Since my E, foster daughter, is Black, my husband is Indian, and I am White, she will grow up knowing she is adopted. Still, I wanted to introduce the concept to her early on, so I created 2 short bedtime stories to lay the foundation for something she’s too young to fully understand. Each night, we snuggle up and I tell her the same 2 stories: her baby story and Sammy, my biological son’s baby story. These stories not only set the stage for her to ask questions at some point in the future, but also make adoption feel like just another part of her unique, awesome journey. Now, she refuses to go to bed without these bedtime stories! And who knows? Maybe one day she’ll remember these cozy moments and understand the deeper meaning behind the story.

The stories

E’s story:

Once upon a time, there was a little baby named “E”. And she cried “wah wah, I’m a baby!” And then, there was a beautiful queen named “Mama”! And Mama was looking, looking, looking for her baby. She saw E, and she said “that’s my baby!” So she brought her home, and everyone was so happy. Now E has a Mama and Papa, Mimi and Grandpa, Dadu and Dadi, Auntie and Unky, and two doggies. And they were all a family forever. The end!

Sammy’s story:

Once upon a time, Mama told Papa “I want another baby”! So they had to wait 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 months. And Mama’s tummy got bigger, and bigger, and bigger because Sammy was growing in there. And then Sammy came, and he said “wah wah, I’m a baby!” They were all so happy, and they were all a family forever. The end!

The story behind the stories

In my foster daughter’s bedtime story, I tell the tale of a mama searching for a baby to bring her home, while in my biological son’s bedtime story, I talk about how he was growing in my belly before we brought him home. I’ve woven these subtle differences to gently touch on their distinct origins. These little distinctions not only help introduce the idea of adoption in an age-appropriate way, but also reinforce that every family has its own beautiful story. It’s my way of planting seeds for future conversations about where they come from, creating an atmosphere where both stories—his and hers—are equally loved and celebrated.

Using bedtime stories to introduce adoption to my daughter is my way to build her understanding of her adoption journey, provide comfort, and one day, promote discussion, and make a sensitive topic more approachable. Our bedtime ritual has become a fun, interactive experience with hand motions and her chiming in on the parts she’s memorized, making it not only a way to introduce adoption but also a bonding moment that we both look forward to every night!

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My hope is that this blog may be helpful, or dare I say inspirational to someone out there. So please share – how did you talk to your kids about sensitive topics?