Pros and Cons

Pros of being adopted:

1. You get multiple birthdays. I have my birthday that was on my birth certificate (that's the big one), I have my adoption day (we celebrate with Chinese food and a small gift) and my adoption month in August because the Canadian doctor thought I was actually younger what was on my birth certificate (my family does something small). BONUS.

2. You can make jokes in biology class when they have a DNA project based on your family. "HA, I'm not related to my family, so does that mean I don't have to do the project?"

3. You have two different cultures. You could be sipping a low-fat, extra-shot of expresso, no whip, add extra cinnamon pumpkin spice latte and be shovelling down rice and you'd be White and Chinese. A 2-in-1!

4. You can play the, "Good thing I don't look like you, I can just walk away" card when your family is embarassing you in a public setting.

5. When you meet someone who is adopted as well it's super interesting and you can relate on so many different levels!

6. You get to watch the hilarious facial expressions people make when you point to your sibling (who looks nothing like you) and say, "Yep, this is my brother!"

7. You help your friends understand adoption to the point where they want to adopt in the future. That is one of the best feelings, by far in my opinion. Knowing I helped a child in the future by vocalizing my experience, makes me so incredibly happy.

8. You are unique.

Cons of being adopted:

1. The chance of having a mental illness increases when you're adopted (depression, anxiety due to psychological issues linked to adoption and abandonment).

2. People are tactless and say really stupid things to your face about being adopted.

3. At first glance, people assume you're dating your sibling (and that's gross).

4. You always have questions about your adoption that are left unanswered.

5. Sometimes you don't know your actual birthday (I don't, mine was an estimate).

6. You fight the fact that maybe your parents didn't want you.

7. You cry when the biology teacher talks about the DNA strands that make you look like your parents and you know it's not the same for you.

8. You're worried if you date an asian they'll be your biological sibling (that could happen!!)

9. People make it seem like it was your fault and make you feel feel bad because of something you cannot help.

10. You're scared of someone leaving you because you've already been left before and you don't want to feel that pain again.

Thank you for reading! I know the Cons were slightly depressing and made you (non-adoptees) say, "Awe no! Your parents wanted you! You're special, you're so lucky to have been adopted!" But, the truth is, this is how adoptees truly feel and nothing that others say will make us magically change our minds. This is what we think and worry about and we understand that it's something others probably cannot understand. Despite the Cons, there are quite a few Pros as well to being adopted and I definitely make sure that I enjoy those Pro moments :D