Today as my husband and I are starting our training with our county to adopt, I am starting a training of my own. I have decided to do my own training, a biblical adoption training.
My goals of this training are to learn:
- Biblical discipline techniques
- How to move past my own childhood and be the best I can
- How to leave an eternal impression on a child
- Basic biblical parenting skills
- How to handle special circumstances adoption creates when raising children
So, I am hoping to accomplish those goals through reading the following books:
Feminine Appeal
I would love some input on my goals and books. If anyone at all has anything to add, please do!!! I need some “older woman” wisdom to make this training better for me!
Please add anything in the comments below.
We too are begining the same journey. We are still unsure which route to go; through foster care or international.
Are you looking at fostering to adopt? I went through this process with my Brother and Sister-in-law (was a shoulder to cry on for many years) and here are some books she would recommend if that is your route:
Creative Correction by Lisa Whelchel
When Love is Not enough by Nancy L. Thomas
Raising Godly Tomatoes by L. Elizabeth Krueger
God Bless you on this journey!
We are not doing a foster to adopt program, we are just planning on adopting from the foster system.
Thanks for the recommendations!
-Ashley
Hi Ashley-
I sent you an email response too, but just thought you might want to check these books out and add them to the list….they are just general parenting books based on a biblical perspective…not about adoption though:
Power of a Positive Mom by Karol Ladd (this might be my fav all time book)
Sheparding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp
Enjoy your reading!
HI Congrats on deciding to adopt! I would recommend the book: Beyond Consequences by Forbes and Post.
We have adopted internationally, and are now foster parents hoping to foster/adopt! If you are not going to do a foster to adopt program, then you will be adopting an older child, right? We got licensed for birth to 2 yr. olds, that way we will be placed with newborns that will more than likely have a chance at adoption, but through foster care, you never know what can happen until it is all finalized. If a child is legally free, they are usually older. If that is what you are going to do, then you have a lot to think about because these are kids that will have damage that will manifest in behaviors, or they will have issues due to drug/alcohol exposure. There are lots of unknowns, but it looks like you are doing a lot of reading that will be helpful. I too read a ton before we adopted our first son internationally, but all the reading could never have prepared me for his unique issues…so my best advice would be to make sure you have a lot of support…find out what that will be through the state if you need to seek intervention and counseling of any kind.
Best wishes to you!!!
Michelle
Hi Ashley,
I can't offer much wisdom on the details of adoption, but I have had a revolving door with teenagers from all walks of life for the past 12 years, some of whom were adopted, and have been parenting for almost 10 years. Plus, I come from a broken, abusive home, so I've had a lot to learn and a lot to heal. My advice is this:
1. Deal with your stuff — your baggage now. And the same for you husband. Go to a Christian counselor, even it is just for a few times, and see if you need to work through any issues with the Lord while the pressure of parenting is not on you. Of course it was parenting that pricked my hardened heart, so healing is all in God's timing.
2. Some great parenting books are:
Shepherding a Child's Heart — great questions and challenge to think big picture.
Dare to Discipline
3. Two other books I would recommend, more for your spiritual growth and to understand God's design for women…and for men — Captivating by Stasi Eldridge and Disciplines of the Beautiful Woman by Anne Ortlund
If anything else comes to mind, I'll let you know.
Prayer, of course.
Blessings!
Hi Ashley! We've got two blessings from Guatemala and I can recommend the "Growing Kids God's Way" class and books (some people don't like the program but my husband and I think there are some great biblical principals shown and the materials are a great "marriage" study too – the best thing you can do for your kids is to show them that you love their Dad!). One thing that I have learned is that is is NOT biblical to let your kids walk all over you and to cater to all their whims . . .with a one and three-year-old it is a MUST that I set limits and enforce them! I will be praying that God brings you the child He has selected for you SOON!
Jess
http://www.foreverfamilyoffour.blogspot.com
One more thing, I've read LOTS of adoption-related books and don't have any particular ones to recommend (but I do like the "20 Things Adopted Kids Wish Their Parents Knew" and "Are Those Kids Yours?" by Cheri Register) though I will mention that if you haven't started a Lifebook yet for your child, start one now! You can get lots of tips on lifebooks on the web, or get Beth O'Malley's book on Lifebooks. Creating my babies books was a wonderful way for me to pass the time as I waited, even before our babies were born. Prayer and Lifebooking made the wait easier!
Jess
jlr846@yahoo.com