In my last two posts I shared some of the truths about race and adoption that I have discovered as a transracial adoptive parent.

Today I want to share some more things that I feel to be true in regards to transracial adoption, however many of these are now my own personal thoughts, beliefs, feelings and ways of looking at things.

- Most transracial adoptive parents are aware of racial issues and are no longer turning a blind eye to them. While I could never say "all" transracial adoptive parents are educated and prepared, I do believe that transracial adoptive parents have learned a lot from the first few generations of transracial adoptees, and I believe most adoptive parents today are much more educated and prepared to raise transracially adopted children.

- Choosing to adopt transracially is not an easy or simple decision, as there are many things to take into consideration. Do I live in an area that will be supportive of a transracial family? How will be extended family and friends react if I adopt transracially? How am I prepared to parent a child of a different race? Am I willing and able to tackle issues of prejudice and racism, and help my children do the same? Can I handle being a highly visible family?

- There will always be people out there who disapprove of your choice to adopt transracially.

- As long as their are millions of children alone in the world, without families, without permanent homes, without access to education, without medical care, without security or hope for a future, and as long as there is only enough adoptive parents for a teeny-tiny percentage of those orphans, I think race should play very little part in deciding what qualifies someone to be a good parent.

As I stated in my previous posts, race is important. It is very important in a lot ways. But there are things (such as love, family and security) that are more important. That doesn't mean that race can be forgotten about as a trade-off for these other things, but it means to me, that even though I am paler than pale, I can be as good of a mom to my Asian and African children as I am to the children I gave birth to.

- All adoptive parents, even transracial adoptive parents, have the right to know in their hearts that they are the best possible parents for their children. I look at my children that were transracially adopted and I know that in a perfect world they would still be with their birth families, and their birth families would be happy, healthy, willing and able to care for them in a loving way. I also know that in a "next best" situation there would have been wonderful adoptive families for them that shared their race, culture and/or country of birth.

However I also know that in the realities of this world we live in, that I am the best mom for these kids. I know that I cannot forget about race or racial issues, but I also have confidence that I can meet my children's emotional and physical needs, and give them the best chance of a happy life filled with the love and support of a family.

Why I support transracial adoption