Are You Ready to Build a Transracial Family?

worksheet provided by Children's Home Society and Family Services

Sometimes even the intent to dedicate yourself to your child cannot automatically prepare you for the inevitable issues that come with building a transracial family. One Korean adoptee who now counsels adoptive parents as a trained mental health professional tells us that she used to think everyone could cope with and confront the natural issues of racial identity and racism that exist, but with time she realized that it's not a job that everyone is capable of dealing with simply by virtue of being a parent. We asked Children's Home Society and Family Services for permission to reprint their excellent worksheets that help prospective parents understand whether this is the right path.

1. What is your own cultural background? What cultural traditions and beliefs do you hold?

2. What is your earliest memory of an interaction between yourself and a person with a different cultural background than your own? Describe your thoughts and impressions at the time. Would they be the same today, or different?

3. What have you done to learn about other cultures? What are you willing to do?

4. Why are you considering adopting a child from a culture different than your own? How will you explain this to your child?

5. How will you help a child learn about his or her own race, culture, and history?

6. How have you talked to your family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers about adopting transculturally? What was their reaction?

7. What culturally diverse events or activities do you participate in? What events are you willing to participate in to increase your cultural awareness?

8. What is the cultural background of your neighborhood, schools, place of worship, etc. How would this compare to the cultural background of the child?

9. How have your life experiences been easier or more difficult because of your background?