Educating the Next Generation: Adoption Messages in Children's Books with Allison Olson - Ep 168
Release Date: 10/21/2024
Abortion and Adoption: Insights from Sociological Research with Gretchen Sisson - Ep 175
Unraveling Adoption
"I use the language of supply and demand because this is a market-based system and it's uncomfortable for a lot of people, right? Because you're talking about a supply and demand of human beings." -- Gretchen Sisson Read the transcript here: EPISODE SUMMARY: In this episode of Unraveling Adoption, I had the pleasure of speaking with Gretchen Sisson, the author of the acclaimed book Relinquished: The Politics of Adoption and the Privilege of American Motherhood. Gretchen's work stems from a decade-long qualitative sociological study that delves into the experiences of relinquishing...
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Navigating Identity: A Korean Adoptee's Journey with Nathan Nowack - Ep 174
Unraveling Adoption
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The Male Adoptee Experience: Understanding Anger, Vulnerability, and Community with Tim Perdion - Ep 172
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"I almost feel like there was a blueprint, and I was a character to fit into that blueprint." -- Tim Perdion Episode Summary: In this episode of Unraveling Adoption, I had the opportunity to speak with Tim Perdion, an adoptee from Ohio who has spent the last decade navigating his journey of self-discovery and healing. Tim shares his experience of being adopted shortly after birth and the feelings of not belonging that plagued him throughout his childhood. Despite growing up in a loving family, he struggled with anger and a sense of isolation, which led him to seek validation through sports and...
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The Plants Are Calling for the Adoption Constellation with Mee Ok Icaro - Ep 171
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From Ethiopia to America and Back Again: An Adopteeās Fight for Justice with Mike Davis and Maureen McCauley - Ep 169
Unraveling Adoption
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Educating the Next Generation: Adoption Messages in Children's Books with Allison Olson - Ep 168
Unraveling Adoption
"I can read a book and tell you if it's written by an adoptee, written by an adoptive parent or written by somebody who's just a famous author and someone told him to write about adoption and they know nothing about it." -- Allison Olson EPISODE SUMMARY: In this episode of Unraveling Adoption, I had the pleasure of speaking with Allison Olson, an adoptee and adoptive parent who has made significant contributions to children's literature on adoption. We explored her personal adoption story, which began in 1979 when she was adopted as a baby in a closed adoption, and how her experiences shaped...
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Creative Paths to Healing Childhood Trauma with Jonathan Moon - Ep 167
Unraveling Adoption
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The Realities of Open Adoption with a Mother-Daughter Duo with Linda and Belle Sexton - Ep 166
Unraveling Adoption
"I think my mom does a great job addressing this in the book, but open adoption is not without its challenges." - Belle Sexton Episode Summary: In this episode of Unraveling Adoption, I had the honor of speaking with Linda R. Sexton, an adoptive mom and author, and her 25-year-old daughter, Belle. This marks our first mother-daughter duo on the podcast, offering a unique perspective on open adoption. Linda R. Sexton is an author, speaker and blogger. She is an adoptive mom of two children, both in open arrangements, and is the author of the award-winning book, . The story is told with frank...
info_outline"I can read a book and tell you if it's written by an adoptee, written by an adoptive parent or written by somebody who's just a famous author and someone told him to write about adoption and they know nothing about it." -- Allison Olson
EPISODE SUMMARY:
In this episode of Unraveling Adoption, I had the pleasure of speaking with Allison Olson, an adoptee and adoptive parent who has made significant contributions to children's literature on adoption. We explored her personal adoption story, which began in 1979 when she was adopted as a baby in a closed adoption, and how her experiences shaped her perspective as both an adoptee and a parent to an adopted child.
Allison shared her insights on the evolution of adoption practices, particularly the shift from closed to open adoptions, and the importance of representation in children's books. She expressed her frustration with the common narratives found in many adoption-themed picture books, which often portray adoptees as "lucky" rather than "loved." This inspired her to write her own books, including Surrounded by Love: An Open Adoption Story and Learning About My Friend's Adoption, aimed at educating children about adoption in a balanced and loving way.
We discussed the challenges adoptees face in educating their peers about their experiences and the need for more resources that accurately reflect the complexities of adoption. Allison emphasized the importance of normalizing conversations about adoption and providing children with the tools to understand and embrace their identities.
Listeners will find Allison's work invaluable, as it not only addresses the needs of adopted children but also serves as a resource for their friends and families. I encourage everyone to check out her books and share this episode to help spread awareness about the importance of thoughtful representation in children's literature.
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š Community Calendar: UnravelingAdoption.com/Calendar
āØHealing the Adoption Constellation database: UnravelingAdoption.com/Healing
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RESOURCES:
Allisonās information:
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Check out Allisonās website for her own books plus her lists of childrenās books: OurAdoptionBooks.com
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Find Allisonās books on Amazon:
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Allisonās book lists:
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āAn Adopteeās Top 14 Childrenās Adoption Booksā: https://www.ouradoptionbooks.com/blogs/adoptee-top-kids-book-picks
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āChildrenās Adoption Books Written by Adopteesā: https://www.ouradoptionbooks.com/blogs/adoptee-written-kids-book
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Find Allison on Social Media:
Other Resources:
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Other Parents Like Me - http://oplm.com
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Heather Ross - Life Coaching for Parents who have a child struggling with addiction: https://heatherrosscoaching.com/
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Unraveling Adoption is produced and hosted by Beth Syverson
Music written and performed by Joseph Nakao
Email questions or comments to [email protected]
Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube
Support Unraveling Adoption on Patreon: http://Patreon.com/UnravelingAdoption
Check out our website: http://UnravelingAdoption.com
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TIME STAMPS:
00:00:00 - Introduction to Unraveling Adoption
Welcome to the podcast and introduction of host Beth Syverson and guest Allison Olson.
00:01:00 - Allison's Adoption Story
Allison shares her personal adoption journey and her experiences as both an adoptee and an adoptive parent.
00:03:00 - Closed vs. Open Adoption
Discussion on the differences between closed and open adoptions, including definitions and implications.
00:07:00 - The Impact of Openness in Adoption
Allison reflects on the benefits of open adoption and her experiences with her daughter's adoption.
00:10:00 - Challenges in Children's Adoption Books
Allison discusses her experiences with children's picture books about adoption and the messages they convey.
00:14:00 - The Need for Balanced Representation
Exploration of the importance of balanced narratives in adoption literature, highlighting both love and struggle.
00:17:00 - Creating Surrounded by Love
Allison explains her motivation for writing her first book and the intentional choices made in its creation.
00:20:00 - Learning About My Friend's Adoption
Introduction to Allison's second book aimed at educating non-adopted children about adoption.
00:24:00 - The Responsibility of Educating Others
Discussion on the burden adoptees face in educating their peers and the importance of literature in this process.
00:28:00 - Resources and Closing Thoughts
Allison shares her website and resources for finding adoption-related books.