Becoming a Mother is an exploration of the complexity of adoption from the perspective of an adoptive parent. It draws on a combination of seminal and modern texts and personal memoir to present a unique view of what it means to be an adoptive parent in Ireland today.

The book has a particular focus on intercountry adoptive parenting, and also looks at adoption from the viewpoints of the adopted person and birth parent. A dearth of literature exploring adoption exists on Irish bookshelves. Becoming a Mother seeks to fill that void by exploring issues around the topic of adoption: the secrecy and silence that still pervades adoption, the primal desire to parent that drives adoptive parenting, the tumultuousness of search and reunion, and more. It includes shared experiences and tips on bonding with the adopted child as well as a look at parenthood for the adopted person.

Becoming a Mother will be of interest to the estimated 10 per cent of the Irish population connected to adoption in some way, including the 7,000 children who were adopted from abroad.

The book is also suitable for inclusion on reading lists for Barnardos’ post-adoption service and CORAM (British adoption and fostering), as well as counselling/psychotherapy colleges such as the Institute of Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy, PCI College and Dublin City College.

More Information
ISBN/EAN 9781786050588
Author Mari Gallagher
Publisher Orpen Press
Publication date 6 Oct 2018
Format Paperback
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Becoming a Mother: Reflections on Adoptive Parenthood

Becoming a Mother follows a journey of personal growth, introspection and reflection, as Mari Gallagher charts her personal experience of intercountry adoption in Russia and Kazakhstan. It provides a mix of personal insight, views and theories from psychologists, authors, adoptive parents and adoptees, both in Ireland and abroad.

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