New Children’s Book Provides Understanding Of How Important it is To Keep On-Going Connections Between Siblings Who Are Separated Due to Foster Care and Adoption.
Pamela Rollins & Camela Rollins has created a wonderful children’s book that takes an important step in bringing to light the affects of sibling separation.
Life sure feels different living in a separate house from my brother is a true-to-life story of how Camela being separated from her brother reminisces on the simple things like, reading books together, watching movies, going swimming and even waking up in the morning to her brother’s precious smile. She discovers the most important lesson-that her love for her brother and his love for her can never be separated.
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Minneapolis, MN June 23, 2010 (FPRC) --
This children's book contains a terrific story, a foster care/adoption guide for families along with beautiful and touching pictures.
The timing and importance of this rare book cannot be overstated.
A new study suggests the relationship we have with our siblings during youth has a considerable influence on our social and emotional development as adults.
Laurie Kramer, a University of Illinois researcher, says that although a parent’s influence on a child’s development shouldn’t be underestimated, neither should a sibling’s.
Dr. Jerry F. Westermeyer of the Department of Psychiatry at Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago says, "The sibling relationship has been a neglected topic in social science, especially in adulthood," noting that virtually no research had been done on the topic until the 1980's. "But people are starting to look hard at it now," he says. "It's an important topic and it strikes a chord."
Brothers and sisters separated from each other in foster care experience trauma, anger, and an extreme sense of loss. Research suggests that separating siblings may make it difficult for them to begin a healing process, make attachments, and develop a healthy self-image (McNamara, 1990). Indeed, because of the reciprocal affection they share, separated siblings often feel they have lost a part of themselves.
Sixty-five to 85 percent of children entering the foster care system have at least one sibling; about 30 percent have four or more. It is often difficult to find families willing to take all of them, and current estimates indicate that 75 percent of sibling groups end up living apart after they enter foster care. For most of them, it means losing the only significant relationship they have known.
The more we can keep these relationships intact, the more children can use these opportunities to work through adoption identity issues that may arise, and can develop truly meaningful relationships with others.
With sibling separation, facilitating regular contact is critical to maintaining healthy relationships.
About the Authors
Pamela Rollins is a dedicated wife and mother of eight wonderful children. Four are adopted. Through the inspiration of her youngest adopted daughter, Camela she wrote… Life sure feels different living in a separate house from my brother. Pamela was born and raised in Chicago, but now resides in Minnesota.
Camela Rollins is a five year old little girl who loves to read, ride her bike, compete in pageants and visit her brother every chance she gets. Her dream is to become a makeup artist to the stars.
What People Are Saying:
“There are few topics in adoption that haven’t been written about. Newly published authors Pamela and Camela Rollins have found one. Life Sure Feels Different Living in a Separate House From My Brother (Halo Publishing Company, 2010) highlights a unique situation: siblings separated through the foster care system. In the book, five year old Camela remembers the special times she shared with her brother, when they lived together. Now, her brother lives with his biological father and Camela and her baby sister have been adopted by a family that values ongoing contact between siblings. Illustrations by Kim Sponaugle capture the special closeness of siblings in a whimsical way.
This book could be used to help prospective foster parents understand the bond that exists between siblings, and to help them understand the advantage of keeping the connections alive between siblings. It would also help a child growing up in foster care to realize that longing for sibling contact is acceptable; it must be: someone wrote a book about it!! “
Beth Kozan
Blogger, Personal Adoption Counselor
“Life sure feels different living in a separate house from my brother is a significant book for children and parents who are struggling with a split family scenario. It gives a voice to children and is a wonderful tool for communicating with parents about the pain of sibling separation. It is a must-have for anyone going through this situation.”
Kathy Sullivan
Family Licensing Supervisor – St. David’s Child Development Center
Life sure feels different living in a separate house from my brother
By Pamela Rollins & Camela Rollins
Illustrated by Kim Sponaugle
Children’s Picture Book
Published by Halo Publishing
ISBN 978-1-935268-51-2
28 pages/ 8.5 X 8.5 Paperback /
Send an email to Pamela Rollins of MissingPieces Books
763-291-4060
Keywords:
adoption, foster care, sibling separation
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