Lifebooks are essential for the adopted child. A Lifebook
is created to tell a child their special story, and how they came to be
a part of your family. Ideally as a child grows the process of creating
a Lifebook will be one you share together and will take many years to
complete. These initial Lifebooks are a great way to get you started,
and get your child’s early history written.
How I wish I had a Lifebook growing up! I learned I was adopted around kindergarten when the neighborhood kids told me, and it was a devastating event. If I had a Lifebook I would have already been an expert on my own history, and had answers to the teasing and questions from neighborhood kids.
A Lifebook opens the door to simple conversations about your child’s adoption, and tells them their unique story in a loving and open way. Some adopted children have difficult stories to tell, and I believe it is important to tell early, and tell often. By embracing a child’s difficult history you are telling the child that you embrace them completely, tough stuff and all. Saying Hello to your family means they have said Goodbye to their biological parents, and it is important not to ignore this loss. Give them room to discuss this loss, and plenty of love and reassurance that it is OK to talk about it. By giving them their story in a special little book, you are respecting their unique history as well as sharing how deeply they are wanted and loved by your family.
Children love to hear their stories, and especially the story of how they came to be a part of your family. We have made Lifebooks for both of our children, one natural born and one adopted, and they are the most often read books in our home. Their stories are told with respect, love and honesty, and have become family treasures. It is my hope that these little books are the beginning of a life long conversation with your child about adoption and that they become treasured parts of your family history as well.
Services for Lifebooks include a questionnaire about your family and your child’s adoption, as well as a phone interview. I will scan your photos, or work with your digital media. Photos will be cropped and corrected if necessary. Drafts of the text will be edited until mutual satisfaction. Books will be made with long wearing pages and bookbinding. Books will be made in sets of two- one for everyday use and one for safekeeping. If you have natural born children as well, consider making a Lifebook for them as well!
Because a child's history is their own story, and children aren't able to give adequate consent the samples shown here are all fictitious. These are photos of my son, but the text is simply written as an example of how I handle different situations. It is not reflective of his birth story in any respect.