[midwifemichelle]

Hello everyone!
I would like to ask all **s out there your opinion on transracial adoption. My husband and I would really like to adopt a baby that is AA or biracial. We feel in some instances, these are the babies that are more likely to end up in foster care. We realize that a lot of people, including **s, might be against a caucasian couple adopting transracially. My husband and I would do everything we could to educate our child about his/her culture so that he/she feels connected in every possible way; and of course, we would give him/her all of the love and support that we have. I would greatly appreciate your opinions on this topic. I think it is helpful to hear how you feel so that we can be as respectful and understanding of potential Birth parents that we may come into contact with.

[belkins]

Hello even though I am a caucasian birth mother I think as long as child is loved but not denied his cultural heritage there is nothing wrong with your wishing to adopt a biracial child or african american child, to reassure an african american birth mother or caucasian birthmother having a biracial child you might do some extra research so that you can show how you will be able to help the child grow up to know their culture and heritage. I am 1/2 italian and because of the way my daughter's adoptive parents won't talk to me I have no idea if she will ever know about her italian heritage or anything else to be honest. Also the best thing is with people in general be yourselves, be real people not what you think they want but show your genuine people.

Brandy Bottini-Elkins
Lifemother to Amberlie Jeanette aka Amelia Hurt 6-23-99

[midwifemichelle]

Belkins,
Thank you so much for your encouragement and opinion. I am very sorry to hear that your daughter's birth parents are not communicating well with you. I hope to have the opposite experience with the birth parents of my child. With the research that I have done, I really feel open adoption is the right way to go. Your child deserves to know her heritage. I wish you the best!

[daisie2007]

Hello, i thought i should redply to your post. Iam a Birthmom of a biracial child , who is now 31 years old. A searcher just found him almost 2 weeks ago. He had adopted parents who were good to him, he never wanted for anything. When my Son called me, i was shocked when he said to me did you give me up because im bi racial and i said absolutly not. the thing later that threw me over was when i found he didnt know that the other half was african american. I quickly held my words. he still doesnt know. I guess my point is, i personally think its fine for caucasions to adopt african american children, or any other race of child love has no color chart. But on the other hand i think adoptive parents need to be honest with their adopted child. and they should learn of their heritage. Sorry so long. Good luck god bless

[SchmennaLeigh]

I just recently (last month) placed my biracial child for adoption with a lovely couple. However, one of the main reasons that I picked them (they are caucasian) is because his children from a previous marriage were of a mixed heritage as well. I probably would not have picked a family that had no previous knowledge of how to deal with the issues that come up in mixed race households.

HOWEVER -- and this may help you in the future -- when I was searching for AParents for my Munchkin, I searched by the feature of couples looking for AA or biracial children. Do you know how few couples will accept a biracial child? It is heartbreaking and disturbing. Anyway, simply by stating that you are interested in a biracial child will put you ahead of the list on so many levels.

Best of luck in all you do.