My own family was formed through international adoption. My son is from Vietnam and my daughter is from Ethiopia. I’m pale enough to be mistaken for a vampire and my husband is also white, so people understandably notice how different we look. However, I never could have imagined the things people would say to us until they actually said them.
Adoption is a real and valid way of creating a family, but it’s not simple and it always involves loss for the child. I’d love it if people would stop and think before they speak, especially to my kiddos. Questions like “How much did they cost?” and “Did you get to pick them out?” are better asked: “What is the adoption process like?” But really, unless you’re truly interested in adopting, they’re not necessary. For kids sorting through questions and complicated feelings about adoption, words can hurt.
I’d love it if you’d share these photos to help educate others. You can do that by hitting the Facebook and Twitter buttons below!
