How To Answer Your Child's Questions About Adoption

How should I answer my child's questions about adoption?

Openness is probably the most important criteria when you're talking to your child about adoption. If they have questions about their birth parents and you're comfortable giving them information, you should give them as much as, again, you're comfortable with. You should not portray the birth parents as saints or sinners; but again, be honest about them. You should be honest about your reasons for adopting. And your discussions with your child about adoption should be an ongoing conversation; it doesn't really have a beginning or an end, because over the years, your child will have different questions as he or she is searching and trying to figure out his or her own identity. So the questions will change, so it's important you remain open to talking about the issue.