The challenges of transracial adoption

Rory Hadley, Blogger & Mom, explains the greatest challenges that she has faced since becoming a transracial adoptive parent and how to best solve those issues
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The challenges of transracial adoption

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There were a lot of challenges that I faced as a transracial adoptive parent, but I have to say that the biggest challenge has been the black/white debate here in the United States. There are one people on one side of the issue that say, as a white parent, I will never understand my daughter and her needs. On the white side of the issue, I'm being hyper-sensitive and there really isn't a race related problem. I've found that in the black and white issue, I'm living in this gray space in between. I found it to be a little isolating at first, because I felt excluded from both sides and misunderstood from both sides. I think, finding that support in that gray area, is not only helpful for me as a transracial adoptive parent; but also understanding that my daughter will also be living in between the two worlds as well, growing up in a transracial family. It will help her understand those needs as well.

Rory Hadley, Blogger & Mom, explains the greatest challenges that she has faced since becoming a transracial adoptive parent and how to best solve those issues

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Rory Hadley

Mom & Blogger

Rory is a wife, a blogger, and a transracial adoptive parent of an African American girl, who joined the family through domestic adoption in 2007 at a mere six days old. A self-described tomboy and computer geek, Rory had little knowledge regarding her own hair, not to mention no prior experience with the unique hair and skincare needs of children of African descent. Making it her mission to learn everything that she could, Rory started chronicling her experiences for other parents who have found find themselves in similar situations. Since the launch of her blog, Chocolate Hair / Vanilla Care in 2010, people from all over the world have been able to share in her journey as she demonstrates new hair styles, outlines step-by-step instructions, reviews products, and discusses the many aspects of what it means to be a transracial family in today's world. Rory hopes to continue exploring identity, respect, and empowerment, using hair as a common language.

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Transcription: 
There were a lot of challenges that I faced as a transracial adoptive parent, but I have to say that the biggest challenge has been the black/white debate here in the United States. There are one people on one side of the issue that say, as a white parent, I will never understand my daughter and her needs. On the white side of the issue, I'm being hyper-sensitive and there really isn't a race related problem. I've found that in the black and white issue, I'm living in this gray space in between. I found it to be a little isolating at first, because I felt excluded from both sides and misunderstood from both sides. I think, finding that support in that gray area, is not only helpful for me as a transracial adoptive parent; but also understanding that my daughter will also be living in between the two worlds as well, growing up in a transracial family. It will help her understand those needs as well.