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Counting Down
- A Memoir of Foster Parenting and Beyond
- Narrated by: Kristi Burns
- Length: 9 hrs and 29 mins
- Categories: Relationships, Parenting & Personal Development, Parenting & Families
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Publisher's Summary
When Deborah Gold and her husband signed up to foster parent in their rural mountain community, they did not foresee that it would lead to a roller-coaster 15 years of involvement with the traumatized, yet resilient, birth family. They fell in love with Michael (a toddler when he came to them), yet they had to reckon with the knowledge that he could leave their lives at any time.
In Counting Down, Gold artfully tells her story of forging a family within an often confounding system in ways that defied the expectations of everyone involved. The remarkable characters we meet include social workers, a birth mother with the courage to give her children the childhood she never had herself, and a father parenting from prison. We also encounter members of a remarkable fellowship of Appalachian foster parents - gay, straight, right, left, evangelical, and atheist - united by love, loss, and quality hand-me-downs.
Unlike child welfare manuals and textbooks, Gold’s memoir brings us a foster parent’s perspective (and, through Michael’s own poetry and essays, that of a former foster child). The book shakes up common assumptions and offers a hopeful look at an experience usually portrayed as bleak. For those who have fostered, Counting Down will be validating and familiar; for everyone else, it will inspire.
“A deeply moving memoir about both the rewards and the daunting challenges of being a foster family...a unique and valuable book. Bravo.” (Ron Rash, author of The Risen)
“An extraordinary story of loss and recovery that documents the breakdown and rebuilding of lives, family, and human potential. Deborah Gold is a gifted writer....” (Robert Morgan, author of Chasing the North Star)
What listeners say about Counting Down
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Deedra
- 09-04-18
Counting Down
I enjoyed this book.It was a wonderful memoir of the ups and downs of foster parenting.It shows how the system is lacking and truely,no one knows how to fix it.Kristi Burns was an excellent narrator.I was given this book by the narrator,author or publisher free for an honest review.
2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Victoria Haugen
- 09-03-18
WOW. TRIUMPHS & TRAGEDIES OF FOSTER PARENTING...
This book really touched me. I don't have kids of my own and, although I have limited experience as a stepmom, can only imagine the amazing joys and heartwrenching sorrows involved in parenting. Foster parenting... wow, that really takes some special people. I was blown away by the challenges involved, the constant fear, and the neverending joy. I loved also hearing MIchael's writings, it really lent a great perspective. I applaud all parents, and especially foster parents, for the hard work and love they put into everything they do. Lovely story, and the narration was beautiful. Definitely recommended :) I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
1 person found this helpful