Children at my daughter’s school assume she speaks Spanish, even though she was raised in an English-speaking family. What can we do?
“Embracing Our Daughter’s Culture…at Dinner”
When we adopted our daughter from China, our appetites were insatiable. It started a family tradition of celebrating culture and heritage at dinner time.
Digging to America, Chapter 1: The Night the Girls Arrived
AF is pleased to excerpt the first chapter of Digging to America — our top pick for summer reading.
Ask AF: Honoring a Birth Name
Adoptive parents who adopted their child internationally from Korea wonder how best to honor her birth name when the name has already been legally changed.
Countdown to Summer
With vacation time approaching, many of us are wondering how we can use the time to celebrate adoption. What are your family’s plans?
Back to the Land: Planning a Rewarding Heritage Trip
Sometimes adopted children need to go back to their birthplaces to learn more about themselves.
“A Boy Like Him”
From the moment we met 27 years ago, our son knew exactly what he wanted: a family. He staked his claim on our hearts as only he could.
“Reaching Out for Her Dad”
I had expected to form an attachment slowly, but I was instantly smitten with my daughter. She was the one who came around in her own time.
“Journey Into Our Son’s Culture”
Visiting our son in the orphanage where he lived revealed the humbling truth that he’ll leave behind a lovely way of life.
“I Have Two Countries”
Emilio returned to Bolivia to meet his new sister — and gained a renewed connection to his birth country.
Culture, Heritage, and Stereotypes
If we don’t help our children understand racial and cultural stereotypes, who will?
“Becoming Mom, One Page at a Time”
I found my own way to connect with my children’s cultures—by getting lost in a few good books.
“Celebrating Heritage in The Wax Museum”
Breaking out of racial boundaries to create a new vision of the world and its past.
Bringing Culture to the Classroom
A little culture can go a long way in explaining adoption.
“A Table Laden with Meaning”
While a meal might seem trivial at one level, it may also be filled with lessons about identity, culture, and family.
[Movie Review] Adopted
What is life like for a person adopted internationally? Adopted digs deep into the lives of two adoptive families to find out.
Age-by-Age Ways to Celebrate Birth Culture
An age-by-age guide to cultural activities that help our children take pride in their identity.
“A Homeland Trip with My Teens”
I planned our homeland trip, hoping to see my children’s birthplaces. Surprisingly, those proved elusive, but we found meaning at every turn.
“I Can’t Give My Daughter China. I Can Only Give Her Chinatown.”
Jin Yu is seven now, and lately she’s been telling me she wants to go and visit her nannies, the women who cared for her at the orphanage in China. Not so much for herself, she says, but for them. Because she is sure they must miss her and wonder how she’s doing. I promise we will try to go. “They are going to be so surprised!” she tells me.
Building Identity: “Who Can I Be?”
From workshops and playshops to heritage travel and adoptee camps — there are tons of way to teach your kid about their culture!