Shannon E T. (tutzeroll) reviewed The Things I Want Most : The Extraordinary Story of a Boy's Journey to a Family of His Own on + 19 more book reviews
a must read for anyone thinking about becoming a foster parent.
tani reviewed The Things I Want Most : The Extraordinary Story of a Boy's Journey to a Family of His Own on
The true story of how a family that already had children took in and eventually adopted a severely emotionally disturbed boy. As a blurb on the back cover puts it: "An amazing book, warm and inspiring. You finish it not warned off by the Miniters' experience, but wanting to emulate it."
Denell W. (Chitimacha-Princess) reviewed The Things I Want Most : The Extraordinary Story of a Boy's Journey to a Family of His Own on + 586 more book reviews
It was a small note buried in the file of a deeply troubled eleven year old boy--a plea for a normal life Rich and Sue Miniter couldn't ignore...
THE THINGS I WANT MOST...
1. A FAMILY
2. A FISHING POLE
3. A FAMILY
The Miniters heard in that simple note the voice of a frightened child who wanted what all children want and need: someone to love who would love them in return. So they brought Mike home to the cozy country inn they'd restored and managed in rural upstate New York. There, over the next year, they would try to make Mike's dream come true. But first they would have work through the fear, anger, and distrust that accompanied this boy who had lived his whole life wit the labely "severely emotionally disturbed." For the biggest obstacle to Mike's happiness was Mike himself, who gave the Miniters every reason to give up but one---the power of love.
THE THINGS I WANT MOST...
1. A FAMILY
2. A FISHING POLE
3. A FAMILY
The Miniters heard in that simple note the voice of a frightened child who wanted what all children want and need: someone to love who would love them in return. So they brought Mike home to the cozy country inn they'd restored and managed in rural upstate New York. There, over the next year, they would try to make Mike's dream come true. But first they would have work through the fear, anger, and distrust that accompanied this boy who had lived his whole life wit the labely "severely emotionally disturbed." For the biggest obstacle to Mike's happiness was Mike himself, who gave the Miniters every reason to give up but one---the power of love.
Audrey S. (auddiemae) -
This story is similar to some of those Cathy Glass writes - how a foster care system can get out of touch with reality.
This is a well told story about a couple who are almost completed with the job of raising their 5 children. The wife feels a calling to become a therapeutic foster parent for a child who should never have been placed into a "normal" home. The story evolves through the patient attempts this family had with the child attempting to integrate him into their loving family.
It is so difficult to understand that some children are physically too damaged to live within "normal" society, but, being the adopted mother of a Fetal Alcohol Syndrome child, and a former psychiatric RN, sadly it does happen.
This book will enlighten those on behaviors of what seems to be a severe head injury that occured at the hands of his biological mother, and how dedicated some people are to helping less fortunate children receive a loving family. The author did a fantastic job of telling an honest story, and was hard to put down.
This is a well told story about a couple who are almost completed with the job of raising their 5 children. The wife feels a calling to become a therapeutic foster parent for a child who should never have been placed into a "normal" home. The story evolves through the patient attempts this family had with the child attempting to integrate him into their loving family.
It is so difficult to understand that some children are physically too damaged to live within "normal" society, but, being the adopted mother of a Fetal Alcohol Syndrome child, and a former psychiatric RN, sadly it does happen.
This book will enlighten those on behaviors of what seems to be a severe head injury that occured at the hands of his biological mother, and how dedicated some people are to helping less fortunate children receive a loving family. The author did a fantastic job of telling an honest story, and was hard to put down.
