Our Own: Adopting and Parenting the Older Child - Hardcover

Trish Maskew is the mother of three, including two children who were adopted at ages five and nine. She has also been a foster parent. She worked as a program coordinator for an adoption agency, and later was president of Ethica, a nonprofit organization that promotes ethical adoption practices. She currently is an attorney living and working in Washington, D.C. She drew on her own experiences, as well as interviews with dozens of families and individuals, to write Our Own.

In this thorough guide to the adoption of older children, MaskewAa mother of three, including two boys adopted at ages five and nineAargues that there's a big gap between the fantasy of adoption and its reality. While it was once thought that lots of love and a good home would take care of the problems inherent in adopting a child, families and social workers now know that that is not true. Raising adopted children is not the same as raising birthchildren, as Maskew knows, and she offers ideas and advice that are both practical and extensive. She deals with racism, problems around the holidays, disabled and special-needs children, and international adoptees. In a society that still views adoption as second best to birthing a child, Maskew sees commitment and support as the keys; love will come along. An excellent chapter on medical diagnosis and a full bibliography that includes books, periodicals, web sites, clinics, and published reports round out this title. Excellent for all public libraries.ALinda Beck, Indian Valley P.L., Telford, PA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.