Am I Supposed to Feel This Way?

Adopting a child impacts on the whole family. This is the story of seven-year-old Oliver, a birth child, whose parents adopt a little baby called Max. For Oliver this initially seemed to be everything he always wanted, but he soon discovers not everything was as he first imagined! More often than not, we realise birth children can suffer secondary trauma with having an adopted sibling. This book enables parents to sit with their children to discuss the possible issues that may arise when having an adopted sibling placed. It can also help children who already have an adopted sibling to understand what might be going on for them, and that they are not alone in feeling the way they do. This book has been written specifically for children to write and draw in, and to personalise as their own. They are encouraged to express themselves as much as they wish! This book is suitable whether you are in the middle of the adoption process, having your child placed or even if you are just thinking about whether adoption is right for you and your family. Your allocated social worker can also use this book to work with your child to help prepare them for the journey ahead. Please remember this book is just one child’s experience, and children will have different experiences, but what this book does is to open up conversation with your child to help them to express their emotions. From a child's perspective This is a book about me! Oliver! When Mum and Dad were adopting Max, there weren’t many books out there for me to read. Some books were aimed at older children and my parents didn’t think they were appropriate for me to read. I would have loved a book to have been just for me; where I could read what adoption CAN actually be like for birth children. I wish I’d have known how hard it could be at times and how emotional I’d feel…even now! I’m 10 years old now and would not change my brother for the world, even though he can still be a pain at times!