What parents who adopt want you to know
What parents who adopt want you to know

I am the mother of a 5-year-old daughter who has been part of our family since the moment she was born. We officially adopted her four months later. In addition to becoming a protective, terrified, and proud new mom at her birth, I also became sensitive to the way some people talked about my daughter because I did not give birth to her; assumptions that are made, language that is used. After speaking with other adoptive parents, I learned that our frustrations are similar.

In honor of Adoption Awareness Month, here are some simple DOs and DON’Ts for speaking to parents of adopted children:

DON’T ask questions like, “Do you have any children of your own?” or “Wouldn’t you like a baby of your own?”
This can feel like a stab to the heart for adoptive parents.
Our children, regardless of birth, are our own.

DON’T assume that adoptive mothers are mourning their inability to have a biological child. Some are struggling with that issue, some aren’t. In fact, some parents, like my husband and myself, had a shared dream to adopt so biological children weren’t in our plan.

DO ask parents about what the adoption process was like. Parents who have biological children typically enjoy telling stories of their child’s birth, adoptive parents have their own adventures to tell.

DO understand that questions about an adoptive family’s relationship with the birth parents are personal in nature. Consider whether you know someone well enough to ask such a personal question ahead of time.

2 Comments

  • by

    Mandy

    Posted November 18, 2013 1:01 pm

    Sometimes people don’t know you have adopted and make comments such as: she looks so much like you! Or you look great for just having had a baby! Is that offensive or bothersome? I’m just wondering because I have a friend who had these questions asked of her after she adopted and I’m exaxtly the kind I person who would put my foot in my mouth and say the same thing I I hadn’t known.

  • by Noelle Pomeroy Posted November 18, 2013 2:43 pm

    Mandy!
    Good question:) When people have said my adopted daughter looks like me, it certainly doesn’t offend me. It actually makes me smile. I think reaction to the comment about someone looking great for just having had a baby may be different from person to person. Perhaps the safest bet, that would even be gentle on those with body issues, would be to say “You look great” without adding the “for just having had a baby.”

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