[cathvash]

I was blindsided with the "family tree" thing last week (she JUST started kindergarten! -Who would have thought?) Alex knows she is adopted and discusses it openly. However, we made the family tree based upon my family. I did this because I wanted her to know in no uncertain terms, that she is a fully valid and valued member of THIS family, and that that this is OUR family tree. I also wanted to protect her from prying or awkward questions about her less-than-pretty birth family situation.

Frankly, I found it more awkward that I did not have a "husband's" side of the tree, and had to leave that side blank... Surely, there are long-divorced, meshed family, or other adoptive or single parents in the class in the same boat. If anyone is shocked, they need to get a dose of reality...

For baby pictures, I will just include the "toddler" pictures of my kids - no explanations. To me (and many others) those ARE baby pictures. If they specify "birth" pictures, I may have to lecture them about being insensitive... In fact, you guys with older children have me thinking that if I get a whiff of this assignment in the future, I'll recommend a re-wording to a "picture from when you joined your family".

OOOoooooh - You guys are scaring me! My little one newly home is definitely showing those same "Survivor skills"!! He is incredibly feisty (but cute as a button, this one)... Sounds like a new thread in the making...