10 Adoption Essentials: What You Need to Know About Open Adoption

by Russell Elkins

This book is part of a four book series that can be purchased together as an ebook set.
These are the ten things you wish you knew before choosing adoption—the things adopted kids wish their adoptive parents knew before making the adoption decision.
Many people begin to consider adopting a child without understanding how much adoption has changed over recent years. That’s understandable. The concept of having a relationship between birth parents and the adoptive family is still foreign to a lot of people. While open adoption has become increasingly more common, the tragedy is that so many hopeful adoptive parents don’t understand how their life will change once birth parents become part of the picture. Too many adoptions start out open only to close communication when things get difficult.
Every open adoption is unique and complex, but the basics are the same. 10 Adoption Essentials simplifies the open adoption relationship.
Those who know the basics of open adoption will be better prepared for the difficult times. And those who are better prepared for the difficult times will have the tools they need to build what has the potential to be a beautiful and rewarding relationship for everyone in the adoption triad.

Genres: Adoption

42 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 4, 2012

Reviews

[Marina Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good quick read

This book was an interesting introduction to some aspects of open adoption. The vast majority was just succinct content and good advice.

[bryan fenske · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perspective from an adoptive parent, informative, very well put together

Hubby and I have made the decision to adopt. We've just competed MAPP but there really wasn't any focus placed on the HUGE subject of openness. I mean there are a ton of questions about "how open is your family?" and "how comfortable are you with x,y,z?" These are in just about every form we have from the agency. And who really tells you what that's like?! Not the social worker or the agency and if they do its probably from a limited or skewed perspective. I found this book very thorough and informative. The author gave many examples of the intense emotions felt and how they might affect decision making. He also provided past and present comparisons of their (his and his wife's) adoption experiences with the birth parents. I especially liked the part where he described wanting the children to feel like they came to their new home as an act of love and not abandonment. I just know their children are so loved! Openness really is all about the children and ensuring that they feel loved, happy and wanted.

Thank you for sharing these beautiful family experiences!

[Heidi | Paper Safari Book Blog · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a good starting point for families exploring open adoption. It is very short and gives a great overview of some very important elements to open adoption, sharing information, taking the open adoption relationship seriously, working through jealousy etc..There is some good information in this little snippet of a book. A great way to start exploring the world of open adoption and really diving into the different feelings that it can invoke.

[Mathew Hogan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good resource for traditional adoption, but lacks information for those adopting through foster care. Although, there was some tidbits that were still relevant and I am glad I read them.