Mary Ostyn published Forever Mom in October 2014, and I recently found it while researching adoption parenting books.  After another pre-adoptive mama said she really enjoyed the book, I thought I’d give it a shot too.  And I’m super glad I did!

It was a pretty quick read chock full of great information.  Mary Ostyn is a fantastic storyteller and I found myself smiling through a lot of the book, having been in many similar situations myself.  It’s funny how so many of us adoptive parents have such similar experiences, isn’t it?  Ostyn is very eloquent yet matter-of-fact, and able to explain with ease all of the challenges that adoptive parents often face. She hits on all of the main points I would suggest new adoptive parents be aware of, especially attachment and trauma, and suggests the best resources for further reading (at the end of the book).  She quotes Dr. Karyn Purvis and Dr. Daniel Siegel, two well known and respected authors in the adoption world.  This book would be a perfect jumping off point for new adoptive parents and I can’t say enough positive things about it!  In the future, I will definitely suggest that all waiting/new adoptive parents make this part of their adoption library because it’s a perfect starter.  More reading will definitely be needed to fully prepare for a new adoption, but wow what a fantastic way to begin!

From Amazon:  “Mary Ostyn married her sweetheart at nineteen, and the pair had four kids by their eighth anniversary. When their youngest was three, God opened their eyes to the needs of orphans all over the world–and answered Mary’s longing for another baby. Over the next nine years the couple adopted two boys from Korea and four girls from Ethiopia.  Ostyn, a beloved adoption writer and blogger, shares–alongside stories from other adoptive families–the practical tools and resources she uses to thrive as an adoptive mom. In Forever Mom, she reveals how to: build heart connections; prepare your other children for new siblings; help babies, toddlers, and older children settle in; implement attachment parenting; address misbehavior while remaining connected; and nurture your marriage in the midst of it all.  Whether you’re the parent of an adopted child or interested in pursuing adoption, Ostyn’s warm advice and fresh perspective will inspire, inform, and affirm. You’ll walk away confident you will be the perfect mom for whatever child God brings into your life.”