5 Things Adoptees Need to Hear from Absolutely Everyone
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One of the things people consistently ask me is, "I have a family member who doesn't understand my adopted loved one, how can I help them understand?" There are many ways to respond. I could refer them to information on adoption history. I could make them aware of adoption statistics that dispel stereotypes. I could send them links on adoption trauma theories or identity theories. I could reference memoirs of other adoptees that prove any given adoptee isn't alone in how they feel. Yet I still need to ask myself, "how helpful is this to the individual and their individual situation?" Books, research, and narratives are vital components of understanding the adoption experience--especially for those who are not adopted. There are common adoption-related thoughts, feelings, and experiences among adoptees. However, how these things intersect in an adoptee's story differ because every story is different. When we talk about making interpersonal re