America used to be an unexplored paradise. A place where Buffalo and Native Americans roamed the land freely. Then the World changed. New people arrived on the block,
so to speak.

Sometimes as an Adoptive Family I still feel like a Settler Family....exploring the wilderness as the new family on the block.

It seems in no time once someone knows that your child is adopted or children in my case. You are treated as different. Well yes we are different.
So what. The children are still children. They have feelings and emotions. They need friends and a good community to live in. What is so wrong with being Adopted?

I can't tell you how many times I have heard someone refer to people on the block as "Oh that is a foster home" or "They have adopted kids." It is always in an unpleasant tone of voice or a concerned one. Never in a joyful and happy voice that says "Wow they are great people."

I long for a day when people will get their heads out of the proverbial sand and see that Adoptive and Foster families are doing a great work for our nations children.

I think the world of adoption is one of it's own and no one will ever understand it unless they take time to get to know an adoptive family. To feel the love that comes from every family member. To see the bonds that just being together can establish.

I ended up on the quiet end of a conversation once where three of the neighbors were discussing the new Foster Family on the block. I listened and bit my lip until they were talking about the children.
How the neighborhood will have to be watchful for destructive behavior.

That's when I had to speak up. I asked them if they knew the little boy down the block who kept smashing every ones flower beds with his bike or by pulling up the plants. They said "Oh my yes." I replied..."That is a biological brat. Not an adopted kid. I don't think the new kids can do more harm than he has."

Yes I spoke out of turn and yes I called the little tad a brat. If you met him I would think the word brat would be much kinder than what most people would refer to him as.

America needs a new beginning. They need to know that the world of adoption is not a negative place to be. That lesson can only come from productive Adoptive and Foster Care families.

It can only be taught to them by children who seek to build and not destroy. So until we get there to the point where our kids are healing and we can be a productive part of our surrounding life lines. We will have to endure the negative reputations that have been surrounding us.

By doing community projects as a family unit and by attending community events and getting out thee where the people can get to know you and your family. Is a great way to build a positive rep or.
Anyone else with good ideas out there? Comments are always welcome.