In response to yesterday’s post titled Adoption Discussion Ideas, I received an email asking for some resources. Instead of replying to her privately, I thought that a blog would be more appropriate.

I want to start out by saying that I don’t think it is unusual for a teenager to act out whether he or she is adopted or not. A teenagers rebelliousness may be just that. However, if it is more than that I strongly recommend a therapist. If anyone reading is in need of a therapist, please email me and let me know where you are located. I may be able to find a counselor or therapist to recommend who has experience with adoption issues.

I also recommend the book Inside Transracial Adoption by Steinberg & Hall. If you have trouble finding it, the publisher is Prentice Hall. Also, Finding me in a Paper Bag by Sally Howard looks at adoption from both sides as an adoptee and a birth mother.

Another book that has been controversial in the adoption community is The Primal Wound by Nancy Verrier. Some adoptive parents have found it useful but I am sure that you will find it painful as well.

With international adoption, it is a closed adoption and these children are removed from their homeland. So, an important thing to remember is that teenagers who are having issues may be searching to find her authentic self and her own culture, which is certainly obviously different from her parents' culture. Anything the adoptive parents could do to help get in touch with the homeland roots would be good.

There is also an organization called Also Known As Inc and their website is http://www.akaworld.org/ According to this website, since the 1950’s it has been estimated that there are 110,000 Korean born adopted people in the United States and Worldwide, there is an estimated 1450,000. This organization began in 1996 and gave a voice to the thousands of adult inter country adoptees by creating a community that recognizes and celebrates people whose lives connect nations, cultures and races through adoption.

Finally, for Korean born female adoptees, one thing the adoptive parents could do is help their daughters to make a han bok (traditional Korean dress) –or locate books on Korean history.