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I need some advice. My husband and I have a beautiful 6 month old son who is hispanic/Cau. My husband and I are both blond hair light colored eyes. We get some of the strangest comments and questions from total strangers. WHAT DO YOU SAY! when they say , WHERE DID HE GET THAT GREAT TAN AND DARK EYES. As you can tell i am very frustrated and cant believe that people are so ignorant. I was at the store with my son alone, and a woman said to me< WHAT IS DADDY..... please give me any advise . It really makes me sad:( we love our son more than anything in the world
In response to "where'd he get that tan?"
"He brought it with him."
Maybe we haven't had our daughter long enough to run into this, but people in my rural, very white state, seem wise to what's going on. They just smile and say she's adorable. She's Indian and is a lovely fudge color --we're very fair skinned. We haven't gotten any questions from strangers. I'm just wondering where all these rude people live?
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Originally posted by bellazmama
I also have a friend that, when people get just way too nosy, asks them when they had their last period or had sex last or whatever. You get the point.
Sarah
Oh Sarah: This was Wayyyyy to funny! To have the guts to look at a stranger and say "When Did you last have Sex" ... Oh my, I think if I actually said it, I would ROFLOL PMP!!! :D
Yes, some people just dont think before speaking, but I too believe that many of these people simply say the first thing that came to their minds, with out meaning to be hurtful.
I had a friend who had an ABSOLUTLY BEAUTIFUL little girl. I mean Oh my...how gorgeous type of baby. Well my friend is white and married an African American man. So their baby has pretty cappucino colored skin. She had SOO SOOO SOOOO many remarks about Where did she adopt, ect... She would always have to tell people she was her biodaughter, they never would believe her!
Anyways, Im not sure why I told that story, except like Brandy comments get made to all parents. Its how we handle them that will change attitudes, ect. If we know someone might say something, have a prethought up remark. It might help to ease your worry over it.
Thanks! She is quite a lot of fun sometimes! And then other times. . . small doses seem best!
You're right. Having preplanned responses really does help.
Sarah
You should tell them that you got a great deal at the tanning salon if you take your son year round, and as far as the what is your daddy comment come back with something stupid like we think they switched the deposits at the sperm bank we are currently in the process of a lawsuit, which as you can see we have already won cause no settlement is better than the love of this little boy.
Brandy and Oh-well have responses that are genuine in nature.
Perpetuating responses based on the assumption the asker should "know better" is actually defensive and setting up a conflict where one is bound to walk away in shame or perhaps snap back with an equally attacking response. I don't feel this is a good role model for a child to learn and take with them in their future of dealing with advanced communication.
Just a thought .
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My adopted son was biracial, in the store one day, a woman came up to me and said, "oh he is so beautiful, your husband must be dark skinned", after my mouth dropped opened, I replied, "no he's not, but his dad is", and smiled and walked off. The look on her face was priceless. It is a fun memory. Unfortunately my son died at 9 months of age. He was so special and I miss him so very much.
Originally posted by nicolebrooks
Brandy and Oh-well have responses that are genuine in nature.
Perpetuating responses based on the assumption the asker should "know better" is actually defensive and setting up a conflict where one is bound to walk away in shame or perhaps snap back with an equally attacking response. I don't feel this is a good role model for a child to learn and take with them in their future of dealing with advanced communication.
Just a thought .
I dont have a "premade" reponse for everyone...as I said in my post... I got a lot of comments....A LOT...and I find every comment an oppritunity to educate people about adoption.
Just once, I'd like to say I'm adopted with out being met with that deer in the headlights look...maybe someday, I will :)
Within the first several months of bringing Bella home, more than a couple of people commented on what a nice "tan" she had. My DH told one lady that we had gotten one of the new Graco baby tanning beds and that we just loved it. He told another person that she was going to be in the new baby Hawaiian Tropic calendar.
LOL!
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I guess I'm really a novice, I started a new thread instead of replying...
I tend to agree with BrandyHagz & oh well! People in general are curious & don't always intend to be rude.
I get comments about my bio-kids all the time. They're very blonde with blue eyes and both my husband and I have brown hair and brown eyes! The funny part is our adopted (almost) daughter fits right in with the other kids -- not us.
We have only had our baby for a little over a month, Already I have gotten lots of comments about her "complexion" Lots of comments start out with a compliment like "she has such beautiful skin" then are followed by something stupid like you all have mentioned. I have started just saying "thank you" ans so far that has been enough.
I think as aparents we have so many emotions related to our children that sometimes our defenses go up or we feel a need to explain when there is no reason. Babies and children are beautiful - sometimes when people are used to looking primarily at white faces, a darker skinned child seems especially beautiful. I think people RARELY make those comments to hurt or offend so we should be careful and try to come up with responses that will help them become MORE comfortable with "rainbow families" not less.
Probably somewhat idealistic. Our town is small and the person who makes the comment today could be Addy's soccer coach in a few years - I don't want to burn any bridges.
Just my 2 cents.
God Bless,
Martha
Hi there!!!!
I'm first nations, light brown skin and black hair and dark brown eyes and my parents are both brown haired and blue-eyed and they are both white. This is something we've dealt with a very long time...what we've always told people who are curious or confused is that I'm adopted...my dad will joke and say I'm from his first marriage---he's never been married before my mom..tee hee.!!! Not trying to make light of your situation, but having a sense of humor sure does help... Sometimes just telling them baby is adopted is enough but sometimes it is tough to deal with people who are close minded and don't know the situation. I hope for you things get better. Sometimes people make thoughtless remarks before thinking. My mom always said I get my good looks from her...
"I find every comment a wonderful opportunity to educate people about adoption"...Brandy
"I can't take credit for the face,
but I can for the smile
"...Bellasmom
:)
I love these quotes,
my children
8, very white/pink with freckles and blue eyes..
6, hispanic/white with green eye
twins 5, hispanic/zuni indian
my hubby's response to people who say how beautiful his girls are(twins) is that yes, they look just like their mother (me)....I am pink, pink pink! They look at me, and back at the girls.
Our kids now, we'll save people who start asking, and say, "silly, we are adopted" It helps the adults to stop asking questions like the children arn't there.
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I have 4 bio and 5 adopted girls, and amazingly we all look pretty much alike. The one who looks most like me is an adopted one! The thing I get comments on is the ages--they're too close together. People look real confused and ask "how'd you do that?" I reply (in best super-hero voice) "I'm Super-Mom--I don't need nine months!!!" Or just "Go home and think about it--you'll figure it out!"
The other one I hate is "Which ones are your real kids?" I tell them, well, other then the few made of plastic, they're all real! People never seem to get that they are not "someone else's" kids. Yes, they're adopted, and yes, they're all MINE.
My favorite comment so far from a total stranger--"Boy, you were really poppin' 'em out, weren't you?" I looked him in the eye and said "Yep! And there's another on the way!"
I love being a mom! :)