Adult Asian adoptee curious about Americans adopting Asians?

Question

As a child, I was confused about how I fit in the American culture, of course, because children are so cruel. What steps, as an adopter of an Asian child, do you make to prepare your child for the interracial repercussions?

Answer 1

Kids are cruel.  They pick on other kids, it's a fact of everyone's life.

If it wasn't the fact you're an asian adopted by a white family, it would be something else.

Answer 2

One of our adopted children is South American Indian with a splash of Spanish - like all kids, she ran into some obnoxious kids at school and in the neighborhood over the years, but  the only overt racism we have ever run into is from school administrators

Answer 3

I'm an Asian adult adoptee.  Personally, I can't say I ever experienced the interracial repercussions you're speaking of.  I was adopted by a white family.  One thing I'll say is that it's ok to try and learn about their culture and encourage them to keep roots with that.  They should never feel ashamed of who they are, where they came from or that they look different from you.  The only awkward times I can remember is when we were out of town.  In the small town where I grew up, everyone knew us so we never got odd stares or any weird treatment.  But when we'd travel, I could instantly feel some people looking.  I remember walking through the mall in one town and I held my mom's hand....even as an adult, I sometimes hold her hand...just as a loving gesture.  To me, it's my mom and I don't feel weird about it.  But I soon realized people might think we were some kind of weird L*****n lovers or something since I didn't look like her!  It was then that I realized that I AM different.  

The only word of advice I can give you is to never make her feel ashamed of being adopted.  My parents honored my adoption but at the same time, I wasn't raised with special treatment because I was adopted.  They treated me the same as my 2 brothers who were biological to them.  

Feel free to email me directly if you'd like to discuss further!

Answer 4

For one thing, I live in a multicultural neighborhood, where my kids are not the only Asian kids.

I also make sure we participate in activities with other families who have adopted in China, so they know other kids from families who adopted in China. (This has worked out better with one daughter than with another.)

Answer 5

We are adopting from China.  We are very concerned with helping our child learn more about their culture and feel secure in theirselves.  We have many friends who are chinese and other asian nationalities, my husband and I are trying to learn Mandarin chinese (which is not easy but we are trying), we have joined the local FCC group, we have already found a school that teaches children Mandarin chinese and chinese culture, we attend the local CNY festivities and local dragon boat festival, we read books on chinese culture and adoption in general.  I know all children get teased growing up but we hope to have skills to help our children deal with the issues that arise out of transracial adoption.