We had just gotten to the FFC/Korean Christmas party and my son was starting to warm up to his surroundings…which means he was starting to run wild in all directions. He had gotten a head start on me, but I wasn’t in a hurry because I saw him go into the Christmas tree room (which only had one door). A Korean gentleman stopped me and asked me how old I was.

At first I was a little shocked and I wasn’t sure what he had asked me. Why in the world would he be asking me how old I am? He must have seen my confusion, because he asked me again. Yep, he really wanted to know how old I was. “Thirty-one,” I told him.

Now, it was his turn to be shocked. He stared at me and said, “You’re a mommy?” Just then, my mini-tornado decided to put in an appearance. “Yes,” I said. “I’m his mommy.” He obviously thought I was much younger (I enjoyed that) and that I was someone’s daughter at the event. This is the second time this year that this has happened. At our adoption agency picnic this summer, a Korean woman thought my son was my brother.

I thought about it for awhile. I wish it is because I look like a teenager, but I really don’t anymore. I’ve always looked younger than I am, but I’m afraid I’m catching up to my age. I really don’t look that much younger anymore. Mostly, I think it’s because Korean adoptees do not seem to be adopting in large numbers. There is genuine surprise when they see an adult Korean at an event and many just assume that I am a teenage adoptee because it fits into the status quo.

I don’t know why more Korean adoptees don’t adopt. I’ll ask and get back to you.

If you would like to comment, but not on this site, please e-mail me at adoptkoreablog@adoptionmail.com.