Customer Reviews

I Would Be Loved

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In this memory of foster caregiving Ms. Falkner brings together the true flavor of foster parenting in the age of "coke babies" and "crack moms". Little did we- as reader- know that ALCOHOL would prove to be the greater toxin. The first wave of little cocaine and other drug exposed children appeared to do well clinically and even educationally until a certain age, around 5-8 years. Suprisingly when alcohol was the come-down drug, or the drug not-of-choice in times of coke scarcity; the babies did not fare so well. These organic damages were evident from birth and never let up. Alcohol is a legal drug and Ms. Falkner makes it very clear how permanently her clients were affected; how readily accessible this legal teratogen remains and how terribly devastating pre-natal alcohol exposure is. There is no known safe amount of alcohol from conception through nursing. That is the premise of this book. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder is the underlying thread which runs throughout. Subtle in its forces of confusion, overwhelm and lifelong vulnerability, a simple working knowledge of FASD is conspicuous by its absence in so many circles [CD treatment, adult child circles, the field of corrections, special education etc]. This book makes a good read for anybody beginning to see how very wide spread and unspoken FASD is still- despite two and a half decades of available wisdom in the public health arena as to the dangers of alcohol use by pregnant women. Judges, sherrifs, social workers, school principals, teachers and aides, as well as daycare providers, latch-key providers and foster caregivers and related professionals can all benefit by taking this book along on their summer breaks. Read something else for fun; because as human and warm as this memoir of a very special family is--you will no longer wonder "what's up with johnny?" or "why jane won't try?". Linda Falkner tells no lies. This is exactly how the system feels when in our homes. This is how pervasive and frightening the developmental delays and other disorders caused by exposing a fetus to alcohol......are when in our lives. Our kids are so very special. They need an outside brain. These biological moms can recover while their children [exposed] can never. As a foster caregiver during that same epoch, I am grateful to Linda Falkner. She has spoken my mind......and more. My heart sighs in sadness.

I use this book in jr and high schools. The kids are fascinated and amazed. Hopefully, this will prevent some of them from drinking during pregnancy, and save a child from this tragedy. This book is not only a great read, but it's full of must know facts. Very highly researched, and written from her heart.

Ms. Falkner provides readers with a dose of realism in living with children exposed prenatally to alcohol. Social service professionals, foster parents and adoptive parents would be wise to read this to gain a better understanding of the devastation FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder) causes in the life of the child. Only by facing the truth as a society will we be able to prevent this 100% preventable birth defect. This book would also make great reading for high school students in health classes.

The pictures and stories that show what alcohol can do to a baby are shocking. More people need to know about this tragedy so it can be prevented. This is a fast reading and fascinating book.