Wisdom from Adoptive Families: Joys and Challenges in Older Child Adoption

by Kris Kittle, Kelly Reed PhD

Find real-world help and advice from those who've lived it – how to handle both the good parts and difficulties of adopting an older child – and managing wants, needs, expectations, difficulties, and successes. If you've adopted an older child or are considering it, this is an absolute must-read. The practical wisdom of been-there adoptive parents can bring help and hope to anyone looking for answers in managing older child adoption. About the Authors Dr. Kris Kittle, PhD began studying adoption in 2005 when she and her husband, Keith, decided to adopt a teen from China. They researched older child adoption and found little practical help to prepare them for parenting their new addition. However, they found significant support and insight from other families who had previously adopted older children. Because these connections were extremely helpful – experience from those who had been there – she wanted to pay it forward to other families contemplating older child adoption. Kris has served as a university administrator at different private universities in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, but she currently teaches leadership communication as an adjunct professor. In 2010, Kris earned her PhD in Higher Education from the University of North Texas. She and her family live in Fort Worth, Texas, where she serves in a variety of roles at her church. Dr. Kelly Reed, PhD began her formal study of adoption and attachment at Texas Christian University in 2000. After graduating with her degree in psychology, Kelly spent two summers working with adopted children at Camp Hope (now The Hope Connection® camp) led by Dr. Karyn Purvis and Dr. David Cross. While pursuing her MEd and PhD degrees, Kelly worked for community agencies and counseling clinics in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Following completion of her PhD in Counseling and Higher Education from the University of North Texas in 2009, she returned to work with Cross and Purvis as Research Coordinator at The TCU Institute of Child Development (now called The Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development). In addition to working on adoption research and assisting students, she spent another summer helping adopted children and their families at The Hope Connection® camp. Kelly left the institute in 2010 to pursue counseling and psychoeducational assessment services at her private practice full-time. The majority of her counseling practice consisted of helping adopted children and their families. Kelly closed her practice to spend time with her children and to proceed studying and writing on older child adoption. She continues to provide psychoeducational assessment services and expert witness testimony. Her future plans include a desire to start a non-profit organization focusing on foster care, adoption, and trauma research; education for parents, children, and professionals; and therapeutic interventions.

278 pages, Paperback

Published November 13, 2017

About the author

Dr. Kris Kittle began studying adoption in 2005. Kris began researching older child adoption in 2010. She discovered very few helpful resources applicable to parenting her newly adopted teen. She earned her Ph.D. in Higher Education from the University of North Texas in 2010. She currently teaches leadership communication as an adjunct professor at a local private university. She enjoys practicing yoga and loves to read.

Reviews

[Bethany · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book can be used more like a reference book. I found it very hard to read as it was more like a list of experiences, not a narrative. Although the advice is good and solid, I wish they would have gone more in depth with the stories so we could’ve received more context. Good topic ideas, just seemed off the mark a bit.

[Kris Kittle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for those considering adoption or those who have adopted an older child. Not a book about one person's experience, but of a variety of families which come together to share their successes and challenges. Good help found here.