golf, tennis and travelling with my family.

I began writing when my adopted daughter was five, hoping to convey the specifics of our journey to find her when she began to ask questions. Along the way, my work took on new meaning for me. As I wrote about all that was involved in finding her, the emotions prevailed and instead of a journal about the details and people we met, it became a story about why I needed a daughter after the loss of my dear mother and how important the search for a daughter became. I began to think about all the women who needed a child but couldn’t conceive and my memoir began to take on new significance.

Over the past year, I have been writing this blog about my experiences, philosophies, disappointments, joyous moments, and various emotions surrounding my life as an adoptive mother, hoping to reach readers who may benefit from it. Some of my readers may be, as I was, suffering from infertility or may be current adoptive parents, while others may just need comfort in challenging times. At times, exposing the personal aspects of my life in the blog has been difficult to tolerate, as a writer and a mother, but as I have come to notice through comments, vitally important to so many readers. Publishing my blog, and now my memoir, is my way of giving back for the amazing gift of my daughter.

Reviews

[Carley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice memoir of adoption; good but not great. I felt like some chapters were way too long since it was basically the same thing said over and over again. I did like how honest she was over her gender disappointment over finding out her second baby was a boy. It doesn't make someone bad for feeling that way. Of course as parents, we all want healthy babies but many also want a certain gender. When you don't get that gender, it is something you have to mourn for a bit. I think this memoir will resonate with people who have felt gender disappointment and will help those who don't understand it. I don't think this would be a great story for most potential adoptive parents because the privledge of the family makes for a less than typical situation.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book it a very open and honest memoir of the author Patty's experience adopting her daughter. It's heartfelt and very very moving. I think all women will find something in this book that they can relate to..whether it's their relationship with their mother, their relationship with their daughter, fertility issues, or dealing with a loss. Grab the book and some Kleenex and enjoy!

[Jasper Z · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read (even for men) it held my interest throughout. You can tell the author is being open and honest.

[Connie Bredernitz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Adoption

Very touching book. It shows just how fast and easy adoption is if you have the money to throw at it.

[Kristen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yes, it was brave of her to write this book and share her personal feelings. But as someone going through a similar situation I had trouble relating to her and I certainly hope that the birthmother of her child never reads this book. I found the tone to be judgmental. It seems as though this book was intended to satisfy curiosity about the adoption process so if that is what you are looking for from this book, then read it. But if you are someone that is trying to adopt and looking for someone to relate to, then this may not be the book for you.

[Shecki B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wealthy, entitled, neurotic woman gets her way

I love adoption, and have 2 adopted daughters myself, but I could barely struggle through this woman's bragging about her perfect life. Who hires a private jet to take them to their new baby and complains about absolutely everything in the town she's born in? The rental car wasn't good enough. The hotel wasn't good enough. The restaurants weren't good enough. The town is painted as dingy and depressing, when it's probably really just small town USA.

[Robin Consovoy-valentine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful story of a mothers love. Every mother of a daughter knows the incredible bond they share and I am no exception, I love and miss my mom every day and was blessed to have her as my best friend, I am doubly blessed to have my amazing daughter who truly is my ray of sunshine.

[Leeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a lovely read really enjoyed it

[Alison]

kindle 276 (adoption)