Practical skills for parenting are clearly presented. Highly recommended to parents of adopted children, many of whom act out their feelings about their core experiences by having difficulty with transitions, testing authority, fighting bedtime, and a range of behaviors discussed by the author. A Pact bestseller. Traces the reasons for opening contact and the resulting effects on the people whose lives are directly touched. Viewing adoptive families as resources for birth families facing unplanned pregnancies, this book defines excellence in adoption by the replacement of fear, pain and shame with honor, respect, and reverence of each participant for one another.
Open adoption is seen as a model built on candor, commitment, community, and cooperation.
Expresses deep concern about adoption services being offered for-profit and about the lack of true excellence in services available. The focus is on building excellence in services that honor the child.