International Adoptions

I used to think that my adoption was unique because I was adopted from a foreign country. When I was older and read books on adoption and talked to other people, I realized that there are many foreign-born adoptees in America. I can relate to American adoptees with their questions of "Why did she give me up?" And "Just who am I?" and the emotional rollercoaster we are on sometimes.

Foreign adoptees like myself, however, can have more to think about. We experience a loss of cultural identity and may feel like strangers in places that are supposed to be home.
I recently read an article about international adoptions. The author was against them because of the loss of cultural identity. I'm not a psychologist, so I don't know all of the pros and cons. But, I think every situation is different. I was adopted by a predominantly Irish family, but my best friend's family has a German background, so I felt like they were my link to my background. I grew up thinking about things like language and school, things that would be different if I had grown up in Gemany. Would I be a different person? Would I think differently? You can drive yourself crazy if you keep asking these questions.

I don't feel like my adoption by an American couple was a mistake. So many things have happened here that make me stronger and my life richer. I met my soulmate, my wife, KC, here.
I don't discourage international adoptions. But I do encourage adoptive parents to be aware of their child's ethnic background and to encourage and support teir child's need to know.

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