Difficulties that Come with Adoption

Adapting to Adoption

Do you tell your child the truth?

Everyone agrees that children need honest answers about their adoption situation. You may be required to help them understand why their biological parents gave them up for adoption. Try hard to preserve your child�s self-esteem by explaining to them that their birth parents could not,�raise you the way you deserved, so they decided to put you in a family that could give you everything you need.�

When your child points out that you don�t look alike acknowledge that fact and ask how they feel about it. Kids ask different questions at different times in their development. Asking the child how they feel will help you gain insight and understand why they asked the question.

Handling Bias and Prejudice-

When children are seen as different, because of their family life, the tone of their skin or the slant of their eyes, can be forced to deal with bullying. You are your child�s first line of protection. Bullying needs to be dealt with straight away by intervening with teachers and other families. Children shouldn�t have to suffer bullying.

You might want to consider asking your child�s teacher or the principal if you can teach about all of the different ways that families are formed. The best time to do this is in November because it�s National Adoption Month. The kids will learn that adoption is simply one way that a family comes together, just like how two divorcees join their families or going to live at Grandpa�s house.

If yours is a child of color and/or a child from another country, teach his or her classmates about that culture so that your child is viewed as interesting and cool rather than different.

Rebellion-

Your child may feel angry about being given up for adoption, anger at you for adopting him or her, anger at everyone else because he must deal with special challenges that they don�t face. Even though every situation is different, you should understand and respect that anger and, most of all, to not take it personally.

Experience the Joy-

You may have special challenges but you also experience the joy of knowing that you chose to make a family with your child. Discover other adoptive families in your community to friendship. You will find that they�re just a little bit extra special because of the steeper path that they chose to climb to create their families and they cherish those families all the more for all the extra effort it took to come together.

NOTE: Use of this article requires links to be intact

Comments? Questions? Email Here

© HowtoAdvice.com

How to Advice .com