We are very open about everything at home and my kids know their stories, but they don’t automatically tell their friends. My oldest just “came out” (LOL) to her best friend this year. I think she worries that kids will think she’s different.

When they were babies, I felt compelled to tell anyone and everyone that they were adopted. If a clerk at the grocery store said something like, “She has your eyes” or “Wow, they’re going to be tall” (because my husband and I are) I would feel the need to set them straight. It almost seemed like lying, in a way, not to tell. I got over that, though, and now if someone compliments my kids, I just say thank you. I only share our story if and when I feel like it, to people I care about. I used to think it was really important to educate the world on adoption, and positive adoption “speak”, but now I seldom bother with it, because it embarrasses my kids. And, like you said, it is their story to tell.

Yikes, this is long! I apologize and would not be offended if you felt like deleting it!

Many times, our reactions as adoptive mothers are quite different than are the reactions (if any) of our adopted children. )