There are many wonderful things and challenging things that go along with being an adoptive family.
We did a lot of research about how to talk to our children about our 'extended' family BEFORE we ever knew we had a child! It helped prepare us for this moment.
Our precious children have always known they were adopted - we never kept it a secret and of course we never could have since all 5 of us have different skin color. We are truly a multi-racial family! We think we're really blessed in this fact as all of us bring different experiences and talents to our family!
One thing I found out recently is that one of our children has brothers and sisters. I'm not sure how many, maybe one brother and one sister or more through his biological parents. Honestly, it's weighed on my heart. One thing I've read is that it's easier for children to deal with this information than to spring it on them when they're older. But coming up with the subject wasn't easy to do - I never want my children to hurt and I know this would make my child feel excited and hurt all at once. This particular child internalizes everything and I wanted to help them understand that we were so excited about this and hopefully one day we could meet them and one thing our child needed to realize was that they were loved!
Last night, the opportunity arose and we told our child.
Excitement and sorrow then total lack of interest in talking about this was their reaction!
In fact our children wanted to see pictures we recently took of them playing in the snow. Later our deep thinker child wanted me to hold and sing the song I wrote for them when they were a baby.
Dealing with adoption topics is not always easy and I've learned that I've just got to 'be there' as our kids go through the joys and sorrows that go along with this.
May God bless you today and as you think of our children, please pray for them that they will know that they are loved and cherished by our family around the world who think they are great!
