The truth is that there is no single way that you should celebrate Arrival Days (or whatever you want to call them). The more accurate title for this post should have been “How to decide how your families want to celebrate Arrival Day”. However, I don’t think that would have fit.

Do you want a huge celebration like in Anne Tyler’s book Digging to America? Do you want to keep it as a small family event? Do you want to celebrate the day at all?

Each way is valid. This year, we’re going to be throwing my son a kid party in September or October. His birthday... more

Korean Adoptee – Denmark This site isn’t a blog, but it is a website set up by a Korean adoptee from Denmark. I wish that there was more of a blog attached to it because I think I would find her ideas fascinating. This site takes you through parts of her life and introduces her family. It gives you a glimpse at her reunion with her Korean family and how she has embraced Korean culture.

Third Mom I don’t even have to look at ... more

Third Mom has done it again. She’s made me think. There are some days where I just don’t think it’s possible for my brain to take in any more data and then wham…it hits me. Anyhow, Third Mom has one of her “open mike” posts up asking which ones is better – adoption or orphanage.

My knee jerk reaction was to respond “of course adoption is better” and I had to force myself not to furiously attack the keyboard. I had to remember that what I feel does not always make it the better option. I am comfortable with my adoption... more

While there seems to be an adoption agency (reputable and un-reputable) every time I turn a corner, there are not nearly as many who have a Korean Adoption program. So, you have to go out and search for them. Here are a couple of ways to find an agency:

1. Word of Mouth – Do you know someone, who knows someone, who knows someone? Did an aunt, cousin, or neighbor adopt from Korea? What agency did they go through? We found our agency because (at that time) the director of the Korean program was my sister’s social worker. Because I trusted her, I trusted the agency. My second choice was the agency that my sister came through.

2. Internet – There are several sites that have... more

May 25th will be my last day blogging for adoptionblogs.com. I’m a little sad about that. I’ve been blogging here for one year and three months, but I needed to move on. Writing here has really helped to open my eyes to Korean adoption because it has forced me to branch out and explore new areas. Comments from readers have led me to new areas and new opinions.

It serves as a reminder that Korean adoption as a whole is a huge concept. You have to look at all sides – birth parents, adoptive parents, and adoptees – and realize that you just can’t know everything. The more egotistical side of me has often assumed that I know more than the average bear about Korean adoption – after... more

Today is Children’s Day in Korea. My family and I spent the day at a Korean picnic that was hosted by a Korean church near where we live. I am constantly grateful for the support that the Korean American community in Michigan gives the adoption community. They are open, friendly and they go out of their way to help ensure that our children are exposed to other Korean people.

I had more fun this year at the picnic. I think it’s because my son was... more

I have always enjoyed school. Even when it wasn’t “cool” to enjoy school, I really enjoyed school. I liked learning new things and the times I rebelled the most in school was when I had a teacher who really didn’t like to teach.

Anyhow, when I saw an article about a Korean adoptee who received a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to Hong Kong, I was pretty excited. According to the article, this is the first time that Laura Brymer will be in the area since she came... more

On my post, Transracial Adoption Video, someone asked a question in the comments. What is the right kind of exposure and when is it enough exposure? I’m back to my time honored answer of “I wish I knew the answer.” I’ve said in many of my past posts that I wish I knew where to find the manual, but the ultimate problem is always going to be that it depends on the adoptee.

I did not grow up in an area that had a Korean community. In fact, where I grew up there was no minority community at all. So, my parents had to import their information in the form of books (mostly because I loved... more

The message boards are full of people who are waiting for their first homestudy visit and they are scared out of their minds. Should they make cookies? Did they get all the dust bunnies out from under the bed? I can understand the feeling. Truthfully, when we were getting ready for the homestudy for our son, I wasn’t worried much at all. I’ve written before, though, that I was terrified during my sister’s homestudy. I was so sure that I had to be the perfect child that I was making myself sick.

If you are getting ready for a homestudy and you already have another child or children, it is important that you make sure they are prepared for the process too. Though the homestudy... more

Over on the Anti-Racist Parent blog, there is a short video about transracial adoption and one of the main interviewees is a Korean adoptee. I found it very interesting because it’s talking a lot about racial identity. It gives the view point of an adoptee and the view point of the adoptive parents.

There is a lot stress on the fact that parents need to make sure they are exposing their children to the culture of their birth (no matter what that culture is). What I really agreed with is that it they mention that it goes beyond an occasional adoptee picnic or a couple... more