Sherrie Eldridge’s “twenty things” came just in time for me as I delve deeper into the world of my adopted child.  Written by an adoptive child, herself, Eldridge offers valuable perspectives in words that are hard to reach for ourselves and our children.  For parents who have not yet adopted or are in the process of adopting, this book offers valuable insights on how to begin imagining being a parent to an adopted child.  It’s a wonderful, sometimes challenging journey.  And it’s great to find some tools for the road. Great preparation for the adventure ahead.

Janis Cooke Newman’s memoire on the adoption of her son from Russia (The Russian Word for Snow) is a great read about the challenges of adopting from Russia during a turbulent political time.  Newman and her husband go home with their son at the the end of a roller coaster of a journey fraught with uncertainty and plain lack of information.  Newman captures well the emotional tides of the “waiting time,” the frustrations, the joys and surprising responses in most unusual circumstances.  Such an honest portrayal of what it means in the end to finally go home with your child that was born in your heart, and dealing with the sudden responsibilities of becoming a parent.  “How do we give him a bath?  And am I an awful parent because he cried all the way through it?”  

Published in 2001, the political players are different now, but this is a great account of the emotional, spiritual, and adminsitrative challenges of adoption and the resilience and resourcefulness of parents determined to love. 

Here are two adoption resources worth checking out.  One is the Adoptive Families magazine site.  http://www.adoptivefamilies.com/ for links to a full menu of articles on types of adoptions and lots of information regarding pre and post adoption concerns.

Also an active yahoo discussion group is Gay and Lesbian Adoption Discussion.  Links from the site are also a great resource.