Parenting Your Adopted Older Child By Brenda McCreight

Order Book From Amazon

Review by Allison Martin

As an ever increasing number of adoption books become available, adoptive parents finally have access to much needed resources for some of the more specialized aspects of adoption. If you are considering adopting an older child, then Parenting Your Adopted Older Child provides a nice overview of issues that older child adoption may bring to your family. Author Brenda McCreight has been a family and children's therapist, specializing in adoption and special needs, for over 20 years. In addition, seven of her 9 children came to her family through older child adoptions. She has a wealth of experience to bring to this topic and she shares her knowledge and practical solutions in an organized and enthusiastic manner in Parenting Your Adopted Older Child.

Each chapter of Parenting Your Adopted Older Child addresses an issue that may arise for families adopting older children. A family's story of their struggle and eventual recognition of the issue is delineated, giving you an introduction to what you may be getting into with an older child adoption. These intriguing, and sometimes depressing, vignettes are followed by a comprehensive listing of strategies for coping. Topics cover the gamut from those that affect most older adopted children - such as loss and grief - to those that affect a portion of adopted children. Potential special needs topics, including hyperactivity (ADHD), attachment (including RAD), FAS, institutionalism, violent or sexually intrusive behaviors, are each addressed in a chapter. McCreight also delves into some of the additional complications that multiracial adoptive families can run into in our society, such as subtle disrespect and isolation. Lastly ways of coping with potential impacts of adoption on the family, such as self-esteem conflicts, preservation of your marriage or single life style, and power struggles in the family, are provided. Prospective adoptive parents who are interested in adopting internationally or domestically will find Parenting Your Adopted Older Child to be a useful introduction to older child adoption.

Order Book from Amazon