Comments on: Oh yeah! Another quote! http://www.thiswomanswork.com/adoption/oh-yeah-another-quote/ writing, mothering, writing about mothering Mon, 12 May 2008 10:36:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Michelle http://www.thiswomanswork.com/adoption/oh-yeah-another-quote/#comment-8022 Michelle Sun, 30 Mar 2008 14:21:22 +0000 http://www.thiswomanswork.com/2008/03/28/oh-yeah-another-quote/#comment-8022 Adoptees have been saying this for years. If adoptive parents adopted children with the understanding that an adopted person will most likely, from the minute they learn that the parents who are raising them are not their real parents - and that they will be on a life-long mental and physical journey to find their way home, then the concept of learning the adoptee's birth- country language would make sense. It amazes me how conferences still have to educate people about adopted persons needing to know who they are and where they come from. Adoptees are human and have the same needs as everyone else....really, it's true! Adoptees have been saying this for years. If adoptive parents adopted children with the understanding that an adopted person will most likely, from the minute they learn that the parents who are raising them are not their real parents - and that they will be on a life-long mental and physical journey to find their way home, then the concept of learning the adoptee’s birth- country language would make sense.

It amazes me how conferences still have to educate people about adopted persons needing to know who they are and where they come from. Adoptees are human and have the same needs as everyone else….really, it’s true!

]]> By: Nicole http://www.thiswomanswork.com/adoption/oh-yeah-another-quote/#comment-8007 Nicole Sat, 29 Mar 2008 17:32:42 +0000 http://www.thiswomanswork.com/2008/03/28/oh-yeah-another-quote/#comment-8007 Read that quote and loved it. Rather puts things in perspective. Read that quote and loved it. Rather puts things in perspective.

]]> By: Jenna http://www.thiswomanswork.com/adoption/oh-yeah-another-quote/#comment-8003 Jenna Sat, 29 Mar 2008 12:22:00 +0000 http://www.thiswomanswork.com/2008/03/28/oh-yeah-another-quote/#comment-8003 Very interesting. I just brought this up with Husband Man (referring specifically to language) and he nodded his head and said a few words on why he agreed. Normally he is quite quiet on my adoption ramblings. So, apparently this hits home even with him! That said: regarding the comment above that languages are hard to learn. Eh. <em>Some</em> languages are hard to learn for <em>some</em> people. I? Pick up languages very quickly. I think it might be my love of words. God knows I'm wordy. While I think learning the language of the chosen country might be difficult for some parents (as, true, adults do have a harder time learning new languages than children), simply taking the step to TRY would speak volumes, no? To share that little piece of your child's history? Very interesting. My mind is working far too hard for 8:21am with only half a cup of coffee ingested. Very interesting. I just brought this up with Husband Man (referring specifically to language) and he nodded his head and said a few words on why he agreed. Normally he is quite quiet on my adoption ramblings. So, apparently this hits home even with him!

That said: regarding the comment above that languages are hard to learn. Eh. Some languages are hard to learn for some people. I? Pick up languages very quickly. I think it might be my love of words. God knows I’m wordy. While I think learning the language of the chosen country might be difficult for some parents (as, true, adults do have a harder time learning new languages than children), simply taking the step to TRY would speak volumes, no? To share that little piece of your child’s history?

Very interesting. My mind is working far too hard for 8:21am with only half a cup of coffee ingested.

]]> By: Dawn http://www.thiswomanswork.com/adoption/oh-yeah-another-quote/#comment-7984 Dawn Fri, 28 Mar 2008 23:12:44 +0000 http://www.thiswomanswork.com/2008/03/28/oh-yeah-another-quote/#comment-7984 Andrea, I think Sharon was speaking in the context of adoptive parents not being willing to make the same concessions that we commonly ask of our kids. As the white parent to a child of African descent living in a predominantly white community, I gotta say the criticism hits home for me, too. And it's the kind of critical thinking I need to apply to my own life. Andrea, I think Sharon was speaking in the context of adoptive parents not being willing to make the same concessions that we commonly ask of our kids. As the white parent to a child of African descent living in a predominantly white community, I gotta say the criticism hits home for me, too. And it’s the kind of critical thinking I need to apply to my own life.

]]> By: Brooklyn Mama http://www.thiswomanswork.com/adoption/oh-yeah-another-quote/#comment-7982 Brooklyn Mama Fri, 28 Mar 2008 23:10:14 +0000 http://www.thiswomanswork.com/2008/03/28/oh-yeah-another-quote/#comment-7982 Oh, man. Of course (of course?) I can't speak fluent Mandarin, but it is my ardent desire to learn - especially after our latest trip to China, when I so wished so so so so so so so many times to be able to speak with people involved in my daughters' early lives, and just to chat with many people we encountered. I'm trying. That's all I can do for now. But believe me, the desire is there. Oh, man. Of course (of course?) I can’t speak fluent Mandarin, but it is my ardent desire to learn - especially after our latest trip to China, when I so wished so so so so so so so many times to be able to speak with people involved in my daughters’ early lives, and just to chat with many people we encountered. I’m trying. That’s all I can do for now. But believe me, the desire is there.

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