Culture
Culture is the topic for the day. MeLisa & Ryun discus why cultural sensitivity is so important for adoptive families, especially when your adopted child comes from a different culture.
Culture VIDEO TRANSCRIPT:
MELISA: What are you wearing?
RYUN: A sombrero. Since our new daughters are Latina I thought tonight we should have a dance party.
RYUN: If you adopt a child of a different race then you become a multicultural family. This is also the case for you and your partner. I am of Norwegian descent and MeLisa is Portuguese Italian. Which is why she’s so sexy.
MELISA: Oh thank you. And such a good cook. Although I don’t know how I feel about food from Norway. I mean fish for breakfast? Blech.
TITLE CARD: WARNING HURTFUL
RYUN: Comments like that are exactly what you want to avoid when trying to encourage open communication with your adopted child.
MELISA: If you choose to adopt a child of another race it is important for you to celebrate their culture. Even if your child doesn’t outwardly show an interest they are inwardly curious.
RYUN: Living in Los Angeles we have several opportunities to expose our children to many different cultures. This access to cultural diversity may not be the case where you live. So, here are some ways you can celebrate your child’s culture at home. Play music that is popular in the child’s country. Visit a museum that has exhibits about their culture. Make recipes from their homeland and eat them together for a family dinner.
MELISA: Some other ways to encourage your adopted child’s culture is to learn the language of their country. To make a book together about their homeland and someday, when they’re old enough to understand and you’ve had enough time to save up, plan a trip to their country. Just be careful not to overload your child with cultural identity.
CARTOON: CULTURE OVERLOAD
RYUN: It’s equally important to teach your adopted child about your similarities. If you only point out your differences it will hurt your child’s sense of belonging.
MELISA: There are several things you can focus on such as similar taste in movies, music and foods or interests and talents you both share.
RYUN: Just focus on being as positive as you can be and you’ll do great. Your child will see that you care, and that they can openly discuss their feelings about culture with you.
MELISA: Every culture is unique and it is fun to learn about it together as a family. We’d like to hear about ways you’ve taught your children about their culture. Leave a comment below to help out other adoptive parents.
RYUN: Subscribe to our mailing list at adoptivelegacy.Com and we’ll send you helpful tips right to your inbox.
Title Card: WARNING SHAMELESS PLUG
MELISA: Oh yeah, that’s right. If you’re a social media addict like me follow Adoptive Legacy on Twitter, Facebook and Pintrest. So, do you want me to make you fish for breakfast tomorrow?
RYUN: Umm, that does sound kind of gross.
MeLisa sighs annoyed.
Title Card: AdoptiveLegacy.com
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Filed in: Adoption Parenting • Video
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