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1. Please be part of our next book: BY, FOR, and ABOUT children adopted from Russian-speaking
countries! A student of mine (12-year-old Katie -- Ekatarina) and my son (14-year-old
Paul Sergei), and I have a new book in the works. We invite your child, you, and other
family members to submit intriguing stories from your adoption adventure! We want
fascinating "snippets" of your experiences, especially stories that will be of interest
and/or help to other families who have adopted or are considering adoption. Please email
tolearn how to be a part of this exciting project!
We're excited because we've already heard from 35 families and the stories are starting to roll
in. Of particular interest are fun, funny, and inspiring stories about and by children as they
transition(ed) from their orphanage to their new home, family, language, and culture. We also hope
to have some honest stories of challenging situations.
Topics? Anything and everything from challenges overcome to successes to "firsts" to
adjustments. Whatever your child would like to share with others about his/her experience
will be meaningful to others who have shared the adoption experience.
Length of Stories? Anywhere from a paragraph to 2 pages. It's likely that what young children
write will be short, and that older children may have more to say.
Who can contribute? Anyone adopted, no matter what his/her age or "stage" in the adoption
process. Whether a child was adopted 15 years ago or 6 weeks ago, his/her story will be
welcomed and valued. We hope to include at least one story from each contributor, and
it's likely that we'll be able to include all stories submitted.
Can family members contribute too? By all means! My son is including a story about when his
Russian cousin was adopted by his aunt and uncle. Parents, grandparents, siblings, and
other family members may submit stories. (We may edit in the interest of space, etc., but
we will ask your approval before any significant changes are made. Most stories will be
included just the way they come to us.)
Children's last names will not be included (unless parents specifically request their inclusion).
I can email a more complete list of ideas and guidelines so that you will know what to expect and
how to submit stories. Please be in touch and I'll write back soon. Thanks!
Adopttlc@aol.com :-) Teresa
Tentative timeline: Stories accepted until December 31, 2008.
Publication tentatively scheduled for Summer 2009.
Other interesting info: My very artistic daughter (20 years old) will be the illustrator
of the book. It will be a beautiful keepsake for all adopted children.
We want to include all stories that will give adopted children a voice.
The book will surely have special meaning to those who have their own stories
included. :-)
We hope you and your family will choose to be part of this fascinating project. We think it will be
a precious keepsake for adopted children, as well as a "must read" for agencies, teachers, and
prospective adoptive parents. We'll look forward to hearing from you soon. Teresa, Paul, and
Katie (As with all of my books and CDs, 10% or more of the profits will benefit children in
orphanages around the world and other projects that benefit children.)
2. A grrrreat product just got even better! In order to meet the needs of adoptive parents,
I keep improving my adoption-specific language guides. :-) A new component is now part of
the _Adopting From Russia_ language set: Phrases You Can Use in Court. This is the second
recent improvement...added in August 2007. Last year we added illustrated, bilingual
flashcards to complement the CD and handbook. You'll learn Russian even faster now that you
can practice with flashcards. Parents who want to read Cyrillic have a handy and
user-friendly set of flashcards to study with and refer to. They are another great addition
to my adoption-specific language sets, which I consider 'works in progress' to help adoptive
families get to know each other better/faster, and to communicate with one another from the
very beginning. You'll think they're neat! 'Adopting From Russia, a Language and
Parenting Guide' now includes a set of illustrated bilingual flashcards...AND Phrases You
Can Use in Court. :-)
Alexia writes, 'My husband and I greatly appreciated receiving the flashcards
and lovely notecards. You are a shining light in this long, arduous process.
We will recommend you and your company to any and all we come in contact with
who are adopting. We love the flashcards! The pictures, Russian spelling, and
pronunciation are extremely helpful. Thank you again.'
Lauren says, 'Thank you very much for getting this set out to us so quickly! It's
excellent, and the flashcards are just what I was looking for.'
3. 'RUSH Into English, Russian to English for Children' now comes with 'TLC
Little Books,' bilingual mini-readers to help your child/ren know what to
expect: 'On the Plane,' 'The Long Trip Home,' 'My New Home,'
'My Family,' 'Changes,' etc. (7 mini-readers are included, English on
one side and Russian on the other -- Grreat for kids who can already read
and for all adoptive children so they know what to expect in their first
weeks with you in their 'whole new world.') A wonderful addition; no
increase in cost!
Click on 'RUSH Into English' above for complete details or on 'Order Form'
above to place your order. Email if you have questions. Thanks! Teresa
Adopttlc@aol.com
4. You MUST see the Matryoshka Family Portrait that my daughter painted for
me! (Click on 'Photos/Docs' above and look at 'Teresa's Family' and then 'Matryoshka
Portrait.' Please also see 'Another Happy Family' and 'Another Happy Family's Matryoshka
Portrait.') My daughter (20 years old) is quite the artist, isn't she? If you want one
of these masterpieces of your family, please contact me via email me and we'll get you on
my daughter's waiting list! Teresa Adopttlc@aol.com
Mora (my daughter) is painting these little treasures as fast as she can to earn money
for college. Email to find out the approximate date when she will be able to have your
family's portrait for you.
Please contact us at Adopttlc@aol.com Teresa & Mora
5-piece sets, 7-piece sets, 10-piece sets. Let your imagination run wild: include
an extended family member, a beloved pet, or a typicalRussian matryoshka doll as the
tiniest member of your Matryoshka Family Portrait! Your children will treasure these
links with their culture for the rest of their lives. :-) Discounts available if you
order 2 or more sets for your family. Very reasonably priced. A keepsake for a
lifetime!
5. HARVARD UNIVERSITY CONTACTED ME TO HELP THEM FIND PARENTS WHO WOULD LIKE
TO PARTICIPATE IN THEIR LANGUAGE STUDY. (I FELT HONORED!) THEY NEED
FEEDBACK FROM PARENTS: ABOUT YOUR CHILD'S ACQUISITION OF ENGLISH IN YOUR
EARLY MONTHS TOGETHER. THEY PARTICULARLY NEED/WANT INFORMATION FROM
PARENTS OF CHILDREN ADOPTED FROM RUSSIA AND CHINA.
Joy Geren from Harvard University Latoratory for Developmental Studies
writes, 'I wanted to thank you for helping us with recruiting families
for our language study in the past and to see if you would be interested
in helping again. We have expanded our study so that we are now looking
at children adopted as infants as well as children that came into the US
when they were preschool age.'
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN HARVARD'S LANGUAGE STUDY, PLEASE
CONTACT JOY GEREN AT langdev@wjh.harvard.edu THANK YOU!
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