Owner: Adopting from Korea - MomBlog & Rant URL:http://adopt-korea.blogspot.com Join Date: Mon, 06 Nov 2006 19:31:33 -0600 Rating:0 Site Description: News, links, and thoughts about parenting, adoptive and otherwise, meaning of race, culture, ethnicity, and faith as my European-American, Korean, Jewish family changes and transforms every damn day. Site statistics:Click here
From NPR - Our Chinese (Korean, Kazakh, Ethiopian) Jewish Daughters 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Got this link from APC today ... a Jewish
dad comments on the High Holidays and the increasing number of international adoptees in the Jewish community.Jewish Chinese
Adoptees on NPR (The segment also discusses George Allen and Madelaine Albright and the late discovery of their Jewish parentage. Although not brought up Jewish, both of these folks are and remain Jewish by traditional Jewish law since both come from Jewish mothers.)Enjoy Adopting from Korea, Mom Blog & Rant? Please add us to your Technorati favorites.(c)Roberta Rosenberg. All rights reserved. Read more:Korean
, Kazakh
, Ethiopian
Celebrating the Birthday of the World 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Wishing you and yours a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!L'Shanah Tovah!(c)Roberta Rosenberg. All rights reserved. Read more:World
, Birthday
A different take on Diaspora 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Diaspora means "a dispersion of a people from their original homeland." A new film from Israel explores a community of Vietnamese "boat people" who rescued near Japan came to live, work, and raise their families in Israel.I think there's a lot here that would resonate with internationally adopted persons.Vietnamese "boat people" go Israeli, then visit their home in documentaryEnjoy Adopting from Korea, Mom Blog & Rant? Please add us to your Technorati favorites.(c)Roberta Rosenberg. All rights reserved. Read more:different
, Diaspora
Another Example of Why Ethical Adoption is So Critical 1970-01-01 00:59:59 A poster on ThirdMom shared this link from New York Magazine."We gave him up to save his life" For five increasingly horrific years, the adoption agencies insisted that Chad Ostrowski's memory of a father in Korea was fantasy. When Anne Marie and John finally learned the truth about their beloved boy, they made the ultimate sacrifice.I was appalled at this situation for a number of reasons. Primarily, tho, that the father's girlfriend was able to place a child not her own for adoption ... how does that possibly happen? I do know that in years past, grandparents, sometimes in secret, did bring children to orphanages for adoption placement. But a girlfriend? How does something like this happen?But obviously it did, at least this one time. And I'm quite sure, it has happened more than this time, as well.This article depicts a tragedy at so many levels it's hard to know where to begin. I can only hope that Chad, his APs, and his Korean family can find a way to love and support each Read more:Example
, Adoption
Interesting Site & Resources - IMDiversity.com 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Saw this in my web travels today. Check out:IMDiversity.com and read how it got started ... Check out the Asian-American Village Section ... and then their list of adoption/transracial resourcesI'd bookmark this one for future reference!--------------------------------------------Enjoy Adopting from Korea, Mom Blog & Rant? Please add us to your Technorati favorites.(c)Roberta Rosenberg. All rights reserved. Read more:Resources
Korean Adoption Changes - Aussie View 1970-01-01 00:59:59 This Australian article - Adoption
Heartache for Hundreds - has been receiving a lot of online attention. A couple of things to keep in mind:Australia only works with Eastern, and over the years the number of files (they call them allocations) has continued to decrease. (Similar to the US). The number of files for this prior to the announcement of the rule change has been quite small. Eastern notified Australia that they will not accept any files for the first 5 months of 2007 and will then review the situation as they wait for the 5 month ruling to come in. (One thing I didn't know is that Australia only allows the adoption of healthy children, no children with special needs.)My sources tell me there is NO real news to report for US families at this time. Families who have already received referrals remain in process. When I learn more, I'll keep y'all posted.(c)Roberta Rosenberg. All rights reserved. Read more:Korean
, Aussie
Completely OT - My New Massapequa Blog 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Like I don't have enough to do, but ...I heard from an elementary school classmate last week, and it got me a little nostalgic. So I decided to make my little hobby public and shareable.VintageMassapequa.comLet me know what you think and if you enjoyed the scenes of my hometown.(c)Roberta Rosenberg. All rights reserved.
How Low Can We Go 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Pretty damn low, I'd say ... have you checked out what's in store for the next season of Survivor?New 'Survivor' divides groups by race "Get ready for a segregated "Survivor." Race will matter on the upcoming season of the CBS show as contestants will be divided into four tribes by ethnicity. That means blacks, whites, Latinos and Asians in separate groups.The announcement was made on CBS' Early Show. Host Jeff Probst says the idea "actually came from the criticism that 'Survivor' was not ethnically diverseenough." He says the twist fits in perfectly with what "Survivor" does, saying the show is "a social experiment. And this is adding another layer to thatexperiment." Probst says contestants had mixed reactions to the racial divisions.This time the new Survivors are stranded on the Cook Islands in the South Pacific. The castaways include a police officer, a heavy metal guitarist, an attorney and a nail salon manager. The new season of Survivor debuts September 14."Have you ever
The ulimate KAD tee 1970-01-01 00:59:59 I saw this on a KAD list group. Think I should carry it in AdoptShoppe or just order now and save them for my kids? I think it's a terrific, in-your-face idea. (I may be a middle-aged mom, but I think like a fresh-faced provocateur.)====================================Two very cool T-Shirts for adoptees are being re-printed.Design #1: -all black with "got adopted?" printed in white letters on the front (in the style of the "got milk?" ads) Design #2: - all blue with white lettering: -On the front of shirt:"WHAT ARE YOU?" On the back is: I am an Asian transracial adoptee I am a U.S. citizen. I speak English I am not oriental I am not FreshOff the Boat I am not a foreign exchange student I am not a Kung Fu master I am not a genius at math or science I will not love you long time I am not your stereotype What are YOU?Latest information from Saul Tran Cornwall, the designer of the T-Shirts:-$20.00 per T-Shirt (includes tax, shipping and handling) -make checks payable to Saul Tran Cornwall
Good Info for KADs Thinking About Search 1970-01-01 00:59:59 This is taken from Holt's Korean Agency site but should provide useful info for all KADs thinking about conducting a search for birth parents:Holt Korea - KAD Info(c)Roberta Rosenberg. All rights reserved. Read more:Search
My Heart, My New York 1970-01-01 00:59:59 "And we laid down and wept, and wept, for these I am.We remember thee, remember thee, remember these I am."(c)Roberta Rosenberg. All rights reserved. Read more:Heart
, New York
Certificate of Citizenship - Timeline 1970-01-01 00:59:59 After spending the last few years waiting for USCIS to declare adoption finalization papers acceptable proof and formal documentation of US citizenship (and it's still not), I decided to get my youngest kidlet her Certificate
of Citizenship.We submitted her paperwork and check for $215 in late May. We received her COC today via certified mail. About 4 months. (In comparison, we waited 18 months for Spencer's (1999) and had to involve our US Congressional office for assistance.)Sometimes things do go right. Now we're off to SSA office with COC in hand to have her SSA account changed from "resident alien" to US Citizen.Remember - this is NOT an automatic process. Get your child a US Passport or COC and make sure you march down to SSA and get your child's status updated. Without documented proof of Citizenship, SSA will not update the status. And if you or your spouse dies before the status is upgraded, your child will receive reduced benefits.----------------------------------------- Read more:Timeline
New Cultural Coloring Pages at Rainbowkids.com 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Adoption Shout-Out!Martha Osborne is celebrating the 10th anniversary of her popular adoption site, RainbowKids. She's recently revised the look and feel of the site and, as part of the changes, added an extensive section of cultural information for children.Download the coloring pages and check out the new design.-------------------------------------------------------------Enjoy Adopting from Korea, Mom Blog & Rant? Please add us to your Technorati favorites.(c)Roberta Rosenberg. All rights reserved. Read more:Cultural
, Coloring
, Pages
Jewish Moms & Chinese Daughters 1970-01-01 00:59:59 A good article with resonance for those of us with Korean-born sons and daughters.Jewish
Moms, Chinese
DaughtersBy Merri RosenbergReprinted with permission from the Spring 2006 issue of Lilith Magazine. To read more or to subscribe, go to www.lilith.com.(c)Roberta Rosenberg. All rights reserved.
Birthmothers: Unspoken Side of Adoption 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Look for this new documentary sometime in 2007:"Resilience finally gives birthmothers who had to give up their child a voice about being single mothers, international adoption practices and society.The documentary allows them to contemplate this serious, but often ignored and misrepresented, social issue in Korea. The personal stories about how and what happened are sometimes shocking and very emotional to the women. Only a few of the approached women had enough courage to participate. ``There are some birthmothers who are ready to speak up. The ones who participated usually met their child again.'' The sensitiveness of the topic is illustrated by one young woman being filmed in silhouette."Although it has a very religious tone which may be oft putting to some readers, the book, I Wish for You A Wonderful Life offers another useful glimpse into the perspective of our children's Korean mothers.(c)Roberta Rosenberg. All rights reserved. Read more:Adoption
, Unspoken
White Privilege Checklist: What's Your Score? 1970-01-01 00:59:59 I've often said (and adoptkorea.com repeats) that when we adopt transracially, we are no longer a white family with a child of color. We become a transracial family.But that's at home. When we're out and about in public, there's us white APs (if you're indeed white) and our Asian/AA/biracial children. Consider this checklist below and the privileges that are afforded us because of our majority/mainstream status:White
Privilege Checklist
Peggy McIntosh, Associate Director of the Wellesley College Center for Research on Women, describes white privilege as an invisible package of unearned assets, which I can count on cashing in each day, but about which I was .meant. to remain oblivious. White privilege is like an invisible weightless knapsack of special provisions, maps, passports, code books, visas, clothes, tools, and blank checks. (McIntosh, 1989).___ 1. I can arrange to be in the company of people of my race most of the time.___ 2. I can go shopping alone most of the time, pretty Read more:Score
Michael Richards is no Andy Kaufman 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Since I spent some time railing about Mel Gibson's vicious anti-semitic rant, it's only fair I comment on the latest "celebrity gone mad", Michael
Richards. His deeply racist, hateful spew was captured on someone's cellphone camera. (I won't show it here, but you can see it just about anywhere.)Here's what we know:Richard's career has been moribund since Seinfeld went off the airHe didn't work stand-up in his early days. He was a sketch artist (If you're of a certain age, you might remember him from the short-lived SNL clone, Fridays. Larry David (Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm) was also on this show.The heckler who first taunted him wasn't African-American.A few days prior to the well-publicized meltdown, Richard's performance included vicious attacks on women and Jews (Richards is Jewish.)Some comics pushed the envelope with great regularity - Andy Kaufman, Richard Pryor, Lenny Bruce, Sam Kinison. These guys were genius. (I might add Sascha Baron Cohen (Barat) to the mix,
Ghost Stories from Korea 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Why NOT a ghost story or two from Korea
!Korean GhostStories
Be safe, have fun, and Happy Halloween!(c)Roberta Rosenberg. All rights reserved.
Yeah, what she said - The Last Word on Madonna 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Wow, what a terrific article from Salon.com ... I think this essay just about sums it up for me.Don't justify my loveMadonna
will soon find out it's tough enough to be an adoptive parent without being accused of "baby buying." - by Mary Kane(c)Roberta Rosenberg. All rights reserved.
Chuseok & Sukkot - Together Again for the First Time (or not) 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Something about the fall harvest makes us grateful. That's why the Pilgrims modeled their feast of "thanksgiving" on the biblical holiday Jews celebrate as Sukkot (soo-KOTE) or the Feast of Tabernacles.More About Sukkothttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SukkotTomorrow is also celebrated across Asia. In China, it's called the Moon Festival and celebrated with special shaped cookies and cakes. In Korea, it's called Chuseok. It's all about family and celebrating the harvest.So whether you'll be celebrating one (or both), enjoy!More About Chuseokhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ChuseokHow to set up the ritual table:http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200610/200610040006.html(c)Roberta Rosenberg. All rights reserved. Read more:Again
, First
, Together Again
, First Time
WorldWide Orphans Foundation Gift Registry 1970-01-01 00:59:59 I received a postcard this week from Dr Jane Aronson's ("The Orphan Doctor") WorldWide OrphansFoundation
about their new "gift" registry and I thought it was a terrific idea.You have the chance to bid on critically needed equipment, services, and supplies for children living in Ethiopia, Vietnam, Bulgaria, and all over the world.This is not an adoption charity. The foundation's focus is on children without families who remain in their birth countries. It is a way to "give back" to children just like our own children who in great need of just about everything.The bid prices range from $20,000 to $100. It's understandable that we APs may want to support causes more related to our own children's birth countries, and we should certainly do that. But I think it's also important to think more globally about children's issues and that is why organizations like WWO are so important.WWO First' Annual Gift Registry
-- Surely there is something there we can all "bid" on.Share the link an
Bonding & Attaching with your adopted child from Korea 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Lots of parents who adopt from Korea
may mistakenly believe that they and their child
ren are somehow completely immune from attachment issues. Thinking that because the majority of our children live with foster families in a more personal and intimate setting that the children are magically protected.Truth is most children will grieve their initial loss of the people and environment they leave, even infants, but generally most children will securely attach over time with their adoptive families. Our youngest daughter arrived at 4 months of age. She was mad and outraged at her upheaval. It took several months to coax her out of her anger. I often thought that G-d was good, since I was already an experienced mother who knew not to take my little peanut's wrath personally. She was just royally pissed off. In time, she began to trust her permanence, my permanence in her life. Today she is a happy, confident and well-attached little girl.But some children do get stuck in their grief and co
Can you stand one more comment about Madonna? 1970-01-01 00:59:59 More words have spilled about Madonna
and her pursuit to adopt a Malawi toddler than I can remember in a very long time. I think this has made more folks hot than her Sex coffee table book, her Kaballah beliefs, or her fixation on the crucifix.Be that as it may, here's what I think (for anyone who cares):Madonna, or any celebrity family for that matter is entitled to adopt a child as long as all US and native country adoption laws are fully adhered to and satisfied. (My understanding is that she and hubby are adopting under US jurisdiction.I haven't heard Madonna talk about the lengthy homestudy process, or the paperwork, or any of the usual frustrating process stuff most APs struggle with prior to having their child join them. It certainly does appear that she swooped in with her $$ and celebrity, plucked a child out of his orphanage, and flew home with him. If so, she does the process, already a problematic exercise, and the children she wants to help, a huge disservice.And my G-d,
When Did We Stop Caring About Children Not Our Own? Bus Stops & Mom Behaviors 1970-01-01 00:59:59 I turn 52 next month. I've been a parent for over 14 years now. I've spent the last 10 walking my kids to and from the elementary school bus stop. Where we used to live, I was one of two parents who made the daily trip. In our new community, I am one of half-a-dozen or so parents who escort their little cherubs on and off the bus.Yet, I remain the only parent who "parents" the kids whose parents aren't there. I'm the mom who reminds a child to zip a jacket or ask him where his jacket is when the weather turns cold. (Sometimes I even do the zipping.) I'm the mom who yells, "Nobody move until the bus stops completely" before the kids start swarming the morning bus. And I'm the mom who tells the kids, including my own, to get off the neighbor's lawn so he'll have something green come Spring.The other moms are nice people. I enjoy speaking with them. But they don't engage anyone else's child but their own. (I even heard one mom mutter, "I don't care. He's not mine.")There's no Read more:Caring
, Children
, Stops
I Have A Little Dreidel ... 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Since our first born was old enough to have a little friend or two, we've always made the first night of Hanukkah a night for the kids and their non-Jewish friends. It's fun, festive, and gives the non-Jewish kids a chance to experience a different kind of holiday.This evening, our oldest had 1 friend, our son 2 friends, and our youngest daughter also had 2 friends. Hubby made latkes (potato pancakes), we served doughnuts (fried food is the centerpiece of the holiday) and played Dreidel with chocolate coins in gold foil.Now you have to appreciate the mix in my house: couple of white kids, couple of East Asian kids, and a couple of Korean kids. Some Christian, some Hindu, some Jewish. I listened and watched them all play Dreidel using the hebrew names for each spin.Say what you will, I love this country :=)I found this on YouTube. Wishing you and yours a swinging, rocking Hanukkah!(c)Roberta Rosenberg. All rights reserved.
Christmas Eve Potpourri - A Little Bit of This & That 1970-01-01 00:59:59 My Baby Girl Turns 8 TodayToday, my youngest daughter turned 8. She is a Jewish girl with a Christmas
Eve birthday. As is our tradition, we begin the celebration the night before. She asked for a chocolate ice cream cake with Hershey Kisses.We eased the "8" candle into the frosting and added two extra candles. One for my darling girl to grow on. One as a way for her to honor her first mother, her Korean mother. "Before you make a wish for you, make a special wish to her because she is thinking of you, too."Unlike my son who is my deep thinker and often ponders the circumstances of his Korean family and his adoption, my little girl lives very much in the present. She is the ultimate believer in "Be Here Now." I wait for the big questions, but they don't seem to be much on her mind. I gently encourage the big questions with books or teachable moments from TV, but nope, just not on her mind.How different our children are as they find their respective paths to self and self-awareness. Oka Read more:Potpourri
, Christmas Eve
Completely Off-Topic - What Color Are You? 1970-01-01 00:59:59 I've been "Color
ed Me Beautiful" (I'm a winter), liked the movie, The Color of Money, but this little color test I found on Purple Wren was way more fun. What's more, and surprising since my favorite color is red, I found my color description, PURPLE, completely apt.Spontaneity is the key to your existence. Quick-witted with a flair for originality, you enjoy situations that allow you to explore your creativity. Comparatively conservative, you appreciate beautiful surroundings, especially if they're found in nature. Your relaxed and self-assured personality allows you to work well with others. Surprisingly enough, your unique and unusual tastes don't prevent you from being comfortable among your more conservative peers.What color are you? Find out here ... and report back, please!(c)Roberta Rosenberg. All rights reserved.
Thoughts Potpourri on Mother's Day 2007 2007-05-13 15:42:00 As many of you may have noticed, I took a blogging breather for quite a few months. Longer than I had anticipated actually. With so much going on in my personal and professional life -- and in the larger world outside my doors -- I had much to say, yet I just didn't have the heart at the time to share.With only 24 hours in a day, once you eliminate that 3-4 hours of restless sleep :=) , there's only so much time to get everything done. (And I'm still finding excuses not to dust my bedroom or clean the jacuzzi tub.)In a multi-titled, multi-tasking world, sometimes you have to choose one to push forward.I have spent the last few months concentrating more on my professional life. I'm a marketing consultant/strategist/copywriter by primary trade and I needed to spend more time pumping effort into the work that helps keep my family financially afloat. It's been good and with much time devoted to my business blog, The Copywriting Maven, I've been able to attract interest and the occasi Read more:Potpourri
Flickering Motherhood - Korean Birthmoms Online Community 2007-05-18 23:12:00 I saw this multi-part essay mentioned on one of the Korean
Adoptee Egroups. It's a bit of a dense read, very academic style, and it does have a strong feminist orientation, but it's worth the effort.A Flickering Motherhood
Korean Birthmothers' Internet Community(c)Roberta Rosenberg. All rights reserved. Read more:Online Community
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