There are many articles in the media about transracial adoption. Often times I read some of these articles and feel that they have somehow fallen short of truly capturing the essence of transracial adoption.

This article, titled “My First Lesson in Motherhood”, from the New York Times, is different. I read this article and thought to myself, “that is what it is all about.”

The article tells the story of a young couple who have suffered through infertility and chosen to adopt to get the baby they so strongly desired. The decided... more

There are many useful resources available for learning about transracial adoption and preparing for a transracial adoption. There are articles to read, books to read, informational websites, forums, email groups, blogs and even online adoption classes to take.

All of the... more

Although I would venture to say that not all of us need the reminder, I think that it is important for transracial adoptive parents to think about racism often and to be reminded that it is alive and "well" in our country.

While there has been a lot of positive changes in racial attitudes, stereotypes and racism in society, there is still a long way to go until we can honestly say that we live in a country where all people are treated equal. (If you missed it, here is my post about the school in Georgia who just THIS YEAR had their first integrated prom.)

Here is yet another news... more

For families that choose international transracial adoption, there are many ways to minimize the risks involved. Here are some tips on how to do that.

-As I say over and over on this blog, research, research, research. Make yourself an expert on the adoption program you choose. Know the adoption laws of your state, your country and the laws of the country you are hoping to adopt from. Speak to multiple agencies and compare waiting times, fees, the process for getting a referral, travel requirements, etc. These things can vary greatly!!

-Talk to other parents who have adopted... more

Now that we have looked at some of the benefits of international transracial adoption, I am now going to discuss some of the risks.

-Many adoptive parents worry about the health risks associated with adopting internationally. Many countries that allow Americans to adopt children do not have medical care equivalent to what we have available, and children can and sometimes do come home with significant undiagnosed health concerns. Minor issues, such as lice, scabies, parasites, etc. are also common in international adoptees.

-The actual age of the child can often be unknown, and... more

Since I have recently discussed the benefits and risks of domestic infant adoption and gave tips on reducing your domestic transracial adoption risks, I am now going to talk about the same topics in regards to international transracial adoption. (Please... more

In my last two posts I discussed the benefits and the risks associated with domestic infant transracial adoption.

In this post, I am going to give you some tips to minimize your domestic adoption risks.

-Before choosing to adopt domestically, you should do some real soul-searching and decide honestly if you can handle the emotional risks associated with domestic infant adoption. If you are able to prepare yourself for disappointment while keeping hopeful, and remembering that many... more

I recently wrote about choosing between international and domestic adoption, and shared some of our experiences with both types of transracial adoption.

Deciding what type of adoption is right for your family is not often an easy thing. While some people feel strongly pulled in one direction or the other early on, many are unsure. And I would say that even if you do feel strongly towards one type of adoption, that... more

There was an interesting comment left on this post from Jen, the mom of two boys and one little girl adopted domestically.(Thanks Jen, for commenting!)

You can read the whole comment here, but basically, Jen was sharing her feelings that it makes her uncomfortable when parents will only consider international adoption, because she feels like they are sending the message that there is something wrong with the kids available for adoption in the U.S. She also said that she feels... more

In my last two posts, I have written about two articles courtesy of the Salt Lake Tribune on international and transracial adoption. The first article discussed a variety of topics related to international adoption, including the “search for identity” by adopted children, and the second article was written by an adult adoptee from India who shared her feelings on not “belonging” in either the U.S. or in India.

The article I am going to write about today is from the same series, and is titled, ... more