Hard truths about adoption from a 4 year old

January 2nd, 2007 | Adoption

A dear friend of mine shared this story with me and has given me permission to share it.

Stunned
I was having fun with my younger daughter who is ChineseÂ (barely four and not all that verbal) and I said, “HOW did I get so lucky as to get a great baby like YOU?” And she replied, “Because you’re rich”.

I wanted to say something ever so appropriate, but I was stunned into silence. Because…she’s right. I don’t THINK she could possibly understand the socio-political implications of it all, but where did THAT come from? (”Rich” is not a term we’d ever use to describe ourselves, but certainly her birth parents or the nannies at the orphanage would.)

Then a minute later she asked if I would still be happy when she was grown up.

This kid must be reading IAT.Â [International-Adopt-Talk@yahoogroups.com, one of the lists Iâ€™ve started.Â Karin]

This was a “me in front seat driving, her in back seat” conversation. Our older Chinese daughter used to love to drop heavy questions on me when she was in car seat, I guessed because I couldn’t make eye contact or pre-plan a response, plus we were alone, as my younger daughter and I were this time.

Kids are deeper than we ever suppose.

Our kids think about their lives much before many give them credit for it.

Karin

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