Adoption is a Family Affair!: What Relatives and Friends Must Know [Paperback]

Patricia Irwin Johnston (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0944934285 | ISBN-13: 978-0944934289 | Publication Date: May 2001

A child is coming - whether you approve or not it's time to get with the program! If someone you care about - a family member, co-worker, or close friend - has recently announced that their family will be growing through adoption, you may have questions. After all, unless you have personally experienced adoption, you may know very little about how adoption works and what it means. Are you worried that your loved one may face disappointment? Do you find yourself wondering exactly what your role is going to be in the child's life? Does the term "open adoption" confuse and concern you? Just what are the privacy boundaries for families built by adoption: what is okay to ask about? "Adoption Is a Family Affair!" will answer all of these questions and more, offering you information about who can adopt, why people consider adopting, how kids understand adoption as they grow up, and more. This short book is crammed full of the 'need to know' information for friends and families that will help to encourage informed, happy and healthy family relationships.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Patricia Irwin Johnston is not only a mom through adoption, but a member of a family which includes a birthmother, several adopted people, and several sets of adoptive parents. She is a well known and respected professional educator and volunteers within the infertility and adoption communities, having served on the boards of directors of several influential organizations including RESOLVE and Adoptive Families of America. Pat is the author of several popular books on adoption and infertility and lives in Indianapolis, USA. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 152 pages
• Publisher: Perspectives Press (IN) (May 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0944934285
• ISBN-13: 978-0944934289
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #104,099 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #61 in Books > Parenting & Relationships > Adoption

More About the Author

Patricia Irwin Johnston, MS, is an infertility and adoption educator and advocate with over 30 years of experience as both a volunteer (with local and national advocacy groups in the field) and as professional (publisher at Perspectives Press, Inc.) in the field of challenged family building. She is the author of several award-winning books (the most recent, Adopting: Sound Choices, Strong Families won the 2009 IPBA Benjamin Franklin Award as best self-help book and a 2010 Mom's Choices Award) and has herself been given several awards, including being named a 2007 Angel in Adoption by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption. A member of an extended family directly touched through five generations by adoptions, Pat and her husband live in Indianapolis.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book!, May 9, 2001

By 

Robert W. Smith "Robert Smith, Ph.D." (Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Adoption is a Family Affair!: What Relatives and Friends Must Know (Paperback)

This book is great to give to your relatives when you are considering adoption, are in the process of adopting, or have already adopted a child. It is easy to read, doesn't "talk down" to people, and has a lot of good information. I am giving copies of this book to my parents, mother-in-law, and grandmother! When we first started the adoption process, this book wasn't yet published and I wish it had been. I really wanted something for my close relatives to read so that they would understand what we were doing and also to help them relate to our daughter-to-be. I"m so glad this book is available now! It's not too late for them to benefit by reading it, that's for sure.

Hope you and your relatives enjoy the book also!

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Adoption IS a family affair! Thank you!, January 6, 2004

By 

C. Belli "mom of v-twins" (NJ United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Adoption is a Family Affair!: What Relatives and Friends Must Know (Paperback)

I was very concerned about some of the reviews of this book, it was either loved or hated. I kept coming back to it and decided to give it a chance. I am so glad I did! This book was insightful not only to the recipient, but to ME! If taken in stride, it needs to be understood that we (the adopters) need to consider where/how and why the feedback is being presented. It might not be packaged nicely and we might be a little sensitive hearing it - but this book worked magic for us. It was just what I had been searching for and did the trick. Everyone is different - I suggest giving the book a try, with an open mind. The content is great, easy to read and contains many informative sections - not presented in only one format or style. If one method does not get through the other does. I loved the scenarios given at the end about the stupid comments people can make - so true! Bless all of you adopters and your family - this is just one more step in our paper pregnancy!!!! Enjoy.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Resource, March 1, 2005

By 

coco46 "coco46" (Nevada, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Adoption is a Family Affair!: What Relatives and Friends Must Know (Paperback)

I enjoyed this book and it was invaluable in helping me educate extended family about adoption. The language is clear and concise, it speaks directly to the family members/friends of adoptive parents, and it addresses many of the concerns that family members or friends may have, regardless of whether they blurt it out or not.

As adoptive parents, we often spend hours poring over books, talking with others who have adopted, and researching our choice. Our extended family members often do not make the same educational journey we do, so it's helpful to have something to gently illustrate topics like adoption myths, respectful language, privacy for the child, etc.

I highly recommend it.