Whenever we go out to new places in our small town (without my husband) it is almost inevitable that I am asked, “are they yours?”

I try not to make a big deal about this in front of my daughters. So far it has not been an issue. My oldest (6 years) is intense, she can be dramatic and her tantrums are U.G.L.Y. She seems to know no bounds when she’s angry. She takes after me.

About a year or so after her little sister was born she decided that I favored her little sis. Of course this is not true, nonetheless it is her belief and when she’s mad she pulls out all the punches trying to engage me.

Tonight she said she knew she was adopted.

I was surprised because we haven’t really talked much about adoption. She knows what it is, there are a couple of adopted kids in her class at school. But it was the context for which she said it, using it like a weapon, thinking it would somehow get me. Indicating that it has somehow gotten her.

I know this affects so many people. Look at what I found tonight surfing around, a clothing line for multi-cultural children! And this blog, the Ungrateful Daughter, talks about her adoptive experience. Where are we at with this as a society? How DO transracially adopted children feel about the “A” word? How can we embrace the “A” word?

When I check in with myself, I too question people’s origins and wonder if they’re adopted… Is there a gracious action/reaction to this larger than life phenomenon? What are your thoughts?