We were prepared to raise a child who looked nothing like us. But things changed when we found out that our new daughter did…sort of.
“Celebrating Heritage in The Wax Museum”
Breaking out of racial boundaries to create a new vision of the world and its past.
“Our Visible, Multiracial Family”
Although my wife and I talked a great deal about race before we decided on a transracial adoption, we didn’t fully appreciate how conspicuous our family would become. Quite simply, we now stick out in a crowd.
“Did You Try to Have Your Own Kids?”
My wife was deluged with questions at a new moms’ group, each one more personal than the last.
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.
Ask AF: When Preteens Face Prejudice
My 12-year-old, adopted from China, has recently been saying she doesn’t want to go to school. Last night I finally got her talking. She said, “There are kids who disrupt the class and are racist. They tell Asian jokes.” Her school is diverse, but there are few Asian students. How can I help her?
“What Being Asian Means to Her”
At 13, my daughter is still figuring out who she is. Race is one part of the picture, adoption is another.
“Why Am I the Only One Who’s Pink?”
Being Mom to “virtual twins”—one African-American, one white; one adopted, one biological—has taught me to validate both of my children for who they are.
White Dad, Black Son
In a society that claims to be “color-blind,” we must parent deliberately.
Classroom Consciousness
Finding the right school for your child is a personal, and sometimes emotional, process — especially when considering diversity and academic excellence.
“Should I Proclaim My Family’s Multiracial Identity?”
My son’s Mexican heritage is not apparent to others. Is it my responsibility to identify ourselves as a multiracial family?
“Blurring the Line”
Mississippi has the largest population of African Americans in the United States, and the color line seems to be drawn in permanent ink or, perhaps, in blood. Because of this, I always believed I would never go back after my daughters came home from Haiti.
“Talking About Race in Our Blended Family”
A chance conversation in the car almost set our son apart from our family. But what happened brought him closer to me than ever.
“Beating the Odds”
My prison birth could have set me up for a life of failure. But the love of my families has led me to one of resilience and hope.
“The Rhythm of Our Lives”
While looking to connect with our children’s culture, we found the beat of the djembe drum would become a comforting family melody.
[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.
“A Dollhouse Family Just Like Ours”
Buying a dollhouse for my daughter’s third birthday was a cinch. Finding the right family to live in it was a bit more difficult.
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.