No Sugar Coating: The Coffee Talk You Need About Foster Parenting

Becoming a new Foster Parent and searching for information. I found this book helpful. Told in an informative format I preferred it to the lengthy story telling of other books.Great suggestions and practical recommendations!

This is a very introductory book for someone who sees an ad or news story on foster care and thinks, "Hey, I want learn more about that." If you have done any due diligence in learning about this topic, this book is probably a repeat of what you have learned.It was not super interesting but it wasn't bad either. An easy read. I will pass it along if someone wants a quick study.

We are not fostering children but are considering it. This book seems like a helpful introduction for those wanting a peek into what it may be like for a family. It does a good job of touching on things like trauma and what the frustrations might be like.In the first part of the book, I feared that it would be only for a certain type of person. She starts with an illustration of talking to someone as she was getting coffee to bring into a church service. As a queer Christian/Hindu couple who go to a church where no one would dare bring in coffee, I wasn't so sure we had chosen the right book. But though she draws some examples from evangelical Christain contexts I didn't feel that it specifically excluded those outside of that context.I appreciated most the specific ideas such as keeping mac & cheese and birthday cake/candles on hand at all times. These tips seem so obvious to me after reading them, but I would have had to learn by trial and error without them being mentioned. Especially for my Hindu wife who is from a different culture I had to explain why these things would be important.I wouldn't read this as my only book on the subject, but it is a good "coffee talk" type book especially with COVID making it hard to have real coffee talks.

This book left me completely emotionally torn. Equal parts sadness; wishing I would have read it BEFORE I dove into foster parenting and half triumphant, nodding with passionate camaraderie and repeatedly writing "yes - so much yes!" in the margins. This book is foster life doled out in thoughtful bite-size wisdom, short narratives to connect the practical with the actual and the theory with a fair size dose of reality. Being a foster parent, people often tell me that they have thought about it/are thinking about it and rather than giving an inadequate, off-the-cuff response, I'm just going to start handing them a copy.  Everyone contemplating the foster journey should read it. If you are already up to your ears your it, you may enjoy it even more. This one has the feel of a friend who wants the best for you AND the vulnerable children in our communities - even if that means they won't be living in your home. No pressure, no bs, it's straight talk with scoop of love.

Jillana’s book is a must read for anyone entertaining foster care - young, old, married, single, with kids or without! She gives a no holds barred account of hers and many others’ experiences when it comes to parenting vulnerable children and engaging all that comes with them. Her realistic yet optimistic approach to life in foster care is a breath of fresh air and is the real deal! I wish I would have had something like this to read while I was toying with the idea of becoming a foster parent - it is a wealth of knowledge and encouragement!

I've been a foster parent for 3 years in Oregon and I wish I would have had this one I started. So many lessons talked about I have learned first hand, the hard way.I have some ladies in my small group from church that are interested in starting foster care and I thought I would buy this book to preview it before giving to them. Little did I know it would be packed so much encouragement for me to continue on in this journey.From the bottom of my heart, Jillana, thank you!

If you're interested in learning more about foster care, start here!

This book is perfect for those interested in learning more about practical points of fostering. It's a testimony to how being humble and stepping up for your community can be transforming to all involved.I can't wait to read more of the story.

Incredible read!! So many pages resonated with a journey I have been wandering for 8.5 years. Refreshing and inspiring and real with golden wisdom that is often hard to find on this road less travelled. Thank you!!!