Can't Keep It to Myself

By Rene Parson

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1883928370
• ISBN13: 9781883928377
• Release Date: May 2002
• Publisher: Hannah Communication
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 1.02 lbs.
• Dimensions: 5.0" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Making a Family

It is often said that being a parent is no easy task. So just imagine the difficulties involved with raising a child that is not your own. Further complicate matters by raising a child that is the son or daughter of a relative, and now you have a challenge. This is the task that Rene Parson and her husband Mark took on when they decided to become the foster parents of her two nephews, Deron and Jeff. The decision to raise the boys was because of her sister's inability to raise the children herself as a result of her drug addiction and the lifestyle that goes along with being an addict.The Parson's faced any number of challenges along the way but their faith in God provided the strength they needed to provide to the best of their ability, the care that the boys could not get from their own mother. The book profiles the difficulties of relative foster parenting, using their own life as the example. Further, the book explores how the children's lives were impacted by the continued substance abuse on the part of their mother. While this book is not a "happy" read it is a necessary one because it makes everyone more aware of the challenges that are faced by many youth in this country.Parson shares how the foster parenting impacted her relationship with her husband and siblings (especially her sister, Deron and Jeff's mom). But more importantly, she shares Deron and Jeff's story. As I read about the adversities that these boys have encountered in their short lives, I could only shake my head in disbelief. Rene and Mark Parson are truly an inspiration. As I read this book, I was moved by their deep commitment to God and the great effort they went through to encourage the two boys to develop a relationship with God. I was further moved be the challenges that she and her husband faced as foster parents, and those that the two boys faces as a result of being foster children. I respected Rene and Mark for not choosing to do what was easy, instead choosing to do what they felt would be best for the boys. This is an emotional read, it will have you cheering one minute and tearing up the next. I highly recommend this book and especially recommend it for anyone that works in a profession relation to, or has an interest in child welfare.-Reviewed by Stacey Seay

A Journey In and of Itself

I am sure that we all have heard of the foster care system in the United States and in the state where we reside. There are many stories, some good and some bad. What has not garnered much attention is caring for a child that is a relative, which is called relative foster parenting. Yes, you must deal with the child welfare agency that placed the child with you, but with relative foster parenting you must deal with the child welfare agency and other relatives that, for what ever reason, were not willing to care for the child. They too have a lot of opinions.The recently married Rene' and Mark Parson take on the challenge of raising Rene's nephews. Their mother Monica is addicted to drugs and living basically hand to mouth. Rene is asked by her siblings to take the boys from Denver, her hometown, to Kansas where she is currently residing, to provide a better environment for them.What evolves throughout this account of relative foster parenting are the inconsistent attitudes of the child welfare agency, the resentment of relatives and the continuation of negative behavior among Rene's nephews. Rene' and her husband Mark learn a few lessons about the state of the family, the child, the public school system and what role environment plays in raising children. The grass is not always greener.Rene' has presented her story of relative foster parenting in a clear and realistic manner. I was able to empathize and grasp her reality with the presentation of the prose and the dialogue. What makes this account so emotional is the Parsons' faith in the Almighty. Their faith is examined throughout this account and is played out many times over. Rene' ends this story with a very strong example of her nephew's thoughts that we only get a glimpse of throughout the novel. This is very good account of caring for our relatives in trying times.Reviewed by Dawn R. Reeves