The questions kids ask: What does adopted mean?
Why did they go all the way over there to adopt a child?
Who are her "real" parents?
Why didn't her "real" parents want her?
Why does she look different?
Where was she before she was adopted?
Why didn't they just have one of their own?
Why are there so many little girls, and not as many boys?
Did she have a different name when she was born?
How much did they pay for her?
Will she be able to understand me and speak English?
What if they want to give her back?
What if she wants to leave them and go back to her birth parents?
Will she remember where she is from or who her birth parents were?
Won't she feel sad when she finds out she's adopted?
Do's and don'ts for grown-ups
Do: treat her like any other kid
Support her when curious strangers ask questions
Treat prospective adoptive parents the same as expectant parents
Acknowledge and celebrate the differences
Please don't: Don't introduce her as adopted
Don't say how lucky she is
Don't assume adoption is a second choice
Don't jump to conclusions about the birth mother
Don't tell us we're sure to have our "own" now
Want to know more about her birth country?
The Republic of Guatemala
The Republic of Kazakhstan
Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Appendix: resources for learning more about adoption.