A friend on my foster/adopt list suggested this book so I bought it on my Nook ereader, and I absolutely LOVED it.
David Marin is a single man who adopts three Hispanic children from the foster care system. As a foster/adopt mom myself, I identified with him from the very first page. He describes perfectly the ups and downs, the frustrations and joys that come from adopting through the system. He tells his story in a very entertaining way, and I found myself laughing outloud and agreeing with him all through this book.
David Marin's father died when he was a young boy, and he always felt the lack of a family life. When he found himself in his forties and not married, he knew he still wanted children, so he began the process of becoming a foster/adoptive parent. He was actually fired from his job by a boss who didn't want him to do this, and had to move to another state, which made him have to redo most of the process. Finally licensed to adopt, his first call was for a group of five siblings. He said no, something he says he has always regretted. He soon got another all, the case worker had managed to place the older two children with their biological fathers - something that did not work out well for one of them, and he was asked again to take the younger three: a boy six years old, a girl four years old, and a boy two years old. This time he said yes, and his journey began.
He details for us his navigation of the system and his overwhelming love for his new children, as he makes a home for them. He faces racism and makes mistakes, but he takes it all with such a sense of humor that you don't doubt they are all going to make it together, and they do.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who has or is contemplating adopting through the foster care system. There is a small bit of profanity in the book, including a very funny story of his youngest son whose first two words were the worst of profanity spoken in a store when David told him he could not have some candy. David decides to mistake the lisping, baby pronunciation of the dirty words as "Thank you," to which he replies "You're welcome." He says the surprised child never spoke those words again. There is also a one time reference to his girlfriend spending the night, but it is fleeting and not graphic.
David Marin is a single man who adopts three Hispanic children from the foster care system. As a foster/adopt mom myself, I identified with him from the very first page. He describes perfectly the ups and downs, the frustrations and joys that come from adopting through the system. He tells his story in a very entertaining way, and I found myself laughing outloud and agreeing with him all through this book.
David Marin's father died when he was a young boy, and he always felt the lack of a family life. When he found himself in his forties and not married, he knew he still wanted children, so he began the process of becoming a foster/adoptive parent. He was actually fired from his job by a boss who didn't want him to do this, and had to move to another state, which made him have to redo most of the process. Finally licensed to adopt, his first call was for a group of five siblings. He said no, something he says he has always regretted. He soon got another all, the case worker had managed to place the older two children with their biological fathers - something that did not work out well for one of them, and he was asked again to take the younger three: a boy six years old, a girl four years old, and a boy two years old. This time he said yes, and his journey began.
He details for us his navigation of the system and his overwhelming love for his new children, as he makes a home for them. He faces racism and makes mistakes, but he takes it all with such a sense of humor that you don't doubt they are all going to make it together, and they do.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who has or is contemplating adopting through the foster care system. There is a small bit of profanity in the book, including a very funny story of his youngest son whose first two words were the worst of profanity spoken in a store when David told him he could not have some candy. David decides to mistake the lisping, baby pronunciation of the dirty words as "Thank you," to which he replies "You're welcome." He says the surprised child never spoke those words again. There is also a one time reference to his girlfriend spending the night, but it is fleeting and not graphic.
Hi, Carla.
ReplyDeleteI just found your review via google. Thank you for the kind words.
David Marin