Items related to Your Family: A Donor Kid's Story
How do you tell your child that they were conceived with the help of a donor, and then address curiosity about half siblings and/or the donor?
Wendy Kramer, Co-Founder and Director of the Donor Sibling Registry, makes it easy and fun! A first-of-its-kind book for kids involving half sibling and donor references. Your Family: A Donor Kid's Story is illuminated in fun, easy-to-understand graphics and factual reproductive descriptions. Inclusive of all family types.
The book starts with the parent's desire to have a baby, the use of a donor, and then broaches the topic of half siblings and biological parents/donors. A perfect book for (the millions of) donor-conceived children to learn about how they were conceived and for understanding that being curious about their unknown genetic origins and relatives is natural. These early conversations are integral to creating a happy and healthy donor child and family.
Pages are included at the end of the book for the child to paste images or draw relatives, with interactive text and colorful anecdotes.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
From the Author:
In 2000 my then ten year old donor-conceived son Ryan and I started the Donor Sibling Registry (DSR). It was born out of his curiosity about possible half siblings and about his own biological father, a man only known to us as donor 1058. From the beginning, the DSR's mission has been to connect, educate and support all those in the donor family, first and foremost being the donor-conceived children.
18 years later, with 60,000 members in 105 countries, and with many research studies and published papers, we've come to understand much about everyone in the donor family. With almost 20,000 people connected on the DSR, we've heard from thousands of them about the profound and important familial connections that take place every single day. We know that it's important for donor offspring to be told about their origins right from the start - but telling is only the first step. Donor-conceived children must also feel understood about their own curiosities and eagerness to connect with their first and second-degree genetic relatives, and their desire to know more about their ancestry. To quote Bruce Springsteen, " You can't really know who you are, and where you're going unless you know where you came from".
Over the years, I have been asked many times to recommend a children's book about being donor-conceived, being curious about half siblings and donors, and about making those connections. Here it is! I have tried in this book to be sensitive to everyone in the donor family. Because terminology is a hot button, I use several terms to describe both half siblings (donor siblings) and biological parents (donors). I believe that parents should be as accurate as possible with the terminology, knowing that most kids, at some point, will want to try on all the terms. Terminology will likely change over the years, with maturity and the ability to define these relationships for themselves. I encourage all parents to think deeply and critically about the terminology so that all donor kids feel supported and free to use any of and all of the words that they need to as they grow up. Because there are an infinite number of combinations of family type, parent type, donor type, sibling type and child type, we show many types of kids and families. After reading each page, parents can springboard into conversations with their child about how their own family is unique and special.
Children may go through many phases and levels of curiosity. Some may be mildly curious, some not at all, and some have a burning desire to know their first and second-degree genetic relatives. Parents need to be ready to support and honor any curiosities that their child might have as they mature.
My hopes are that this book will be a great tool for opening up conversations between parents and young children with the goal, as always, to create happy and healthy donor families.
Wendy Kramer
wendy@donorsiblingregistry.com
From the Inside Flap:
18 years later, with 60,000 members in 105 countries, and with many research studies and published papers, we've come to understand much about everyone in the donor family. With almost 20,000 people connected on the DSR, we've heard from thousands of them about the profound and important familial connections that take place every single day. We know that it's important for donor offspring to be told about their origins right from the start - but telling is only the first step. Donor-conceived children must also feel understood about their own curiosities and eagerness to connect with their first and second-degree genetic relatives, and their desire to know more about their ancestry. To quote Bruce Springsteen, " You can't really know who you are, and where you're going unless you know where you came from".
Over the years, I have been asked many times to recommend a children's book about being donor-conceived, being curious about half siblings and donors, and about making those connections. Here it is! I have tried in this book to be sensitive to everyone in the donor family. Because terminology is a hot button, I use several terms to describe both half siblings (donor siblings) and biological parents (donors). I believe that parents should be as accurate as possible with the terminology, knowing that most kids, at some point, will want to try on all the terms. Terminology will likely change over the years, with maturity and the ability to define these relationships for themselves. I encourage all parents to think deeply and critically about the terminology so that all donor kids feel supported and free to use any of and all of the words that they need to as they grow up. Because there are an infinite number of combinations of family type, parent type, donor type, sibling type and child type, we show many types of kids and families. After reading each page, parents can springboard into conversations with their child about how their own family is unique and special.
Children may go through many phases and levels of curiosity. Some may be mildly curious, some not at all, and some have a burning desire to know their first and second-degree genetic relatives. Parents need to be ready to support and honor any curiosities that their child might have as they mature.
My hopes are that this book will be a great tool for opening up conversations between parents and young children with the goal, as always, to create happy and healthy donor families.
Wendy Kramer
wendy@donorsiblingregistry.com
What people are saying...
A much-needed resource for parents and children in families created by donor conception. The author, Wendy Kramer, has a wealth of experience and a real understanding of the needs of donor conception families. This book will foster curiosity and inspire conversations in families where children want to learn more about their donor origins and connections. Dr Tabitha Freeman, Centre for Family Research, University of Cambridge
As a psychotherapist, I work with many LGBT parents of donor conceived children who struggle to find the right language to speak to their children about the circumstance of their birth. They are also often afraid that learning about their donors and potential donor siblings will be upsetting or confusing to their children. Finally, I have a book to recommend to them! Your Family: A Donor Kid's Story is the perfect combination of honest, loving, and positive. I am keeping a pile of copies in my office. Liz Margolies, LCSW, psychotherapist and mother of a donor-conceived child
Your Family: A Donor Kid's Story is a wonderful book that affirms the experience of children who have been donor-conceived. It's important for families to have a book like this to read to their kids, so that their children can understand who they are and where they came from. Wendy Kramer's book is long overdue! Jacqueline Mroz, author of Scattered Seeds: In Search of Family and Identity in the Sperm Donor Generation
Your Family gives children born from egg or sperm donation a chance to see themselves reflected in a positive, informative and accessible story. Most importantly, this book will help families who have used reproductive technology to explain complex concepts to their children while giving them vital information about themselves and how they came to be. Here's a book that is relatable and will allow children to feel proud of their special story. Susan Frankel, MFT, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and mother to a donor-conceived daughter
A lovely book for children who were conceived with donor sperm or egg . Parents in all kinds of families will find it very helpful in explaining their child's conception story in a gentle, simple, and positive way. Jane Mattes, L.C.S.W., psychotherapist and Founder/Director of Single Mothers by Choice
Your Family: A Donor Kid's Story fills a noticeable gap in LGBTQ family books. While others have discussed how we make our babies, Your Family: A Donor Kid's Story takes the next step in addressing what can often be an elephant in the room for our families. The existence of donor siblings, and how to navigate those relationships, is deeply personal and family-specific. For those who are looking for a way to help their children understand the breadth of their biological relationships, Your Family: A Donor Kid's Story does an incredible, age-appropriate job at laying the framework in an interactive, light hearted way. Amanda Hopping-Winn, Chief Program Officer, Family Equality Council
Having worked with Wendy Kramer for many years I know her organization Donor Sibling Registry (DSR) is valuable to the LGBTQ parenting community. We've published family stories that talk about how DSR has brought joy to not just the half siblings discovering each other but to their gay parents as well. Kramer's children's book Your Family: A Donor Kid's Story is an important contribution to the LGBTQ community and a great addition to the homes of all parents with donor-conceived children. Angeline Acain, publisher and editor, Gay Parent Magazine
As the proud Grandmother of a donor child, I am so pleased to see this wonderful book! I think it will help donor children understand just how special and loved they are. Your Family: A Donor Kid's Story allows parents to ease into giving the child the information they need for a complete life and for understanding how different families can look. Jacki K, grandmother
This easy-to-read, attractively illustrated book ought to be distributed to donor-conceived children and their parents as standard practice. It introduces to young children what it means to be donor-conceived, helps their parents broach an often awkward subject, and will help obviate any stigma surrounding children's origins. Such a little book could have made a major difference in my life growing up. Albert Frantz, donor-conceived adult
Cool book. Pretty sure it's the first book I ever got to read about donor siblings. It's good that someone's writing about kids with donor siblings because a lot of us have them. Kids without donor siblings should read this book too, because I get tired of having to explain my family to people. My favorite part of the book was when I got to write down questions I have for my donor. That was pretty cool. I hope a lot of people read this book. Gabrielle Capasso, Age 11
While I wish this book had been available back when my daughter was little and I desperately needed it, I'm thrilled to know that parents of donor kids now have a book that describes their family. I think Your Family: A Donor Kid's Story, will prove to be an invaluable tool--providing an inclusive, age appropriate way to celebrate each child's story and describe what makes their family so special. Thank you for creating such a beautiful story, it's been a long time coming. I highly recommend this book! Meredyth Capasso, mom to 11 year old Gabi
Thank you to Wendy and Ryan for all of their dedication and hard work bringing more openness, acceptance and connection of donor conceived people and families. As a donor conceived person, I had such a strong need to know my biological roots and family. I would have greatly benefited from being able to talk about being a donor conceived person at a young age. Thank you for this wonderful book to help parents talk about this aspect of their child's life with them. Children need to know that who they are is accepted and comfortable for their parents, and that they are able to talk about their life, no matter how they were created. Lynne W. Spencer, RN, MA , Author of Sperm Donor Offspring; Identity and Other Experiences
As a psychologist, I hear from parents who are frustrated with the lack of children-focused books on donor-conceived children's feelings and questions. Wendy's book encourages family discussions about the special opportunity of donor-sibling relationships. I'm looking forward to using her book both professionally and personally. Debbie Ramirez, Ph.D., mother to two egg donor-conceived children
A creative and comfortable way to talk to our donor-conceived kids about their origins. Ann Dixon, Co-founder, Serendip Studio
"What a beautiful way to help donor children make sense of their stories! Wendy Kramer's open-hearted new book sees the love in families of all kinds and honors kids' curiosity about their genetic connections. This book will help donor children recognize themselves--it acknowledges that their families are real and worth getting to know, in all their possibilities. I wish I'd had this book when I was young..." - Sara Lamm, documentary filmmaker and donor-conceived person
A much-needed resource for parents and children in families created by donor conception. The author, Wendy Kramer, has a wealth of experience and a real understanding of the needs of donor conception families. This book will foster curiosity and inspire conversations in families where children want to learn more about their donor origins and connections. Dr Tabitha Freeman, Centre for Family Research, University of Cambridge
As a psychotherapist, I work with many LGBT parents of donor conceived children who struggle to find the right language to speak to their children about the circumstance of their birth. They are also often afraid that learning about their donors and potential donor siblings will be upsetting or confusing to their children. Finally, I have a book to recommend to them! Your Family: A Donor Kid's Story is the perfect combination of honest, loving, and positive. I am keeping a pile of copies in my office. Liz Margolies, LCSW, psychotherapist and mother of a donor-conceived child
Your Family: A Donor Kid's Story is a wonderful book that affirms the experience of children who have been donor-conceived. It's important for families to have a book like this to read to their kids, so that their children can understand who they are and where they came from. Wendy Kramer's book is long overdue! Jacqueline Mroz, author of Scattered Seeds: In Search of Family and Identity in the Sperm Donor Generation
Your Family gives children born from egg or sperm donation a chance to see themselves reflected in a positive, informative and accessible story. Most importantly, this book will help families who have used reproductive technology to explain complex concepts to their children while giving them vital information about themselves and how they came to be. Here's a book that is relatable and will allow children to feel proud of their special story. Susan Frankel, MFT, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and mother to a donor-conceived daughter
A lovely book for children who were conceived with donor sperm or egg . Parents in all kinds of families will find it very helpful in explaining their child's conception story in a gentle, simple, and positive way. Jane Mattes, L.C.S.W., psychotherapist and Founder/Director of Single Mothers by Choice
Your Family: A Donor Kid's Story fills a noticeable gap in LGBTQ family books. While others have discussed how we make our babies, Your Family: A Donor Kid's Story takes the next step in addressing what can often be an elephant in the room for our families. The existence of donor siblings, and how to navigate those relationships, is deeply personal and family-specific. For those who are looking for a way to help their children understand the breadth of their biological relationships, Your Family: A Donor Kid's Story does an incredible, age-appropriate job at laying the framework in an interactive, light hearted way. Amanda Hopping-Winn, Chief Program Officer, Family Equality Council
Having worked with Wendy Kramer for many years I know her organization Donor Sibling Registry (DSR) is valuable to the LGBTQ parenting community. We've published family stories that talk about how DSR has brought joy to not just the half siblings discovering each other but to their gay parents as well. Kramer's children's book Your Family: A Donor Kid's Story is an important contribution to the LGBTQ community and a great addition to the homes of all parents with donor-conceived children. Angeline Acain, publisher and editor, Gay Parent Magazine
As the proud Grandmother of a donor child, I am so pleased to see this wonderful book! I think it will help donor children understand just how special and loved they are. Your Family: A Donor Kid's Story allows parents to ease into giving the child the information they need for a complete life and for understanding how different families can look. Jacki K, grandmother
This easy-to-read, attractively illustrated book ought to be distributed to donor-conceived children and their parents as standard practice. It introduces to young children what it means to be donor-conceived, helps their parents broach an often awkward subject, and will help obviate any stigma surrounding children's origins. Such a little book could have made a major difference in my life growing up. Albert Frantz, donor-conceived adult
Cool book. Pretty sure it's the first book I ever got to read about donor siblings. It's good that someone's writing about kids with donor siblings because a lot of us have them. Kids without donor siblings should read this book too, because I get tired of having to explain my family to people. My favorite part of the book was when I got to write down questions I have for my donor. That was pretty cool. I hope a lot of people read this book. Gabrielle Capasso, Age 11
While I wish this book had been available back when my daughter was little and I desperately needed it, I'm thrilled to know that parents of donor kids now have a book that describes their family. I think Your Family: A Donor Kid's Story, will prove to be an invaluable tool--providing an inclusive, age appropriate way to celebrate each child's story and describe what makes their family so special. Thank you for creating such a beautiful story, it's been a long time coming. I highly recommend this book! Meredyth Capasso, mom to 11 year old Gabi
Thank you to Wendy and Ryan for all of their dedication and hard work bringing more openness, acceptance and connection of donor conceived people and families. As a donor conceived person, I had such a strong need to know my biological roots and family. I would have greatly benefited from being able to talk about being a donor conceived person at a young age. Thank you for this wonderful book to help parents talk about this aspect of their child's life with them. Children need to know that who they are is accepted and comfortable for their parents, and that they are able to talk about their life, no matter how they were created. Lynne W. Spencer, RN, MA , Author of Sperm Donor Offspring; Identity and Other Experiences
As a psychologist, I hear from parents who are frustrated with the lack of children-focused books on donor-conceived children's feelings and questions. Wendy's book encourages family discussions about the special opportunity of donor-sibling relationships. I'm looking forward to using her book both professionally and personally. Debbie Ramirez, Ph.D., mother to two egg donor-conceived children
A creative and comfortable way to talk to our donor-conceived kids about their origins. Ann Dixon, Co-founder, Serendip Studio
"What a beautiful way to help donor children make sense of their stories! Wendy Kramer's open-hearted new book sees the love in families of all kinds and honors kids' curiosity about their genetic connections. This book will help donor children recognize themselves--it acknowledges that their families are real and worth getting to know, in all their possibilities. I wish I'd had this book when I was young..." - Sara Lamm, documentary filmmaker and donor-conceived person
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherDonor Sibling Registry
- Publication date2018
- ISBN 10 0692106936
- ISBN 13 9780692106938
- BindingPaperback
- Edition number2
- Number of pages40
- IllustratorMoore Jen
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