When you and your child don’t look alike, the world wants to know why. Parents who adopted transracially share how they explain strangers’ questions and comments to their children.
Summer Heritage Guide: If You Have a Weekend or Less
Great heritage ideas that dont require plane ticketsor even a full tank of gas.
[Book Excerpt]: Lucky Girl
In this excerpt from her memoir, Lucky Girl, Meiling Hopgood describes her initial rejection of “looking Asian” growing up in mostly-White rural Michigan, and how she learned to embrace her Chinese heritage.
Dolls and Toys for Our Families
We asked readers, “Have you found any dolls or other toys that reflect your child’s race and/or birth culture that you would specifically recommend?” Here are the top picks.
“Loving My Daughter, A Country Apart”
I didn’t travel to meet my new daughter. But nothing could stop me from becoming Maura’s mommy.
“Did You Want to Keep Me?”
Faced with a young daughter’s despair, a mother realizes her child must reconnect with the past.
Share Your Story: Adopting a Child of a Different Race
We asked AF readers to tell us about their experiences with transracial adoption.
“Teaching My Son to Protect Himself in a Racist World”
As parents, we live in constant tension: How thoroughly should we prepare our kids for the ugliness that exists in the world? For my son’s safety, I can’t afford to be vague when it comes to racism.
“Families Like Us”
My wife and I may not match our kids, but we found a group where we all fit in.
Share Your Story: Transracial Parenting
We asked readers what tips, resources, experiences they had to say about transracial parenting. Here, we share their responses.
Building Your Child’s Sense of Self-Worth
Families that expand their worlds to incorporate all kinds of cultures help their children develop strong racial identities.
Three Stories: Unexpected Birth Family Reunions
Today, as more and more adoptees reach adulthood, they are finding birth relatives-or are being found by them. Whether a child is from the U.S., Guatemala, Russia, or China, she may one day be in touch with her first family. These stories, each detailing an unexpected family reunion, may well reflect the complexity of what is ahead.
Ask AF: Four-Year-Old Expressing Negativity About Her Skin Color
The mother of a preschooler shares her concern about negative comments her daughter has been making about her skin color. Parents who have been there offer advice.
When Shady Neighbors Come to Call
When potential neighbors were looking at the house for sale next door, this mom of a biracial child mas mainly worried they wouldn’t be friendly or would paint their house purple — until race came up.
How Will We Teach Our Child About Her Culture?
Even after twenty years, adoptive families are still grappling with some of the same issues and questions about raising their children in an interracial family.
Hosting an Exchange Student
Yuka didnt teach us Chinese language, traditions, or cooking. What she did provide, however, was an excellent role model.
Music, Food, and Love!
One foster-turned-adoptive-mother shares how cooking brings her family together.
“Is That Your Family?”
By now, you and your teen have established a firm family bond. But outsiders may not see it that way.
“On Choosing, or Changing, Schools”
As I weighed diversity, academics, and other factors when choosing schools for my transracially adopted children, I perpetually second-guessed myself. But now that my kids are teens, I’m ready to trust their decisions.
“Adopting From Russia…Again?”
One thing led to another, and we became—unexpectedly—twice blessed.