Chinese tradition and culture: Caring for our red thread tapestries

Chinese tradition and culture play a vital role in our children’s unique identities. While they are now Americans in every sense of the word, they were first Chinese.

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Every time we look into our daughter’s eyes we are reminded of her Chinese heritage. While she is fully American, her red thread began in China.

Finding ways to incorporate Chinese tradition and culture into our family tapestry is not the challenge it used to be. With the increasing number of Chinese adoptions, support for our China-born American children has become more commonplace.

There are numerous ways to nourish our children’s Chinese tradition and culture.

• Join a Family with Children from China (FCC) group

• Enroll our children in Chinese schools

• Take Chinese language classes or learn the language from computer programs and online

• Read books and magazines about Chinese tradition and culture as well as Chinese adoptions

• Visit Chinese cultural exhibits

• Revisit China

• Host a Chinese foreign exchange student

• Teach an ESL class with Chinese immigrants

• Visit the nearest Chinatown

• Provide our children with various Chinese toys, games, videos, art supplies, etc.

Our children are different. Each end of their red thread is rooted in a different country. Finding a sense of belonging is challenging but not impossible.

Parents can provide a framework for Chinese culture and tradition right here in the US, the great melting pot. There are many opportunities available to make our children feel like they belong to something bigger than themselves—their own unique tradition and culture.

It is possible for our children to be confused at first about where they belong or even who they are. Our job is to help them feel secure in their forever families first then present them with opportunities to explore their heritage. Our family believes a secure home is the platform for anyone, especially adopted children, from which our children can successfully spring forward into the world.

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