A Children’s Book to Support Adoptive Families
This is a guest post by Dr. Julie Nathan and Dr. Lori Woodring.
As psychologists, we spend our days supporting children and parents as they navigate big feelings and complex conversations. But, for both of us, becoming mothers was a lonely and uncharted journey. When we each had children with the help of a gestational surrogate, there were few resources to help us process and share our family’s story with our children in an age-appropriate, meaningful way. We yearned for heartfelt stories that reflected the love, intention, and hope that brought them into our lives.
Over time, we realized that so many families, whether they grew through surrogacy, egg or sperm donation, or adoption, faced similar challenges. Families were searching for tools to help them share their unique stories with their children in a way that felt honest, supportive, and filled with love. This inspired us to create The Stories That Make Us, a collection of books that celebrate the many beautiful ways families are formed.
We wrote The Forever Nest to help explain the process of infant adoption in a loving and accessible way. It offers language to acknowledge and validate children’s natural questions and feelings, from curiosity and excitement to worry or sadness, while guiding parents in how to respond openly and honestly. The story models the kinds of questions children might ask and provides thoughtful ways parents can answer, leaving space for each family to personalize the conversation to fit their journey.
Our goal in creating The Forever Nest was to honor every feeling, encourage open dialogue, and celebrate the beautiful story and deep love that defines a family. We hope the book reflects the hope, courage, and connection that shape the adoption experience, and that it becomes a cherished tool for families to continue these meaningful conversations together.
The Forever Nest is now available on Amazon Here
This is a guest post by Dr. Julie Nathan and Dr. Lori Woodring.
Dr. Julie Nathan
https://www.drjulienathan.com/
Dr. Lori Woodring
https://drloriwoodring.com/
Email: drsloriandjulie@gmail.com
Instagram: @drsloriandjulie
