👦🏾 Teach your children early on that family members don't have to look the same.

👶🏼 I can't tell you how many times I've picked up my darker-skinned child from a (Christian) school and heard a classmate say "That's not your mom! She doesn't have brown skin like you!" or "That can't be your brother!"

🧒🏻 Of course, the child is just observing what they think to be true, but you can imagine how it lands on a little one who already feels different.

👩🏽 Instead, dear Mamas, teach them otherwise before they get to the classroom or playground. Tell them about how God puts families together in so many different ways. Check out books from the library that show multiracial families and discuss what adoption is.

Don't force the adoptive families around you to be the ones to teach it to your children. Let it be a common topic in your home! (And while you're at it, include grandparents who raise children, foster families, single parent homes, etc).

You've got this!

📖 Here's a list of books as a starting place! I encourage you to read them alone before reading them to your children so you're aware of potential questions and talking points.

Note: Some of these show two mom or two dad families. I think it's wise and kind to talk about this with your children too, so that the burden doesn't fall on the other child.