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Publishers Weekly
stellar book review by Publishers Weekly

Holden’s debut is an insightful, heartfelt exploration of open adoption, an evolving arrangement that has been growing in popularity over the last 20 years. Her endorsement is personal; she has two children from open adoptions and maintains that openness helps heal adoption’s split between a person’s “biology” and “biography”. She references open adoption as a “process” that encourages high-functioning relationships between birth parents, extended family members, and adopted parents. Open, honest, age-appropriate dialogue with adopted children about their biological background is stressed. Part one addresses basic information about open adoption, including common terminology, benefits as well as challenges, ethical concerns, choosing a professional to help navigate the process, dealing with the grief of infertility prior to adoption, and ingredients for a successful open adoption. Advice on how to incorporate, and set boundaries with, birth parents and extended birth families are included. Part two emphasizes the child (adoptee), and helps children respond to insensitive questions from others. Foster, international, and donor situations are also detailed. Anecdotes from birth parents, adoptive parents, and adult adopted children are included, establishing rapport between readers and real-life families. Holden skillfully covers many bases, including potential “bumps in the road,” offering appendices and resources for further guidance. (Apr.)

Adoption Perspectives with Rebecca Vahle of the Family to Family Adoption Support Program, May, 2013

 
 
Lori Holden on the HuffPoThe Huffington Post: “I’m Raising Somebody Else’s Children”

In the moments when I was overwhelmed by the new responsibilities of motherhood, first to one child and then to two, I wondered if there had been a giant mistake. What divine entity thought it was a good idea for me to raise somebody else’s children?…[more]…

 

Lori Holden on the HuffPoThe Huffington Post: “When News is No Longer News and Denial is Still Denial”

In the moments of their adoption — like the moment of Jenna’s baby’s conception — a split was created in our children between their biology and their biography. Being open about our children’s origins is an effective way to heal this split and help them integrate their identities. Instead of hoping our children would never question their heritage, we assumed they would so we drew a wider circle for our family…[more]…

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BlogTalk Radio with Dawn Davenport of Creating a Family

Dawn’s post-radio show blog post: The #1 Secret Tip for a Successful Open Adoption.

 

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Adoption Guide 2011The Adoption Guide: “Maternal Instincts”

I worried that my daughter’s birth mother was more of a mom than I’d ever be. She was the one who helped me see otherwise.

 

 

 

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Parenting magazineParenting magazine August, 2010: “Must Read Mom Blogs”

Lori Holden became a mom after travels, as she puts it, “through Infertilistan and Adoptonia.”

 

 

 

 

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Adoptive Families Oct 2009 Adoptive Families magazine October, 2009:  “Returning to the Well”

Though I’m indisputably my daughter’s mom, the time she spends with her birth mother seems to offer something I can’t.

 

 

 

 

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Conceive magazineConceive magazine Fall 2010: “How I Embraced Open Adoption”

I neutralize the scariness when I allow the thoughts to move through me and not get stuck in me.  And what’s more? I show my children that “icky” thoughts and feelings don’t have to be scary.

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Adoptive Families June 2010Adoptive Families magazine June 2010: “More Than a Reunion”

In less than a year, Tessa’s birth father had fully integrated into our lives. Could our young daughter handle it?

 

 

 

 

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Adoptive FamiliesAdoptive Families Adoption Guide 2006, 207, 2008: “Tips for Writing the Family Profile”

Eight profile tips that can help reduce your wait.

 

 

 

 

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Lori Holden's health articleKaiser Permanente’s Partners in Health, Winter 2012

“How Yoga Changed Me”

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