I have been writing a lot lately about “transracial adoption barriers”…the big, often intimidating issues that can prevent people from adopting, and can cause a lot of concern to those who do choose to adopt.

To lighten the mood and create some balance, I wanted to spend some time now celebrating the wonderful things about transracial adoption (although I am sure there will be more “adoption barrier" posts in the future as well). It is important to remember that adoption is not all wonderful, happy-happy and perfect, and neither is it all stress, big issues, ethical dilemmas, etc. It is naïve to think that adoption is all happiness, and it is equally one-sided to think that it is all bad, too difficult or complicated to be good.

The reality is that when a transracial adoption is done in the best interest of the child, meaning it is the last resort for that child…there are no family members who can care for the child or no members of their race/culture/country that are able and willing to care for the child…it can be a beautiful thing.

When a transracial adoption is chosen by adoptive parents who are educated on the issues involved, willing and prepared to take those issues on and committed to doing all that they can to build a healthy racial identity in their child and to making a multiracial family work…it can be a beautiful thing.

When a child that is alone in this life, joins parents who have a true desire to love, parents, nurture and raise that child…it can be a beautiful thing.

When a family is formed, or redefined, through transracial adoption, and love becomes a stronger bond than blood or merely looking alike…it can be a beautiful thing.

There are many wonderful and beautiful aspects of transracial adoption and I am looking forward to writing about them and celebrating them with you.

For some more uplifting adoption reading you can check out...

Adoption Joys from the Adoptive Parenting Blog

Happy Family posts from the International Adoption Blog

Love Thursday posts from the Older Parent Adoption Blog