“The Kite’s Tale – A book for all

It’s adoption week here in the UK and this is my final post on the “Kite’s Tale” for a while. The last few weeks, surrounding its launch, have been full on and I’m feeling fairly weary. I’m so grateful to all the adoption agencies who have posted information about the book and helped to promote it. Thank you all so much! And thank you to all who have bought it, sent in reviews or encouraged me with kind words.

However, my vision for writing this book was to reach much further afield than those immediately involved with, or close to adoption. While we are not all called to adopt, I think the welfare of vulnerable children should be a concern for all of us. For those with a Christian faith, I believe the Bible speaks about it. (Isaiah 1:13-17; James 1:27)

I wonder if we all have a level of guilt when it comes to many of the gritty areas of life, like kids needing families, homeless adults needing shelter, refugees needing safety, those with a disability needing respect, victims of war or natural disasters needing all the above. It’s difficult to look face on at such human suffering and then turn away. So it may be easier not to look at all. It’s someone else’s responsibility. Guilt wrongly held can lead to inactivity.

So I’d like to suggest a different approach at least to adoption. Start by lifting off false guilt! We all have different callings, roles and abilities. If everyone fostered or adopted who would fulfil the many other roles needed to keep our communities ticking?

Secondly, take a small and light step towards finding out something new about adoption. Do this with the view simply to have a window into someone else’s life so that you can better understand some of the joys and challenges next time you meet an adoptive family. Reading a story book like “The Kite’s Tale” is a great way to do this. Enjoy it!

Thirdly, adoption isn’t a closed subject like it used to be. Do feel free to show an interest by asking questions from adoptive or foster families. Having both birth and adopted children, I know that parenting a child with attachment and trauma issues is very different from parenting a child secure from birth and it’s a relief when these challenges are recognised.

Finally, for anyone who wants to dig a bit deeper, I’d recommend Krish Kandiah’s book, Home For Good

We all have our own journeys in life. We read to increase our understanding of and empathy towards those whose path is different to our own; disability, race, religion, culture, family structure, jobs people do etc. I’d urge adoption to be added to that colourful kaleidoscope of differences.

Pick up a book and enjoy a new journey of discovery!

The Kite’s Tale is available through any main book seller or on amazon