centraloregonmom's commentsComments On: Everything Articles Blogs Journals Photos created by: Everyonecentraloregonmom Would They Have Done That To Me?08 Aug 2007 07:34 PM My 7 year old is also suddenly asking questions about her ethnicity. She looks at her brown skin and asks "what kind am I?" At first I tried to be PC... After all, I want her to be proud and understand the correct terms. But to a 7 year old, living in a primarily white world, "hispanic" and "latina" mean nothing. I tried those explanations to only blank stares. I have started explaining that her ancestors come from Mexico and we've checked out some picture books about Mexico. We've also talked about how she's part "Native American" and again, had to show examples so she really understood what that meant, to be able to envision her ancestors. Any other suggestions are helpful, so far we feel like there's more we could be doing. Talking with Children About Special Needs08 Aug 2007 04:16 PM A twist on the "Stigma" of EI or therapy: My son (born into the family) has always been jealous of his sister (adopted before he was born) who gets to go "play" every couple of weeks with her therapist. He knows she's working, but all he sees is swinging, coloring and bouncing balls... How can that be work? Feeling Different from Family?08 Aug 2007 01:57 PM Sometimes I think it would be easier had my daughter been an international adoptee. It has become so commonplace to just assume that a transracial adoption began abroad (thanks in part, I think, to Angelina and Madonna). We adopted my beautiful and somewhat exotic looking daughter locally. She was born at a nearby hospital, and her birth family speaks English. None the less, we are constantly asked "where's she from?". I try to tactfully use it as an opportunity to discuss the benefits of domestic adoption, but it's hard sometimes to not be snide! Why must everyone assume, that just because she is of hispanic decent, that she lived in an orphanage in Guatemala? I commend those parents that create wonderful families through international adoption, but there is not enough publicity given to those who choose to adopt locally. |
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