We haven't done this for a while, so I thought I'd call for a show of hands. Whether you're a new reader, or have been hanging around for a while, tell us about yourself. Where are you? Where does your interest in adoption, if any, come from? What would you most like to read about here?
I'll be VERY disappointed if we don't get at least 50 comments on this one!
Adoption Initiative Conference 2022
2 years ago
48 comments:
Hi! I'm a newish reader, and just dipping my foot into the adoption pool. My husband and I are currently interviewing adoption agencies, and reading all that we can about domestic adoption. So, I'm looking to learn about the experiences of others in building families through adoption.
Hi there! I've been reading since winter 2008 when I took your adoption law class! I love adoption law and it's always nice to hear the different perspectives offered by your posts/articles. I'm a CASA and I'd be interested in hearing more from adoptees that were older when they were adopted (think tweens or teenagers) or from involuntary TPR situations.
Hey,
I've been reading since your time living in China. I love your posts on reform, issues relating to the kids as Asian Americans, relating to being a TRA, and the increasing awareness for the need of openness in international adoption.
It is only through voices such as yours (and ours as AP's) that change will be made. Keep up the good work!
I've been reading for a while now. We have a 3 year old bio son and recently adopted our 2.5 year old son from South Korea. I like to hear about all aspects of adoption--I appreciate the news articles that you find and share with us!
Hi Malinda! I took Women and the Law and I think maybe Crim Pro from you way back in 2000-01...and then we decided to adopt from China, adopted from Vietnam in the interim and are STILL waiting for our child in China (LID 5-06). Much love to you and the girls :)
Newish reader. Mama to two girls from China ages 7 & 4. Currently living in Indonesia. I'm also 'researching a book' on international adoption as a cover for my obsessive reading everything I can find about adoption and writing endlessly about it.
Hi, I'm new! I subscribed because I've wanted to adopt since high school, and I'm finally in the phase of my life to make that dream a reality. I want to learn about people's adoption experiences (from all sides), and hopefully gain some wisdom that will help me navigate these waters better and more intentionally...
I've been following a few months now. My wife and I have 4 boys (22, 19, 7, 6) the youngest two are adopted from China (SN) in '05 & '07 respectively.
Issues I am interested in include attachment, trans-racial family, multi-culturalism, birth-family searches... pretty much the stuff you cover.
Of course, gratuitous cute kid pictures are always enjoyed.
Hi Malinda! I'm an old regular reader and my interest is mostly keeping up with you and your girls and learning a thing or two about being a good parent, about adoption, and about other social issues in the process. I've said it before--you are a wonderful writing and your blog is terrific. I have two kids, neither adopted, and they are big, almost-grown-ups now. I am currently in Amman, Jordan, but will be back in Texas soon (oh--but then I'm leaving again). I am glad you have this blog so I can hear from you every day (even when e-mail is down). clf
Yes it's me, "Dan Dan's" mom, or Mia as she is called now ! I am still here and have been reading ever since you "visited" my girl in the Guiping SWI back in '07 :) I love the articles you find, I love hearing about the issues and feelings of your girls, as they are a few years ahead of Mia. And I still think your an "angel" !
I'm a fairly long-time reader ... since the Xiamen Adventure days. You grabbed me with your stories of life in China (something we hope to do sometime). Now you grab me with your great posts, leading me to resources I don't think I ever would have found on my own. Thanks for all the research you do for us! As for areas of interest, I find it all fascinating!
I'm the single mom of a 10-year-old, adopted from China at 9 months.
Lee in Canada
Hi Malinda!
I've been reading your blog for a few months now. My husband and I are currently waiting on our referral for a baby boy/girl from Korea. We're very excited but there are a lot of unknowns. I've enjoyed reading your blog as it gives a lot of information about talking with your children about their story. A lot of the blogs I'm reading deal with families who still have young babies, so it's nice to read a blog from someone who has older children and to learn how those children perceive themselves and the world around them. THANK YOU for writing this blog!
I've been reading for a while, maybe a year or more. I'm mother to two kids adopted from China, ages 4 and 2.5. We spent three months in Beijing last fall and hope to go back.
I'm interested in real-life stories of talking with kids about adoption. I'm also interested in ethical issues around adoption.
Our blog is www.manylives.ca.
I first found you when you were living in China, as we have an interest in doing so in the future. I like the topics you raise and your writing. We have one daughter, 6, who was born in China. We're making a visit back there in just a few short weeks!
Hi Malinda,
I am a mum to a DD adopted from Hunan in 06, I have been reading for a while now, think I found you through the original Heping blog (Mei Ling)
I love this blog, it is very thought provoking!
Meadow
Hello!
I enjoy this blog very much. Also newish reader, thank you for opening my eyes about so many issues related to adoption.
Also I enjoy hearing your daughters perspectives and their occasional blog entries. Thanks for all the links to other sites as well, very educational.
Adopted my son(SN) in '08. So many girls are adopted from China but is changing somewhat - how will our little boys be affected? Also with my little one already "different" and his SN affects his appearance and other little ones are starting to make comments.
Thanks for the site.
Jill C
I am a closed era adoptee who has been reading your blog for many months now. I find it refreshing and comforting to see the growth in understanding of adoption and the impact on the adoptee.
I appreciate that you speak for reform and do not shy away from the dark sides of adoption and instead create an opening for dialogue to will promote change. One voice does make a difference.
Newish reader, first comment. Just turning in our application packet for a domestic infant adoption program today. Thank you for the insightful articles!
Hi Malinda, it's me. I think you know I'm always here. One thing I particularly enjoy is hearing about the differences between your two girls' reactions to adoption topics. I think it's important for adoptive parents to realize that it's not always parenting that creates reactions... and those posts really highlight that for many.
I am a newer reader. We adopted our 1 year old son in 2009 from Taiwan and also gained a love of blogs in the process.
Stealing this!
I don't know why it took me so long to find you but I'm glad I did!!
hi there! I'm Kelly, been reading for about 6 months. I have a special-needs cousin who was adopted from the foster care system, and my experience with her draws me to domestic and interantional adoption in my future.
Hi, I've been reading for awhile, our daughter was adopted from China 3 yrs ago. I enjoy your posts very much and have learned a lot.
Liz in Ohio
I've been reading at least a year. I'm doing the domestic foster/adoption thing, but find your law background and your insights into your daughters' differing experiences and responses fascinating.
I'm a fairly new reader. Found your blog through Google reader or another blog. I can't recall. My husband and I adopted our daughter from China in August 2008. She is nearly 2.5 years old now. I'm interested in reading about other people's experiences with adoption and learning more about how to talk about adoption with kids. I also find the links to various different news articles about adoption very helpful. Thanks for the great blog!
As the adoptive mom to two children born in Guatemala--almost 8 and 5--I found your blog a few months ago when my google search turned it up. (you'd mentioned Guatemala's foster care system) Your blog is so good, I've been reading ever since.
I've been reading for probably a little over a year. I met you through the FCC-North Texas and even came to a 4th of July Parade at your house several years ago. We have two bio boys ages 13 and 9, and a 7 y.o. girl adopted from China.
Mary Ellen, been reading for a year or so. Have a 10 yo son adopted from Korea and an 8 yo son. Have no contact with son's first family in Korea but are working on this. Love your blog, check it daily!
I have been reading your blog a little over year now and I love the intellectual discussion aspect of your posts. Originally I found your blog through the China Adoption Library yahoo group.
Taking a risk to talk about controversial aspects of adoption brings me back to your blog day after day. I also love reading your posts about conversations you have with your girls. My daughter is 4.5 and just starting to talk about her birthparents and life in China, having your candid writing helps me navigate what comes next.
I appreciate your links to articles, research, book and film reviews, and other blogs as well as your inclusion of the whole adoption triad. I have learned so much from first-moms, adult adoptees and APs and I am very grateful for all of their insight.
Dawn
Hey there!
I've been reading for about six months now. I have a 10 year old (bio) son, and an (almost - on Tuesday!) 4 year old daughter adopted from Jiangsu two years ago through the SN program.
I appreciate both your topics and your prolific blogging. I really love that I can come here almost every day (sometimes more than once!) and know that I will have something to think about when I'm done reading. In fact, I find that my friend and co-worker, (who is also an adoptive mother of two girls from China and a reader of yours)and I find ourselves discussing your links and writing all the time.
Thanks for doing the hard work that keeps people thinking!
I'll try again. I don't know what happened to my other answer to your "roll call". I've been reading since before you went to China. I have a wonderful granddaughter from China. Your blog is enjoyable, informative and interesting. I am addicted to reading it and check in every day. I love the stories about and from your cute little girls.
Ann
I am a fairly new reader, been reading your blog about 6 months! I have a daughter waiting for me in Xi'an, and we are hoping to bring her home this summer. She turned two last week! I found this blog while I was searching for information on attachment.
Keep up the good work!
I have been reading since your first entry in the "journey to Zoe" blog. It was such an excititng time. And of course I read the first entry in the "Journey to Maya" one. I especially waited for the first entry in your China adventure, and that is what kept Grandpa and Mimi to feel less lonely while you 3 where in China since we were able to keep in touch though Skype.
Keep up tje good work.
Mimifrancoise
I have a son adopted from Russia and a daughter adopted from the US. Was LID for China 1/2007 but dropped out when our SW called us 2 years ago regarding domestic adoption and so glad we did, as we'd still be waiting with the very real possibility that we'd not have a second child.
I love your blog, follow it avidly and agree with you most of the time! I have had all 3 members of the adoption triad in my family/group of friends for years before I became an adoptive mom, so I approached adoption from that perspective, and I am constantly reading and researching all perspectives, and I feel that your blog captures all sides very well.
Malinda,
I've been reading for a while, and we're Facebook friends too. Speaking of, since I joined FB, I have been a terrible blogger. We brought our daughter home from China three years ago. Let me know if you don't have my updated blog username and password. I'd be happy to share it!
Lee
lee
hello :) i've been reading for about a year. i spent 5 years in asia, mainly viet nam, working in development: had a decent exposure to the adoption systems, orphanages - even for a while there supervised the DNA tests on relinquishing mothers and their children for the US government. i'm torn - torn - two ways with international adoption: one side being the need to get children out of very bad conditions (and make no bones about it, the systematic care systems in the developing world are - for the most part - pretty brutal); vs the pull factors that the international adoption market creates.
I recently returned to "the west" to go to law school; the intention is to get back to asia post haste :) Planning on adopting locally - but that's going to mean in the country or origin and taking the child abroad; or in the country we're living in, and taking abroad. I'm in a mixed race relationship; our intention (more or less) is to adopt from outside either of our racial groups.
Very interested in the mechanics of citizenship law and int. adoption; rights/responsibilities; older child international adoption.
Best - and thanks for an enjoyable, informative blog.
caroline
Present, Number 38. Mom X 2, the first by adoption. I have been reading for about a year and a half, as I recall.
Thank you for the information provided on your blog. I'd like to hear of any birth parent searching (China) in progress or achieved. But, then again, I think if you got such a story you'd post it. That's why I love this blog!
HI Im a regular reader from Australia. I am a lawyer with a daughter adopted from Ethopia. I enjoy your blog's mix of news, family annecdotes and commentary.
My husband and I are adoptive parents to our two wonderful sons from Guatemala. I love the variety of your posts and the effort you clearly spend staying on top of adoption issues. It is much appreciated!
I am also a new reader to this site (today). I 'm lurking and reading primarily because I have a daughter adopted from China in 2001. While I felt fully prepared for the types of questions she asked when she was younger, her more recent questions are more intensely directed at the "why" and there seems a sadness about her face when we discuss her birth mother(she denies this, of course). So, I am here reading and reading and hoping I have a better answer tomorrow than I do today.
Hi Malinda,
I've been a reader for almost a year. We have two daughters from China, 7 years and 18 months. I've enjoyed reading how you keep the conversations about adoption, race, culture, etc. going with your two daughters. I've learned alot. Thanks, Kris
HI! My name is Kris. I am the mother of 4 - one who is adopted from Russia. I just found your blog recently. Since finding my daughter's birth family I have had conflicted feelings about adoption and started reading all sorts of blogs - including yours! I have really enjoyed reading it!
Hello. Been here a little while, don't really know how or how long. Adoptee, adoptive. Cheers!
Hi, Melinda.
As the mother of a fellow Guiping Girl, I've been reading your blogs for a long time, ever since I stumbled on one of them when looking for information on Guiping when we adopted our daughter in 2006. I honestly can't think of a topic off the top of my head since you really do cover such a wide variety that you tend to hit most of the things I think of. Thanks for presenting some pretty tough topics in a thought-provoking, fair and sensitive way.
Hello from Atlanta! (Georgia, not Texas that is.)
I have been a regular reader for about 18 months. My husband and I adopted our precious daughter from Hunan in 2001. I greatly enjoy all the different aspects of adoption that you cover. Seems like I am forever pointing your blog out to friends since it's packed with such up-to-date resources, articles and links. Thank you, Malinda!
I have been reading your blog for about 6 months. I have a 4 yr old adopted from China. Your blog brings information to my attention that I might not have know about otherwise.
Brenda
Malinda,
I found you when I was searching for info on Nanning back in 2007- both of my girls were adopted through the Nanning SWI. I believe you were traveling through GuangXi at the time?
I would love to read your thoughts on blogging publicly about private issues especially issues that involve adoption.
Thanks for including me in your blog roll. I receive a lot of traffic from here.
I'm the Lori (online name) who is an adoptive mom of one preK daughter from China (not the Lori who is a birth mom... and there is at least one other Lori adoptive mom... I might add a number at some point to try to be a little clearer).
Trying to honor my daughter's birth parents is a lonely place. I know a good number of adoptive parents, all of whom disagree vehemently with this. I try to respect my daughter as a person in every way, and that, to me, cannot but include her entire history. Racism has already affected our lives, as has something for which I don't know of a word - a sort of anti-adoption, anti-adoptee feeling by some who share my daughter's ethnic background. I come here to learn more about all these things and to remind myself that there are others in this place. Thank you Malinda!
Post a Comment