An Adoption Moment

It happens all the time but I will describe to you a clear example of what we affectionately call "An Adoption Moment". Of course because I am who I am, need to give you some details to set it up.

BH's preschool is also a primary private Christian school for kids up to 8th grade. Because the principal is a great friend of mine, she often let's JM go on their field trips. This is great for JM to hang out with other kids, and for us to bank some school time.

There was a zoo field trip this last Friday. Because JM is not a student, and for liability purposes, we have a strange identity on these trips. I go as JM's chaperone, and I also help chaperone the other kids. It works out.

The zoo plan was for all of us to be given our tickets, passes, parking passes, etc. at the school, then meet at a designated location at the zoo when we all got there. No problem. I got all our tickets, etc. My ticket said "chaperone" on it and JM's said "student".

And we step up to the ticket person and hand her our passes, and she says, "So...you're his chaperone correct?"

Aside here....it may be hard for others to be in my brain. I am so used to having my kids be who they are, and what color they are that about 98% of the time, I forget how we look to others. I am serious. I know that is hard to believe, but most of the time I forget that we stick out like crazy in public. This was one of those moments.....

I look at the gal (because I have forgotten what we look like) and I say, "Yes......". She let's us in, of course.

I look at JM and I say, "Did you see that?" He said no. I told him, "She doesn't realize you're my son. Remember people don't know you're adopted and we don't look alike. Isn't that funny? She thinks you're a student and I am a helper or a teacher or something." He laughed with me.

We shared it with some of the other kids later and they giggled with us.

How I handle those moments as an adoptive parent with shape how JM handles those when he's older.