Adopting Hope: Stories and Real Life Advice from Birthparents, Adoptive Parents, and Adoptees

by Lorri Antosz Benson

Overview

All My Children actress Jill Larson moved mountains as a single mother to adopt her daughter from China. George Fadok, a former Navy commander, grappled with “changing the rules” eighteen years after placing his daughter in a closed adoption. Angela Paxton, Texas state senator and an adoptee, never thought she would ever meet her birthmom, but when she did, it changed her life.

Embarking on an adoption journey can be daunting, but now you are not alone! This collection of true, beautiful accounts, including Larson’s, Fadok’s, and Paxton’s, takes an honest look at the process, the struggles, and the undeniable joy that comes with adoption. With insights from all three adoption triad viewpoints, Adopting Hope shares a wealth of lessons learned and tips for every person contemplating an adoption journey.

• How to have the courage to adopt
• How to decide on an open vs. a closed adoption
• How to handle a foreign adoption
• How to survive the agonizing wait to become parents
• How to tell your adopted child “the story”
• How to make your adopted child feel loved
• How to negotiate a relationship with your child’s birth parents
• How to help your child work through feelings of loneliness or rejection
• How to dispel negative attitudes you will encounter about adoption
• And so much more, including suggestions from birthparents and adoptees!

From Lorri Antosz Benson, author of To Have and Not to Hold, this heartfelt compilation is ultimately a message of hope, love, and destiny as each family discovers the truth that a child doesn't need to be blood to be truly yours.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781641700368
Publisher:	Familius
Publication date:	09/01/2018
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	8.80(w) x 6.00(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Lorri Antosz Benson is an award-winning television producer, writer, author, and former internationally syndicated columnist. Most notably, she worked for Donahue, the acclaimed show hosted by the legendary Phil Donahue, for fifteen years, eight of which were spent as Senior Producer. Lorri received two Emmy Awards and ten Emmy nominations for her work with Donahue, and was awarded the American Women in Radio and Television Commendation several times.

She went on to write a nationally syndicated column for eleven years called "Talk the Talk," a behind the scenes look at the world of talk television. During that period, she also spent two years as the executive producer of Golden Lifestyles, a regional talk show in Southwest Florida.

Lorri's first book, Distorted, was a memoir coauthored with her daughter Taryn, which delved into Taryn's struggle with an eating disorder and the effect on the family. They were featured on many national broadcasts, including the Today Show and the Montel Williams Show. Lorri's work has led her to become a family advocate and a speaker/expert on eating disorders, adoption, and resources for parents. She is founder and CEO of Family Matters, her family advocacy organization. She serves on the Parent, Family  Friends Network steering committee for the National Eating Disorder Association and is also on the board of Harvest Home, a Los Angeles-based organization which houses and assists pregnant homeless women.

Lorri's latest book, Adopting Hope, is published by Familius Publishing and due Fall 2018. A tremendous resource for any parent, but especially for those in the adoption world, it is a collection of stories, lessons learned, tips, and words of wisdom from birth parents, adoptive parents and adoptees from all over the country. This book follows To Have And Not To Hold, the first in a series of three books for those involved in adoption. To Have And Not To Hold covers the relinquishing of her first child, Aimee, for closed adoption, and the subsequent development of a flourishing relationship with her and her family, with a focus on the connection between the two mothers.

Lorri also maintains a blog for empty nesters, Feathering My Empty Nest at www.FeatheringMyEmptyNest.tumblr.com. She and her husband, Steve, reside in Santa Monica, CA. They have four children and five grandchildren.

What People are Saying About This

mother of two young adults adopted as infants from Gretchen Taylor

Adoption is a lifelong journey for all members of the adoption triad. Adopting Hope provides key insights and helpful advice directly from adoptees, birth parents, and adoptive parents. I read the book in one sitting and learned so much that will be helpful in our family’s journey. I’ve read many books about adoption and highly recommend this one!

John Lichioveri

I found Lorri's book to be comforting and inspiring in multiple ways, as my husband and I are adoptive parents through open adoption. The stories are moving and heartfelt, and hearing other birthmothers’ points of view has been very informative. I am also an adoptee who contacted my own birthmother just days before my son’s first birthday —as if his first birthday wasn’t enough. The stories in Lorri's book touch on all the many facets of our adoption journey.

adoption attorney and founder of TruAdopt Law Celeste E. Liversidge

Adopting Hopeoffers a rare and honest window into the real-life experiences of adoptive parents, birthparents,and adoptees as they navigate the adoption journey. This book is a great example of the incredible power of story to plant seeds of empathy and compassion in all members of the adoption triad. It is now a “must read” for each of our clients.

Beth Alexandra Larson MA

As a parent of an adopted child and a psychologist, I found this book both insightful and informative. With intimate, engaging stories told from multiple perspectives, I believe this book helps all involved understand the complex issues surrounding adoption with more clarity and empathy. I highly recommend it.

Michael Laurence

What a joy it was to wend my way through Adopting Hope! I say that as an adoptive parent, but also as a writer and as someone who relishes well-told stories. The guiding characteristic of the book seems to be compassion for all those involved in the adoption triad. You can open the book at random, to any chapter, and find stories that are full of poignancy and humor, wisdom and warmth, and, yes, (as the title suggests) hope. This is a book I would recommend to anyone considering adoption. And though my son is still just a toddler, I'll keep this book on the shelf for him to read when he's older. Thank you, Lorri Antosz Benson, for such a humane and helpful resource on adoption.

BraveLove executive director Laura Bruder

Adoption can be complicated, beautiful, messy, and everything in between. That's why I loved readingAdopting Hopebecause the stories didn't shy away from the hard parts. For anyone considering or curious about adoption, this is the perfect resource to develop empathy and gain insight into the lives of adoptees, adoptive parents, and birthparents. And the advice given practically makes it a “how-to” manual for adoption success. An excellent read that you won't regret!

CEO of Claris Health Talitha Phillips

As both an adoptive mom and someone who works with birthmoms as a doula and an advocate, I’m thrilled to see a book that addresses the many sides of adoption. This collection of stories speaks to the heart with a beautiful blend of raw emotion, insight, and inspiration. Whether you’re contemplating adopting a child, placing a child for adoption, or supporting a loved one through the process, this book is sure to serve as a wonderful support.

From the Publisher

Adoption can be complicated, beautiful, messy, and everything in between. That's why I loved reading Adopting Hope because the stories didn't shy away from the hard parts. For anyone considering or curious about adoption, this is the perfect resource to develop empathy and gain insight into the lives of adoptees, adoptive parents, and birthparents. And the advice given practically makes it a “how-to” manual for adoption success. An excellent read that you won't regret!

The honesty that you’ve captured in Adopting Hope is beautiful. Through reading these personal stories from so many different perspectives, you have made evident that there are countless “right” answers. The decisions made about and relating to adoption are incredibly personal. Adoption is truly a lifelong journey. Your book captures many of the examples of life’s twists and turns as related to adoption. This collection of stories will undoubtedly inspire others by sharing a glimpse into so many points of view. 

As both an adoptive mom and someone who works with birthmoms as a doula and an advocate, I’m thrilled to see a book that addresses the many sides of adoption. This collection of stories speaks to the heart with a beautiful blend of raw emotion, insight, and inspiration. Whether you’re contemplating adopting a child, placing a child for adoption, or supporting a loved one through the process, this book is sure to serve as a wonderful support.

Adoption is a lifelong journey for all members of the adoption triad. Adopting Hope provides key insights and helpful advice directly from adoptees, birth parents, and adoptive parents. I read the book in one sitting and learned so much that will be helpful in our family’s journey. I’ve read many books about adoption and highly recommend this one! 

As a parent of an adopted child and a psychologist, I found this book both insightful and informative. With intimate, engaging stories told from multiple perspectives, I believe this book helps all involved understand the complex issues surrounding adoption with more clarity and empathy. I highly recommend it. 

What a joy it was to wend my way through Adopting Hope! I say that as an adoptive parent, but also as a writer and as someone who relishes well-told stories. The guiding characteristic of the book seems to be compassion for all those involved in the adoption triad. You can open the book at random, to any chapter, and find stories that are full of poignancy and humor, wisdom and warmth, and, yes, (as the title suggests) hope. This is a book I would recommend to anyone considering adoption. And though my son is still just a toddler, I'll keep this book on the shelf for him to read when he's older. Thank you, Lorri Antosz Benson, for such a humane and helpful resource on adoption.

I found Lorri's book to be comforting and inspiring in multiple ways, as my husband and I are adoptive parents through open adoption. The stories are moving and heartfelt, and hearing other birthmothers’ points of view has been very informative. I am also an adoptee who contacted my own birthmother just days before my son’s first birthday —as if his first birthday wasn’t enough. The stories in Lorri's book touch on all the many facets of our adoption journey.

Adopting Hope offers a rare and honest window into the real-life experiences of adoptive parents, birthparents, and adoptees as they navigate the adoption journey. This book is a great example of the incredible power of story to plant seeds of empathy and compassion in all members of the adoption triad. It is now a “must read” for each of our clients.  

In Adopting Hope, a trio of voices becomes a symphony for us all.

Erin Loechner

In Adopting Hope, a trio of voices becomes a symphony for us all.

Kim Perez

The honesty that you’ve captured in Adopting Hope is beautiful. Through reading these personal stories from so many different perspectives, you have made evident that there are countless “right” answers. The decisions made about and relating to adoption are incredibly personal. Adoption is truly a lifelong journey. Your book captures many of the examples of life’s twists and turns as related to adoption. This collection of stories will undoubtedly inspire others by sharing a glimpse into so many points of view.

Editorial Reviews

"The stories from birth and adoptive parents typically take a gentle, retrospective tone, sharing a sense of profound gratitude even through difficulties . . . "
—Publishers Weekly

"An informative and inherently inspiring read from cover to cover, Adopting Hope should be considered critically important (and inspiring) reading for anyone contemplating or in the process of adopting a child, either here at home or abroad."
—Midwest Book Review

Adoption can be complicated, beautiful, messy, and everything in between. That's why I loved reading Adopting Hope because the stories didn't shy away from the hard parts. For anyone considering or curious about adoption, this is the perfect resource to develop empathy and gain insight into the lives of adoptees, adoptive parents, and birthparents. And the advice given practically makes it a “how-to” manual for adoption success. An excellent read that you won't regret!

The honesty that you’ve captured in Adopting Hope is beautiful. Through reading these personal stories from so many different perspectives, you have made evident that there are countless “right” answers. The decisions made about and relating to adoption are incredibly personal. Adoption is truly a lifelong journey. Your book captures many of the examples of life’s twists and turns as related to adoption. This collection of stories will undoubtedly inspire others by sharing a glimpse into so many points of view. 

As both an adoptive mom and someone who works with birthmoms as a doula and an advocate, I’m thrilled to see a book that addresses the many sides of adoption. This collection of stories speaks to the heart with a beautiful blend of raw emotion, insight, and inspiration. Whether you’re contemplating adopting a child, placing a child for adoption, or supporting a loved one through the process, this book is sure to serve as a wonderful support.

Adoption is a lifelong journey for all members of the adoption triad. Adopting Hope provides key insights and helpful advice directly from adoptees, birth parents, and adoptive parents. I read the book in one sitting and learned so much that will be helpful in our family’s journey. I’ve read many books about adoption and highly recommend this one! 

As a parent of an adopted child and a psychologist, I found this book both insightful and informative. With intimate, engaging stories told from multiple perspectives, I believe this book helps all involved understand the complex issues surrounding adoption with more clarity and empathy. I highly recommend it. 

What a joy it was to wend my way through Adopting Hope! I say that as an adoptive parent, but also as a writer and as someone who relishes well-told stories. The guiding characteristic of the book seems to be compassion for all those involved in the adoption triad. You can open the book at random, to any chapter, and find stories that are full of poignancy and humor, wisdom and warmth, and, yes, (as the title suggests) hope. This is a book I would recommend to anyone considering adoption. And though my son is still just a toddler, I'll keep this book on the shelf for him to read when he's older. Thank you, Lorri Antosz Benson, for such a humane and helpful resource on adoption.

I found Lorri's book to be comforting and inspiring in multiple ways, as my husband and I are adoptive parents through open adoption. The stories are moving and heartfelt, and hearing other birthmothers’ points of view has been very informative. I am also an adoptee who contacted my own birthmother just days before my son’s first birthday —as if his first birthday wasn’t enough. The stories in Lorri's book touch on all the many facets of our adoption journey.

Adopting Hope offers a rare and honest window into the real-life experiences of adoptive parents, birthparents, and adoptees as they navigate the adoption journey. This book is a great example of the incredible power of story to plant seeds of empathy and compassion in all members of the adoption triad. It is now a “must read” for each of our clients.  

In Adopting Hope, a trio of voices becomes a symphony for us all.

From the Publisher

An informative and inherently inspiring read from cover to cover, "Adopting Hope" should be considered critically important (and inspiring) reading for anyone contemplating or in the process of adopting a child, either here at home or abroad.

Midwest Book Review