Do You Know What Your Mother Looks Like?

Local Scrapbook Specialist Jennifer Demar and National Lifebook Expert Beth O’Malley Team Up to Take the Zing out of Adoption Talk (Adoption Resources of Milwaukee, WI, Saturday, October 1st, 2005)

Milwaukee, WI (PRWEB) September 11, 2005

When local resident and adoptive mother Jennifer Demar was unable to find adoption-specific multicultural scrapbooking supplies she collected and created her own. Figuring other families needed the same resources inspired her to start Scrap and Tell – a web-based business supplying adoption life book and scrapbook products. That was five years ago but she is still working to fill the needs of foster and adoptive parents.

Recently, Demar's customers have been asking her to lead lifebook workshops. Demar, who writes articles and tours the Midwest moderating lifebook sessions is not a social worker and was uncomfortable leading a how-to workshop. Instead, she recruited national lifebook expert Beth O'Malley, M.ED., who is a social worker. O'Malley wrote Lifebooks: Creating a Treasure for the Adopted Child, and is an adoptee and adoptive mother. She will talk to families about the importance of lifebooks and the ways in which they are different than scrap or picture books.

“Do you know what your mother looks like? Or where you were born?” O'Malley asks, “Most people do. Not adopted children. They often lack basic pieces of their story,” she says. “A lifebook describes the child's history from birth using words, photos, artwork and memorabilia.”

For Demar , who is mother to 5-year old Scott and 6-year old Maria (both adopted from Guatemala at age two), the lifebook is an invaluable tool she's already using. “It's helpful for me in becoming comfortable in telling the adoption story,” she says. “The more my children know their story, the better their self-esteem, the stronger their identity and the better armed they are when they get questions at school.”

Adoptive parents are so eager for adoption lifebook guidance and adoption specific materials they are traveling from Colorado, Iowa and Florida to join dozens of local parents at these customized workshops. O'Malley will lead a workshop for foster families and adoptive parents from 9am until 12pm (where there are still opening and a second already-full session from 1pm to 4pm. During the day, families will be able to view sample lifebooks and purchase Scrap and Tell supplies.

To register for the first workshop or for more information about Jennifer Demar call 877-472-2777 or visit http://www.scrapandtell.com. For more information about Beth O'Malley or lifebooks, call 800-469-9666 or visit the website http://www.adoptionlifebooks.com

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