Forever Mom

November 15, 2014

According to the publisher, "every year more than 7,000 American families welcome an adopted child into their home." Blogger and speaker Ostyn (owlhaven.net)and her husband adopted six of their ten children; four daughters born in Ethiopia and two sons born in South Korea. Here Ostyn shares her experience as well as tips for the prospective adoptive family. Recognizing that "Adoptive moms need a bigger army of supports than most," the author gives readers a realistic look at some of the challenges ahead, providing insight and support for what might feel like a personal colossal failure: "Older-adopted children are likely to be grieving the second they walk through our door. At times their overwhelming emotion spills over into interactions with us. Even a child who never talks about his past may have moments when his loss will be huge in the room. We may not be the mom who caused their pain, but if we're the mom in the room, we're likely to be the target of their unhappiness." VERDICT Ostyn relies heavily on her faith and feels that adoption is a calling from God. Her viewpoint will be both a turn off to some and a support for others. This community of parents, however, shares much in common, and the author's experience and true love of the journey will be of value to any potential forever parent.

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