The Best I Can Be - Living with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome by Jodee C Kulp  Liz Kulp, Jodee Kulp  Books by Jodee C Kulp · Braided Cord - Tough Times In and Out · The Whitest Wall - Book One Bootleg Brother's Trilogy · Our FAScinating Journey                 >> View all
Category:	Biography	Publisher:	Better Endings New Beginnings	ISBN-10:	096370723x	Type:
Pages:	96	Copyright:	Aug 15, 2007	ISBN-13:	9780963707239	Non-Fiction

2009 GOLD WINNER YOUNG AUTHOR - MOM'S CHOICE Liz, age 13 and Jodee Kulp provide access into the mind of a child with Fetal Alcohol. Discover the realities of Liz's life while she struggles to become "The Best She Can Be" Buy your copy! Amazon Barnes & Noble.com Better Endings  Book Description A young teen with Fetal Alcohol Effects challenges the world to peer inside her life and brain. Through her own writings the reader is taken on a life changing journey that will impact their thinking about how to help and understand children with brain damage due to Fetal Alcohol.    Joyce Russell "This book has given me new understanding about kids who misbehave." Greg Olson, President, Critters & Company "Finally help to understand the kid who has to struggle and provides insights so adults can make a difference." Laura Chapman, parent of child with FASD Please thank Liz for us. She helped us help Donald. Nearly eight out of ten kids in foster and adoptive care have been exposed to alcohol abuse in utero. Liz Kulp was one of them. She and her adoptive parents, Jodee and Karl Kulp, are survivors and have written their own books about their life's journey with FASD. Liz's book began one day when she told her mom she wanted other people to know what it was like to have FASD. Jodee took notes – on one recipe card at a time. Soon after, Liz began journaling her own thoughts and feelings. Together, they forged a loving compendium of experience and information about FASD. The book is organized into about 30 brief chapters, each dealing with a particular topic or issue: school, puberty, rages, honesty, listening, and much more. Every two-page spread in the book weaves together an entry from Liz's journal written in her own handwriting; a literary statement about the journal entry; a quote from another FASD mom, dad, young or adult child, health practitioner, or expert; and Jodee's keen insights and experiences. The synergy of child, parent, experts, and others creates a truly unique experience into the life and challenges of a child and family affected by FASD. The book finishes with several appendices on FASD – books, directories, and teaching tips and resources for parents. It's a very useful and touching tool for children, parents, teachers and professionals who love and care for children faced with this difficult challenge. --Caesar Pacifici, Ph.D. Excerpt From the Author "Mom, I want to write a book anout what it's like to have FAS/E (fetal alcohol syndrome/effects) I think people need to know ... and so began Liz's and my journey in writing The Best I Can Be - Living with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome or Effects. Liz was right, it was a story that needed to be told. Fetal Alcohol Exposure is a leading cause of mental retardation in the western world. It is estimated that one out of 10,000* children born each year in the United States as FAS (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome) and one out of 100** hve FAE (fetal alcohol effects). Research and experience has proven one label is not better or worse than the other. Over 40,000 newborn US children each year will have to learn to cope with this disability. It is time we came out of denial - alcohol consumption during pregnancy is not safe. Let Liz and I take you on our journey - it is a journey of hope, of dedication and of perseverance. Thank you Liz for your courage to share your story. **Teratology 1997, Nov.

Paperback

An incredible resource on FAS, from a family's perspective
This book tells the story of a girl who suffers from FAS, and her journey with her adoptive parents towards education and independence. One of the best handbooks I've read on the subject; short, but packed with information, thorough lists of resources, homeschool supplies that worked, etc., and, most valuable of all, a family's perspective on the trials and successes of dealing with this syndrome. Liz, the daughter, was adopted soon after birth, and couldn't stand being touched until nearly her 10th year. Her parents homeschooled her from fourth grade on, after finding that the schools couldn't really give their daughter the help she needed. There are segments written by Liz throughout the book, written in her own hand, about her struggles, difficulties, and successes. This book is hard to find in libraries, but it is, in its own way, as important and valuable as Streissguth's books, and far more immediate and touching. Read this!! Laura Heiman, Northfield, MN

If we only saw this book sooner
Your book was the missing piece of information for our adopted daughter who's birthmom is an alcoholic. As a nurse and a doctor we were unable to find what was wrong with our daughter-no other professionals we took her to knew what was wrong. Every thing written in this book could have been written about our daughter and if we had gotten this information sooner we would have had a different point of view for her behavior and learning problems. We were not taught about FAS/FAE in nursing/medical school. This information needs to be learned at that level in order to assist with an early diagnosis and life planning for the child to avoid what we went through- 15 different schools in 10 years.

Must Read for parents who adopt and for professionals who work with kids
This book is fantastic! It explains Fetal Alcohol Syndrome/Effects, and gives the reader understanding and tools to use to work with people who have FAS/E and also how to love and accept them and appreciate them as they are. I have an adopted son with FAE and when I first realized he had this I was very discouraged because all I had heard about FAS/E was so negative. I didn't know if I would be successful being the mom he needed me to be. This book gave me such insight. It also showed me that some of what I have dealt with with my son is normal and it is okay. It is a book that celebrates life in all its forms -- even the challenging form FAS/E creates. Thank you to Liz and Jodee Kulp for sharing their life with us.