Had a lovely evening chatting with adopters and social workers from @western_bay_adoption this evening, about all kinds of adoption-related topic, including attachment, life story work, contact, and preparing birth/previously adopted children for a sibling joining the family by adoption. I really enjoy talking to adopters, foster carers and kinship carers, so please don't hesitate to contact me if you're a social worker or if you run a support group, etc and would like to arrange a talk. . #adoption #fostercare #kinshipcare #socialwork #socialworkers #adoptionsupportuk #adoptioncommunity #adopters #fostercarers #adoptionsupport #adoptionjourney #adoptiveparent #adoptivemum #adoptivefamily #adopting #adoptionsupportnetwork #adoptionstory #adoptionstories #therapeuticparenting #therapeuticlifestorywork #nationalstorytellingweek #storytelling https://www.instagram.com/p/CoDmkASMuXB/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Zoe initiated some role play today about a social worker pony going to an adoptive family and then to the foster family (all ponies), to interview the adoptive family and then to tell the young pony about her new family. I didn't initiate or steer this at all, so it was fascinating to see it through her eyes! J was transfixed! . #roleplay #theraplay #lifestory #lifestorywork #therapeuticparenting #playtherapy #play #therapeuticlifestorywork #socialwork #socialworker #fostercare #adoption #adoptionstory #AdoptionAwarenessMonth https://www.instagram.com/p/CleYjYqs7El/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

If you've been following me for a while, you'll know that I mostly read books by adoptees and birth parents, to try to help me to be a better adoptive parent. The latest adoptee story I have read is "Reuben's Story" by Cai and Joanna Clifton. After his adoption was finalised, 8 year old Cai asked his mother to create a story that he could share with his friends, to explain his story, and Joanna has used his words to create this book. Some details have been changed to protect identity, for safety reasons and also so that he can choose whether to tell people how much this story reflects his own. I thought I'd share it here in case it's helpful for any of you with older adopted children, who may be able to relate to the story. Cai also created some sweet illustrations that make the story more accessible to young readers. It's a short, powerful story, told in the voice of a child called Reuben. He talks about the events that led to him being taken into foster care. I think it's best for readers who are emotionally at least 6 years old, but do read it first (it's a good read for adoptive parents too) and check if you think your child is ready to read it. I think it could be a really valuable tool for therapeutic life story work with children who were adopted at an older age. It's new out this week, available on Amazon. #bookreview #bookrecommendation #memoir #adoptionbooks #adoptionreadinglist #socialworkreads #socialworkresources #storiesthatmatter #adoptiveparent #adopteestories #adopteestoriesmatter #adoptioncommunityuk #lifestorywork #therapeuticlifestorywork #adoption https://www.instagram.com/p/Chmoy_hIWQg/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Had a fantastic time at the Adoption Connects Social Work Conference today, talking about how I do life story work with my son. Now to find a vase for the lovely flowers they gave me for speaking 😍 If you weren't there, you can read how I do it in my article at https://hollymarlow.com/therapeutic-life-story-work/ @adoptionconnects @miltonkeynescouncil @bedfordboroughcouncil #adoption #adoptionbooks #adoptionstory #adoptionsupport #adoptionuk #adoptioncommunity #adoptionjourney #socialwork #socialworkmatters #socialworker #socialworkersrule #socialworkersrock #lifestorywork #lifestorytherapies #playtherapy #therapeuticparenting #therapeuticlifestorypractitioners #lifestory #therapeuticlifestorywork https://www.instagram.com/p/CfrWdGeM4_2/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

So exciting to see my books in the beautiful Shrimp and Doodle shop in Milton Keynes, among the other fun, colourful things! 😍 They're being sold for £8.50, which is lower than the WH Smith, Waterstones and Amazon pricing, plus they're signed! Swipe for opening hours. If you're not able to visit the shop in Milton Keynes, they're now also available to order online from https://shrimpanddoodle.co.uk/ too! @shrimpanddoodle #lovereading #lovebooks #lovetoread #booksbooksbooks #booksbooksandmorebooks #booktherapy #booksarelife #storytime #storiesthatmatter #adoption #adoptionstory #adoptionuk #adoptioncommunity #adoptionjourney #socialwork #socialworkmatters #socialworker #socialworkersrock #adoptionbook #adoptiveparents #adoptivefamily #teachingresources #miltonkeynes #smallbusiness #therapeuticlifestorywork #therapeuticlifestorypractitioners #supportsmallbusinesses #supportsmallbusiness https://www.instagram.com/p/Ce0p-sDMgs3/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

A few people have asked me how I do therapeutic life story work with my almost 3 year old son to help him to understand and process his adoption story. A lot of people find it hard to know where to start, or how to pitch the story for a young child. I started talking to my son about adoption a couple of weeks after he moved in. My strategy is to tell the story in simple terms from an early age, adding details gradually as his understanding grows. I'm hoping that it will help him to process things in smaller chunks, as that has helped some of my adopted friends. Obviously I read "Delly Duck: Why A Little Chick Couldn't Stay With His Birth Mother" to my son, but to see more about how I do life story work with my son, check out the recent post on my page at Facebook.com/Hollymarlowauthor (which surprisingly doesn't have the same character limit as Instagram - I can't fit my post here!) or visit https://hollymarlow.com/therapeutic-life-story-work/ I hope it is helpful for some of you! #adoption #adoptionstory #adoptionsupport #adoptionuk #adoptionsupportuk #adoptioncommunity #adoptioncommunityuk #adoptiveparent #adoptionjourney #socialwork #socialworkmatters #socialworker #socialworkersrock #lifestorywork #therapeuticlifestorywork #theraplay #therapeuticparenting #therapeuticparent https://www.instagram.com/p/CeRgh5asf8K/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Wow, I just spotted that Delly Duck is now in WHSmith! What a dream! 🥰 #adoption #adoptionbooks #therapy #therapeuticlifestorywork #playtherapy #booktherapy #storiesthatmatter https://www.instagram.com/p/CW_okIxM1vI/?utm_medium=tumblr

Woke up to this lovely and thoughtful review of "Delly Duck: Why A Little Chick Couldn't Stay With His Birth Mother" and the notebooks that are available to go with it. ❤️ "Delly Duck" features a solo adopter, primarily because I didn't want the adopter reading it to ever have to say "that's like us, but you've just/only got me." Solo parents are not "less," in any way other than quantity. Some of the best parents I know are solo/single parents. In fact the 2 parent friends I try to be more like are both single. I thought this way would be more inclusive, as it's easier for a parent of a 2-parent family to say "that's like us, but you've got me and Mummy/Daddy" etc. That said, if there's much demand for it, I certainly could do a 2-parent adopter edition! Let me know if you would want that! Swipe to see Quill ❤️ #adoption #adoptionbook #adoptionbooks #therapeuticparenting #theraplay #therapeuticlifestorywork #singleadopter #soloadopter #singleparent #adoptingsolo https://www.instagram.com/p/CWyPhxQMksi/?utm_medium=tumblr

Well this is unexpected! "Delly Duck: Why a Little Chick Couldn't Live with his Birth Mother" is #1 bestseller in a category in Japan! And #3 and #7 in others! 🥳 Are any of you here my Japanese readers?! I hope you find it helpful! ❤ #adoption #adoptionbook #japan #therapeuticparenting #therapeuticlifestorywork #fostering #FosterCare https://www.instagram.com/p/CVaTk6RMnVN/?utm_medium=tumblr