Customer Reviews

More than Love: Adopting and Surviving Attachment Disorder Children

5 star:		(4)
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2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

"More than love" offers a personal view of the devastating effects of physical, mental and sexual abuse. Dr. Stone shares her heartbreaking experience of adopting Attachment Disorder children, and allows the reader to see the many difficulties that parents in every community will face. This book is a wonderful educational tool for every member of society.

I'm sure it must have been cathartic for Dr. Stone to write this book, but I can't see what value it would have for a reader at all. It manages to miss all of its potential targeted audiences- mental health professionals, adoptive families, parents of special-needs kids, etc. From the standpoint of someone who works with children and families, this book has no clinical relevance or insight into attachment disorders whatsoever. Despite having "Attachment Disorder Children" in the subtitle and information about RAD in the appendix, there is very little about the condition, besides endless lists of problematic behaviors the boys exhibited. The only diagnoses that the author specifically refers to are "Multiple Personality Disorder" (?) and "Anti-Social Personality" - which no professional in their right mind would ascribe to child! The author mentioned constantly seeking and utilizing mental health treatment; I'm sure she and her husband had the best intentions but some of her tactics seemed designed to re-traumatize (burning a favorite stuffed animal on a barbecue grill!) or create chronic power struggles. The family's frequent moves and school changes must have been disastrous for kids with RAD as well. While the author droned on and on about how traumatized she was by her experience and how everyone around her said she was doing the right thing, I felt very sorry for those three boys.

A far better book about child survivors of severe trauma is The Boy Who Was Raised As a Dog: And Other Stories from a Child Psychiatrist's Notebook: What Traumatized Children Can Teach Us About Loss, Love and Healing by Bruce D. Perry

I appreciate everything the family went through. I was a foster parent and have 3 adopted children. I read the book in just 2 days, I couldn't put it down. Now, having said all that, there were situations that occurred before the adoption finalization that should have ended the placement (just one example - the fire). Everyone in the family would have been much less traumatized. I am not an author or editor, but there were a signifigant amount of typos in the book. If I read "PRINCIPLE" instead of "PRINCIPAL" one more time I thought I would scream! I am probably just nit-picking because I was so turned off by so many of the things Dr. Stone did such as burn the kids sheets and stuffed animals after the child set a fire (what example does that set?). In short, I wouldn't suggest buying the book. Check it out of the library. If you have a child with RAD this is not a book for you to read. Not everyone wants to terminate their adoption. By the way, the reviews from OK are from people in the area where the author lives...surely friends of hers.

Good product. Item received quickly and in condition seller stated. Would buy from this seller again.

Thank you.

Impossible to put down!! WOW!!! Everyone should read this book, even if you never plan to adopt children. As a matter of fact, I highly suggest that anyone that has children, works with them, and or is around them read this book, including Parents, Teachers, Doctors, Psychologist, Sociologist, Police Officers, Adoption Agencies, and Government officials. It will really open your eyes. While reading "More Than Love...", I was filled with every emotion possible, sadness, anger, and yes even happiness. I could not help crying, laughing, smiling, and empathizing with Dr. and Mr. Stone. I take my hat off to them.

After reading this book, I passed it along to my mother. She has also enjoyed it. I feel that Dr. Stone portrays a part of her feelings that really involve you and true feelings in life. Sometimes its hard to deal with the facts and family. Sharing this with everyone can sometimes help others deal better with it. I strongly recommend this book. The book not only involves personal feelings and got me worked up, but it also involves sympathy for Dr. Stone herself. I was given the book to read by Dr. Stone herself, I had no idea that she had ever undertaken this kind of horrific event. There is not a week that goes by that I do not think "How did this women survive?" I am only thankful that her husband was there to help her through such a tragic event. If only every family was like that. There for each other.