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It has been suggested to me that a good topic to explore is the thought about the day when my daughter decides whether or not she will search for her birthmother. I think that is a wonderful idea but I think that to be even more comprehensive I will write about the whole process of telling her about her adoption, how she deals with it as she grows, and through this talk about our thoughts on whether she will search for her birthmother.
The first key question that needs to be asked (and is asked quite often) is whether or not we will tell our daughter that she was adopted. The short answer is of course we will. 
Some children grow up with obvious differences between themselves and their parents. This makes that question usually one of “when” rather than if. However, the similarities between my wife and my daughter are enough that even in Guatemala, people were surprised to learn that we were adopting her. However, we are completely agreed on telling her according to how well she can understand as she grows.
Right now, my daughter knows that she was born in “Gwaaah Taay Maada” (My daughter’s translation of Guatemala). She knows her baby brother was born here. Involving her quite a bit in the preparation for our son’s birth has opened the door for a tiny bit of explanation of how we came together as a family. Right now I tell her about her adoption in “story” mode. Through this, she knows about Guatemala, all the people who cared for her and her mommy while there, etc. For a 2 year old, I believe she grasps as much as she can.
Starting in summer of 2007, my wife and kids will travel with me to Guatemala as I lead a group for missions projects. My wife will stay with the missionary families that housed her while she fostered there. It is our intention to have Guatemala be a regular part of our daughter’s life. I want the sounds, the smells, and the tastes of Guatemala to be part of who she is so that when she is seeking her identity, her heritage isn’t lost on her.
I’ll keep you updated as this journey continues…
By the way, “J.” posted a comment on a camp that allows kids adopted from Latin America to learn about the culture and heritage. I plan on writing more extensively about it but wanted you to have the address in the mean time. Visit it at http://lasemana.org/
For those wondering about ways to share about adoption with your kids, check out the book Who Am I by Stacie Cahill. I have not read this book yet but the user reviews are very high with the exception of one. If you have read this book, your thoughts are appreciated here in the comments.
