A parent reaches out for help after taunting at school left her daughter feeling shaken to the core and that she doesn’t belong anywhere. An adult adoptee and transracial adoption expert offers advice.
25 Children’s Books That Showcase Diversity
Kids need to be able to find characters who look like them in the books on their shelves. Here are some of our favorites that provide that powerful affirmation.
[BOOK EXCERPT] The Hundred-Year Flood
This poetic novel features a transracial adoptee protagonist as he explores his identity and seeks answers about his past in an unfamiliar city. Accompanying the excerpt is a Q&A with the author, Matthew Salesses.
“My Decision to Adopt Transracially”
I thought. I researched. I talked. But in the end, it took a leap of faith to adopt across racial lines.
“Adopting a White Child Across Racial Lines”
When the social worker brought my new daughter to my house, she wasn’t the African-American girl I was expecting. And so we became a transracial family.
“Inside/Outside”: The Transracial Adoptee Experience
30 years later: A special report on the Korean adoptee experience
Refugee Adoption: A Whole New World for Our Daughters
Although the adoption of refugee children was more complicated than I expected, it has been infinitely rewarding. These children and their past are now part of me.
The Birth of Tradition
Family rituals take on new meaning when we adopt a baby.
Should We Be Color Blind?
Color blindness may not be the best approach for transracial families, explains a transracial parenting expert.
Breaking the Racial Sound Barrier
In a society that considers “color-blindness” a noble attitude, parents may worry about talking about racism, but we must do it. Here’s how.
Responding to “Invisible” Racism
Our society has gotten to the point where most people can agree that overt racism is wrong. Few would argue that segregation or using a racial slur is acceptable. But many more subtle forms of racism persist. Here’s how to combat them.
Ask AF: Talking to Preschoolers About Racism
We’re ready to talk to our child, who is black, about racism before she starts school. What should we say?
Talking About Race and Racism
Racism exists, and it’s our job as parents to talk about it with our kids. Here’s an age-by-age guide to handling those conversations.
Parenting Strategies for Blended Families
When your family includes biological and adopted children, how do you make sure everyone feels included?
“Is My Asian Son a Whiz Kid?”
When my son was five months old, friends predicted he would be a good student — probably a mathematician.
“Bigotry, Blindness, and Basketball”
What started off as a fun day on the courts left my heart hurting for my two brown boys, and the kids who excluded them.
“Slipping into Parenthood”
I bought that stuffed animal — and that book, and that baby hat — in a moment of weakness. But as the wait stretched on, I realized those slip-ups are what kept me going.
“Having ‘the Talk’ with My Black Son”
It’s not easy to teach your child that people may fear him because of the color of his skin—but it’s something parents through transracial adoption must do.
“Joining an African-American Church”
My wife and I were nervous the first Sunday we attended an African-American church. Would they welcome us? Would they stare? We should have had faith.
“The Stages of Waiting”
Are all the bewildering ups and downs I’ve experienced during our wait typical of the international adoption process?