Monday, August 30, 2010

An Adoptive Mom's Letter for First Mom's

My friend Leceta wrote this about 13/14 years ago. This is good stuff.

http://www.comeunity.com/adoption/adopt/birthmothers.html

Saturday, August 28, 2010

A Good Watch...

Another good resource for transracial adoptive parents is the documentary entitled, Las Hijas. Adult adoptees from Colombia are interviewed. It gives a good feel for what it's like to be Latina (they are all women in film) in a white society.

http://www.big-ox-media.com/lashijas/

You can order it at the link above, or if you're local, you can borrow it from me.

Have a great weekend!

Friday, August 27, 2010

Changes...

You might notice a few changes around here...first off, my blog list is changing. I'm adding many new blogs and dropping a few old ones. The new ones reflect my changing interests in adoption, mainly adoption ethics, adoptee voices, and transracial adoption.

In addition, I'm changing up some of terms I used to use. We will no longer celebrate "gotcha day" in our home. The term is a bit offensive, our children aren't things to be gathered and kept (gotten), after all. So, now we'll celebrate Jacob's Day, Sara's Day and Tessa's day.


I am an adoptive mom work in progress. I am always reading and learning and trying my hardest to do everything I can to be the best mom I can to my three amazing kids. I'm currently reading, "Outsiders Within, Writing on Transracial Adoption." And, I just finished, "Inside Transracial Adoption." Both books are very good, and if you're a transracial adoptive parent, I urge you to read these books.

I have so much more to learn, but I feel like I have come a long way. I have learned a lot from my social work classes and other blogs from adoptive parents and transracial adoptees. I will continue to read, read, read and absorb all I can. I owe it to my kids.

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Adoption Loss

Sometimes, it's incredibly easy for us as adoptive parents to glorify adoption and all that it is. But the reality is, adoption is an act created from a very, very difficult circumstance. Our children have suffered a great loss, one that no amount of bandaids, ointment, hugs or kisses can heal.

Sometimes, love is NOT enough.

I've been reading a blog of a young woman adopted from Taiwan. She has searched and found her first family in Taiwan and spent three months overseas with them. She loves her adoptive family, but writes a blog to help adoptive parents understand her perspective.

I'll warn you, parts of it are hard to read. But I think we owe it to our children to open our minds to some of the darker aspects of adoption.

Here's the blog:
http://sisterheping.wordpress.com/


Please read it, and let me know what you think. I'd love to dialogue more with adoptive parents about this.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

One Year Ago...



One year ago my life changed for the better. One year ago our family grew by one big heart. One year ago the little soul I never knew was missing from my life was placed into my arms...she grabbed a hold of my heart and I hope she never lets go.

I feel so blessed. Three amazing kids. Three amazing personalities. Three beautiful faces. I am blessed.

Tessa Mei has put the icing on the cake, the cherry on top of what was already a very good life. We all adore her and can't wait to see what tomorrow brings. She is a gift, a Godsend, a true angel from above. We love you Tessa...happy Tessa day.