Customer Reviews

Come to the Window : Life with Daniela, Our Child from Romania

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If you are about to adopt a child from Romania or any European area, I recommend you read this book beforehand. I am an adoptive parent and it was most helpful to know of the author's experiences and helped prepare us for the risks as well as the joys of adopting from overseas - such as delayed development of the children due to being raised in an orphanage, the difficulties in working with a child whose first language is not English, helping an orphanage child adapt to family life, etc. I wish there were more books out there which contain the personal experiences of adoptive parents, especially those who adopt older children (as we did).Otherwise, potential adoptive parents have to navigate through the maze of Web resources and links to find support and connection with others, especially if they live in small cities.

Christina Goldstone's account of life with her Romanian-born daughter is an excellent account of the potential problems that children who have lived in orphanages may present. Prospective adoptive parents ought to read this book. Mrs. Goldstone's devotion and love for Daniela are inspiring and heartwarming. The only criticism I have of this book is that the book requires some good editing; spelling and grammatical errors abound. Still, the book's substance is what is truly important.

I am happy to see this book. As a parent of an adopted (in March 1991) Romanian girl, I too, knew before I traveled, the effects of institutionalization on a child. I think that many parents do and did not. the book is a valuable tool for this purpose. It also shows the joy a child can have when loved and nurtured by parents willing to give what it takes !!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Come to the Window" is not really a humorous book, except that I can identify so much - and find joy in the camaraderie. It is not really a technical book, but has plenty of concrete experiences to identify with and learn from. This is an honest book - with honest to goodness feelings: fear, frustration, hope, joy, indignation, love, and faith - the things that life is made of. Daniela has some difficulties in learning and social realms that make her a challenge for the Goldstones, and these difficulties are combined with the reality of adoption and the experience of international adoption and the environment of family life, public school, and health care. Christina has done something more. She has, as can be seen in her book, been diligent in journalling her experience. There are so many parts of my experience in international adoption and bringing our adopted children into our family, that I've forgotten, or would have forgotten had "Come to the Window" not recalled them for me. Some of the most difficult times, especially the emotional times, I had buried on purpose, but now with Christina as my companion I can remember and observe - look how far we've come. Thank you, Christina, for helping me "Come to the Window."