Parents of adopted children when you enroll your child in...?

Question

...school for the first time,do the schools question the ammended birth cert. and you have to explain the child is adopted or do they not ask or notice?Thank you.

Answer 1

Hi, our child also started school this year, but there was no comment from the school about his birth certificate.  However, when we had a meeting with the Principal, our child's adoption was discussed briefly as the subject fitted in the context of the conversation.  As we are relatively open about our child's adoption, the subject just came about as part of the natural flow of conversation.  Nothing deep was said about it, just basically small talk.  The Principal handled the conversation wonderfully as he never really probed us about it, just waited until we volunteered information.   Like I said, it was very brief as we had lots of other important topics to discuss like curriculum, uniforms, school policy etc.  

We are very open with our children as far as the topic of their adoption goes, but we obviously do not announce it to people we just met.  Anyway my child know's about his adoption but at his age, it is not an interesting enough topic for him to talk about.  Therefore we want to be sensitive and also leave some things for him when he is ready to talk about his adoption, in his own way to people.  I'd hate to be open about so many things to find out later that he didnt want me to discuss that with anyone.  Let your child have the opportunity to reveal what he wants to reveal in his own time.  

That's why my advice is, if they don't ask, don't explain.  But if they do ask, just say it matter of factly, as sometimes that may be the end of it.  Anyway, I don't think they would ask unless their curiousity gets the better of them.  Hope that helps.

Answer 2

We don't have to explain that our kids are adopted because people assume that when they look at us.  For our daughter from Ethiopia, they didn't ask for a birth certificate, figuring that we didn't have one.  About a month later the state issued us one and we sent that in.  The school was much more interested in the immunization records, because the health department comes in and checks those.

Answer 3

Just give them the birth certificate that you have in your possession. :)

Answer 4

My birth certificate has no clues on it to indicate I was adopted except for the filing date.  Nobody ever noticed or questioned mine but that's probably because it looked kinda weird  to them anyway because I'm American but went to School in England

Some adoptees certificates were filed so late that they are not accepted for things like obtaining passports

Answer 5

The amended BC looks just like a normal BC.

I told the school that my son was adopted, because our adoption is open, and his mom often picks him up if we cannot.

Answer 6

Never had a problem with that

Answer 7

I don't remember ever having to show anyone my daughter's birth certificate.



The only thing required was a current immunization record and other paperwork completed by me.

Answer 8

i think they probably see enough that they don't question it - kind of like doctors who understand their patient is adopted without medical history.

Answer 9

No one ever noticed my amended birth certificate until I was 16 years old applying for my first passport.  The passport clerk asked why my birth certificate was filed almost a year after my birth.  He disappeared into an office for a while, but 20 minutes later came out and said that everything was in order.  I still don't know what all that was about.

I do remember that most school enrollment forms asked for the names of parents and had boxes to check to explain the relationship of the adult to the child...I always marked the OTHER box...just for fun and to make people wonder what the other could possibly be.

Answer 10

They never questioned the birth certificate.  I did not tell that my child was adopted.  

It might be a different story with our other daughter since she came into our family at almost the age of two.  

They asked alot of infant questions like was the baby breast or bottle fed and when the child first sat up.  That kinda stuff.  It will be unknown for this daughter so it will stand out more.  I hope i helped.

Answer 11

My amom used to go in every year and tell my teachers *embarrassing* and tell them not to make me do any projects on my family because I wouldnt be able to.

I remember in grade 5 we had one of those projects and my butt wipe of a teacher made a big announcement in front of the class that I didnt have to do the project because I was adopted & wouldnt know anything to do it.

Please if you have adopted children, don't do this to them. It was horrifying to me.