Book of the Week: Twenty Things
I read the book Twenty Things Adopted Kids Wish Their Adoptive Parents Knew
It was most certainly an honest portrayal of how adoptees can feel if they do not connect, how they grieve the loss of their birth parents, and their adoptive parents lack the understanding and compassion to acknowledge all of that. However, to create a more humane perspective on adoption I would have hoped for some more positive stories.
I wonder if I read it again in five years if I will have a different perspective and will be able to empathize more with the authors.
For more reviews: Twenty Things Adopted Kids Wish Their Adoptive Parents Knew
I felt very similar when I read this book. In fact, I stopped reading half way through and started to look for research that would either support or refute (I was hoping for refute) the opinions expressed in this book. I get that an adoptee will have some grief and other issues. But this book was so focused on the negative that I was second guessing our decision to adopt (which is, I think, her motivation for writing the book.
I does, however, highlight the fact that people who are adopting with a hope to “save” someone from a horrible life just might find out that the child was quite content with the horrible life. The grass is always greener over the septic tank, as Erma Bombeck said.
As you know, Lisa…I’m a big believer in not “saving” someone.