We are trucking along with the paperwork...we've received and sent in to IAC our driving records, local background checks, a gun safety form, and multiple other signed forms. We are starting to tackle the questionnaires that require paragraph answers and our autobiography....which translates to "a lengthy, wordy process."
We attended an Enrichment Session yesterday on adopting transracially - it was very interesting and opened up some of the ways we think and made us consider things we didn't know we should. We've always said that we want to adopt a child of a race outside of ours, but now that it is truly a possibility, we are approaching the concept differently. We are still trying to decide how comfortable we feel with adopting multiple racial combinations. We have to consider all of this since our profile form requires check-offs for each possible racial combination, which determines who our Dear Birthmother Letters go out to. Let's just say that we've had many conversations on how we will enrich the life of our children, regardless of race.
After hearing about three couples' experiences with transracial adoption, the topic turned to hair. We learned that hair is very important and a huge topic among parents with transracial children, especially in the African American culture. It takes education and trialing to get it right, and when you think you've mastered it, the texture changes and you start all over. It was a little intimidating to think that that much time and energy goes into this topic....HAIR!
Haven already seen Good Hair (2009) with Chris Rock and knowing what some African American women do for good hair, it was relieving to hear that it can be approached from an organic and natural way. :)
In case you're interested: a few books that have been recommended or that I came across on transracial adoption include:
In Their Own Voices: Transracial Adoptees Tell Their Stories by Rita J. Simon & Rhonda Roorda
In Their Siblings' Voices: White Non-Adopted Siblings Talk About Their Experiences Being Raised with Black and Biracial Brothers & Sisters by Rita J. Simon & Rhonda Roorda
In Their Parents' Voices: Reflections on Raising Transracial Adoptees by Rita J. Simon & Rhonda Roorda
Baby, We Were Meant for Each Other by Scott Simon
Back to the paperwork!
