I will apologize now but through this month of adoption blogging there will be a lot of borrowed ideas. I feel like I am still learning (after 3 years, kind of sad!) about how to talk about adoption without making others feel uncomfortable or getting offended by what they say. Most people, thankfully, don't mean to offend they just are uninformed on how to talk about adoption. Which 4 years ago I was in that exact same boat so I try to remember that when some well intended person says, "He looks like he could be yours!" I thought the first time I got up with him in the middle of night sealed that deal regardless of what he looks likes but whatever. (As you can tell I still need to work on the offend part of this!). So since we all need a little language lesson here we go. Once again courtesy of itsaboutlove.org

Positive Adoption Language

The words we use while talking about adoption can send unintended messages. When writing about or discussing adoption, please consider using language from the right-hand column.

Negative Terms	Preferred Terms
Gave up her child for adoption	Placed her child for adoption (also, made an adoption plan is a good way to say it)
Real parent; natural parent	Birth parent, biological parent
Adoptive parent	Parent
His adopted child	His child
Illegitimate	Born to unmarried parents
Adoptee	Child who was adopted
To keep	To parent
Adoptable child; available child	Waiting child
Foreign adoption	International adoption
Track down parents	Search
Unwanted child	Child placed for adoption
Is adopted	Was adopted