I posted a while ago (here, here, and here) about some adoption issues and keeping culture alive as much as possible. I’ve posted on some email groups about the same topics. I came to those positions on my own – they just seem obvious, respectful, and proper to me.

In the last week or so I’ve come across a few posts that people have made on their blogs that have really reaffirmed my thoughts. I’m so glad that these people are willing to share what are very personal thoughts on adoption with the rest of the world. It goes without saying that every person who was adopted has a different view of their lives and adoption, but it provides a great insight to me to see such nicely articulated thoughts. They may be of help to me helping him when he goes through some of these feelings later in life. At the very least it can help me understand what he might be feeling if he can’t articulate it for himself at the time. I thought others might find them interesting and possibly useful as well, so I’m linking to them here.

Link 1

Link 2

Link 3

Link 4

I also am starting to take Parker to a local playgroup for Vietnamese kids. The local Vietnamese church has a non-religious playgroup for the congregation’s children during services on Sundays. I took him on the Sunday before Tet and he loved it. The kids range in age from 17 months to about 8 or 9. Most of them speak Vietnamese, which will certainly help Parker learn. Plus, he’ll be interacting with a large group of peers that look like he does and share some of his history, and I’m sure that will be good for him.