Emilio returned to Bolivia to meet his new sister — and gained a renewed connection to his birth country.
“Doing Téa’s Hair”
I’d never thought much about hair care. But as the white mother of a black daughter, I learned to braid, twist, clip — and take every opportunity to instill my little girl with pride.
Adoption, Race, and Parenting at Camp
A summer heritage camp that’s all about helping transracial families.
“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.
“Our Canadian-Colombian Family Reunion”
After returning from a trip to my son’s birth country, my heart — and journal — was overflowing.
“No More Monkey Business”
Cake? Check. Invitations? Check. Favors? Check. Acknowledgement of racial injustice…? Choosing a theme for my son’s birthday party involved more than we had anticipated.
“The Rabbi’s Daughter”
She’s two-years old, Jewish, speaks English and Hebrew—and is African American. Who is she? Our daughter, of course!
“Families Without Borders”
To honor their son Tristan’s birth family, a Canadian family initiated a long-distance relationship. Now, they’re taking him to Colombia to meet them.
“My Inconspicuous Family”
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.
“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.
“Why Did You Buy a Foreign Child?”
When an anonymous poster invaded our neighborhood message board, I knew I had to answer back.
“Collecting Children’s Books Carried Me Through the Wait”
How did I fill my time during the wait? By filling a bookcase for our child-to-be.
“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.
“Blood Doesn’t Mean Family”
After reuniting with my birth family and studying in my birth country, I felt closer to my adoptive family than ever.
White Dad, Black Son
In a society that claims to be “color-blind,” we must parent deliberately.
“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.
Adoptees Speak Out About Adoption, Birth Parents, Race, and More
Adolescent adoptees offer first-person wisdom to fellow adoptees.
Classroom Consciousness
Finding the right school for your child is a personal, and sometimes emotional, process — especially when considering diversity and academic excellence.