Birth Mother Matters in Adoption Episode 32: Adoption Positive Language

Birth Mother Matters in Adoption Episode 32: Adoption Positive Language

Here are some reasons why adoption language is important.

1. Educating others: There are a great many negative myths and ideas surrounding adoption. It clouds what can be a beautiful way to become a family in a scary light. Because of stories on the news, and uneducated members of society -that being adopted is shameful and something to be hidden, sometimes there is negativity surrounding the notion of adoption.
2. Protect the pride and mind of the child as well as the families involved. Biological parents are no more “real” than adoptive parents. A biological parent can choose adoption for their child if they cannot provide for emotionally or financially, but they do not “give them away”. 
3. To avoid shaming a child. Telling a child “You’re so lucky your parents adopted you” sends a message that can cause shame, misunderstanding and confusion. There is loss involved in an adoption that children cannot easily underdstand. The adoptive parents are the lucky ones in this situation to be able to adopt. If you want to compliment a adoptive family you could say something like “You have a beautiful family."