Birth of an Adoptive, Foster or Stepmother: Beyond Biological Mothering Attachments [Paperback]

Barbara Waterman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 15, 2003

Barbara Waterman explores the common experiences that are shared by all those who enter the motherhood portal. She highlights the importance of wider family and professional support for non-biological parents and primary caregivers of both genders, and their children. A stepmother herself and a practicing psychologist, Waterman's writing is illustrated throughout with vignettes of children and parents from a range of backgrounds.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'a well-informed and passionate book...interspersing real life stories with research findings from social psychology, films and novels. The tone is intense and committed and likely to inspire and support many non-birth mothers and challenge some prejudices.' ---Community Care

About the Author

Barbara Waterman earned her doctorate in Psychology and Social Relations from Harvard University in 1975. After working through not being able to conceive a child herself and several unsuccessful attempts to adopt, Dr Waterman became a stepmother to twelve-year-old twin daughters. She has a private consultation and psychotherapy practice in Oakland, California.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Pub; 1 edition (September 15, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1843107244
• ISBN-13: 978-1843107248
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 1.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,257,767 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

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1.0 out of 5 stars UNREADABLE, September 10, 2010

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This review is from: Birth of an Adoptive, Foster or Stepmother: Beyond Biological Mothering Attachments (Kindle Edition)

A lot of what the author says (especially in relation to her own story and feelings) I can relate to, but she goes off onto tangents of psychology and "Therapy Speak" that are way over the average readers' desire to try to follow. A description of a child with attachment difficulties "rebirthing" himself?? The talk about "container moms" who must take everything- including being urinated upon in order to let a child know that she identifies with a child past and can take it?
I am not sure the guidance and examples provided here are healthy for the parent, even if, by some strange miracle, they are healthy for the child.
As a foster/adoptive mom of two healthy, fabulous children, I am shocked at the author's view that such parents must go to such lengths to help children and form healthy attachments. It seems irresponsible for the author to suggest that complete humiliation and prostration by a parent would be helpful to children with fragile attachments, when such children need healthy role models.