Wisdom from Adoptive Families 

Joys and Challenges in Older Child Adoption

Written by by Kris Kittle, PhD and Kelly Reed, PhD

“Wisdom from Adoptive Families” provides parents with experienced advice from families who have adopted older children as well as experts in the field. Together, there’s much hard-earned knowledge from those who can help parents help their children transition into their new families and new circumstances.

Reviews

“Thank you for writing this book. You have created a comprehensive review of older adoptions in an easy-to-read and extremely practical manner. You have not shied away from discussing the real challenges that adoptive parents face and your ability to be candid and honest about the real struggles will be a great resource to families adopting older children. I also love the way that you don’t give a ‘one size fits all’ on how to work through the challenges. You provide multiple ways on how families have worked through issues in the past and do a great job of showing how not every adoption is the same. I will be excited to add this book to our resource list here at Gladney. Great Job!” – Bill Porter, Director of Post Adoption and Client Services, The Gladney Center for Adoption

“What an invaluable resource for adoptive families. The variety of feedback from families who have actually been there is so helpful. As a mom who HAS been there, I appreciate so many of the tidbits. You can’t make this stuff up!” – Melissa Corkum, Adoption, Wellness, & Homeschool Blogger

“Because attachment is developmental, this book offers practical ideas for connecting with older children with consideration to unique challenges that were learned survival skills. After reading this book, I hope parents are able to see beyond behaviors to their child’s needs and preciousness.” – Terri Coley, Post-Adoption Coordinator at Show Hope

“Wisdom from Adoptive Families is a ‘must read’ for anyone considering or currently parenting adopted youth as well as friends, family, counselors, and others in their support network. Parents who have experienced this journey share their stories with refreshingly raw honesty, and the authors’ practical tips will surely ease the transition of older children into their new families.” – Sheri Parris, PhD, Research Scientist with the Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development

“Drs. Kittle and Reed provide the reader with real stories from people who have expanded their family through adoption. Older child adoption truths are revealed through family testimony. Well-researched, easy to read and understand. Wisdom from Adoptive Families is a positive educational tool for any parent who has adopted or is considering older child adoption.” – Lisa Lewis, MD, author, “Feed the Baby Hummus, Pediatrician-Backed Secrets from Cultures Around the World”

“Adopting an older child can be a lonely journey. This book provides what we so desperately craved in the trenches – advice from others who had walked the same road and the assurance that comes from knowing you’re not alone. This book should be required reading for any family considering older child adoption. It provides real life examples of what every day looks like, and advice from professionals and real families on the same journey. It’s a welcome companion for those of us in the trenches of older child adoption. It covers a wide breadth of examples of what a family might face, and helpful advice that goes beyond theories and ideas.” – Elissa Harrell, Adoptive Mom