Is There a Best Time?

by: Author Unknown,

Many wonder when is the best time to tell a child that they are adopted. It's simple. There is no right or wrong time to tell your child. If we as parents of an adopted child wait until the "child is old enough to understand", we will be waiting until adulthood. The earlier you tell you child, the better it will be on you and the child as well. Explaining to your child is a gradual and repeated process, with each explanation becoming more detailed as the child's understanding of their adoption increases. It isn't going to be an easy task, and we as adoptive parents must always be prepared and aware of what our possible reactions might be. Remember that the topic of adoption for most is a very personal and private topic. When talking to your child about their adoption, make it in a setting where is it you and the child alone. It's up to you on how you talk about the adoption, when to talk about it, and where. Take into consideration that a relaxed and quiet environment is probably going to serve you best when you do decide to discuss the issues that lead up to your child's adoption. Most importantly, remember to always be honest with your child about any questions they might have, no matter how hard it may be for you. We want to protect our children from all that pain and suffering, but the child, after all, has a right to know about their birth history. Lastly, always, no matter how your discussions of their adoption ends, always let them know that you love them, no matter what.