Some children aren't as fortunate to have the adoptive parents as you do; even in regular families, children are having a hard time fitting in where love should be unconditional. You are truly blessed.
Hola bonita: hace un tiempo vi el video de tu adopción y pensaba que había sido tu vida ......desde el.primer momento has tenido la suerte del riego que significa adoptar ,es el.mas grande acto de amor del ser humano,seas de donde seas ,atravesar el.mundo para ir a buscarte y darte tan gran amor, se llevan mí admiracion.....Dios te bendijo!!!!!!! Maria Teresa from Argentina.
My parents didn't actually want me, I just happened when my mother became pregnant....But your parents desperately wanted you and went out of their way to to bring you into their family. They wanted YOU, so they could love YOU!!! You are special!!!
I taught in a Chinese bilingual school for 22 years and had the pleasure of teaching many girls who were adopted from China. Some of them returned to China when they were in high school and college to volunteer to care for the children in the orphanage from which they had been adopted, and sometimes the women who worked there remembered them from when they were babies there. Their parents were devoted, progressive parents who supported their daughters to have full lives with intellectual as well as artistic enrichment, and happy social lives. They were some of my favorite students.
totally agreed with your comment; Emily was expressing her gratitude to her adopted parents for their unconditional love, sacrify, and creating a safety net for her good life.. Emily is a product of good parenting and education.. Bravo to her parents, wish Emily the best for the rest of her journey..
What a gorgeous, brave and intellegent young lady! The older we get the more we realize there is no such thing as "normal" and fitting in. I lived with my actual family but never felt loved. I hardly had a relationship with my mom, so much so I wanted to be adopted to people who actually wanted me. Family is so much deeper than blood. There's families that are together but there's no love and than there families that were brought together by adoption who have a love most children with biological parents will never know. You and your family are amazing! Something to never be ashamed about! May God continue to bless you all your life! Thank you for sharing your story ❤
I feel that how much your parents love you . Now it's your time to show them some love coz they're getting old so pls be kind with them and always respect .
"Chinese children don't like to be held." This broke my heart on so many levels. Children everywhere desire affection and yearn to be close to their caregivers. It's probably custom of that culture to not be overly affectionate but it's still sad to me. Your mother is a smart lady.
Actually this is so totally not true. I live in China and observe children being held all the time. They literally spend their first two years of life in the arms of their grandparents. Great video. I really love what you are sharing. You are unique ! Exactly who you are meant to be.
Catherine Park Thank you for letting me know I was incorrect on my assumption. It makes me happy knowing it’s not a culture thing and just that single persons opinion.
HakunaMatata This was most likely a translation error, orphanage won’t be able to provide a professional interpreter. Anyway, Emily has loving parents is most important.
this is not true, I live in china and are around Chinese kids every day and they are very clingy on me sometimes having 20 of them pushing you down, and this was a great watch I also want adapt a Chinese girl
In Chinese, a saying, I often heard from my mother...."the parents whom brought you up are greater than the birth parents." My mother also said...".kindness must be remembered for a thousand years" This pretty girl is so luck to have love n kind adoptive parents. So love them and take care of them well. May heavens bless you and the lovely parents.
You have a beautiful story. My brother and I were abandoned July 30th, 1970 at a motel in Los Angeles. I was 4 and he was 2. We went through several foster homes and adopted three years later. Like you, we looked different from our “white” parents. Our ethnicity was unknown unknown at that time, but we obviously looked mixed being much “browner”. In 2013, we DNA tested and found out we were half-siblings with different biological fathers. Our ethnicity was also determined. My colorful outward appearance came from my Native American ancestry and his came from Southeast Asia. In 2018, we DNA tested with Ancestry and finally received a close enough match that identified our biological mother as well as my biological father (both deceased). From there, I was able to piece together the rest of the story including identifying my brother’s biological father. Earlier this year, I found, contacted and confirmed his father was alive and living in Bangkok, Thailand. They’ve started developing a relationship and my brother has a few more half-siblings. Hug your parents for me and enjoy your adoption journey wherever it takes you. Also, if our stories were just like everyone else’s, we’d just be average 😉👍🏻
Sean FromTX wow I was abandoned on September 16th 2005 5 days after I was born. I was abandoned in a hospital in Hefei Anhui province. The Children’s welfare institute of hefei city found me and took me and searched for my parents for 2 months they never found them and they decided that I was to be up for adoption at 22 months old 20 months after I was declared up for adoption I was brought to America with my new Mother and Father where I would go to a Home in which there was to be 7 children waiting for me. I along with 3 others were adopted From China. It took me 1 year and 6 months to go from Chinese to English I am great full for the parents who adopted me and the police officers who found me.
Dragon Riders O INCREDIBLE! Interestingly enough, this past Sunday, I spoke with a “foundling” just like us. She was abandoned in a dumpster and left to die 37 years ago. She is truly a living miracle. We shared our stories over the phone for nearly 2 1/2 hours. I’ve had many verbal conversations with other adoptees over the years, but never another foundling. It was an absolute honor. It’s good to hear you are grateful for your adopted family and thanks for sharing your story!
Bless you...what an incredible story. I have two daughters adopted from China. Sometimes, I think that people only think these kids are the only ones abandoned; your sharing lets us know that even in the US this happens.
Hi Emily! I was also adopted from China and I have an older sister who was adopted too. Being adopted by loving parents was the best thing that has ever happened to me and I am grateful every day to be with people who love me and in a country that gives me freedoms that I would not have if I were still in China. I really related to a lot of things you mentioned in this video. Growing up I was embarrassed to be Chinese, especially since I grew up in a predominately Caucasian neighborhood and went to a high school that did not have much diversity. My best friend throughout childhood is also adopted from China and we were in the same grade. We would always reject anything that reminded us of Chinese culture, making comments like "That's so Asian" in a negative way. I laughed along with racist jokes in order to fit in or seem as white as possible. My parents sent me to Chinese school every Saturday for years in attempt to get me and my sister to learn Chinese, but I did not take it seriously so I didn't really learn it. Now that I'm in college and am in a much more diverse setting, I wish I payed more attention and absorbed the Chinese culture more. I'm not ashamed of being Chinese anymore, but I still have racial identity crises (as I like to call it) where I struggle feeling completely like I fit in. I find it hard to relate to a lot of non-adopted Asians because I don't feel Asian enough. I also still don't feel white enough when I'm with my Caucasian friends since there's still some clear barriers in some situations because of being a minority (there are some things I just cannot explain to them since they are not a minority race nor are they adopted). My roommate in college was Chinese and grew up in a Chinese household and she really helped me to feel connected with the culture. Seeing Crazy Rich Asians actually was the first time I really felt proud to be Asian (I was 20 years old). I feel that it's sad I hadn't felt that until I was that old. Seeing people who look like me in pop culture made me feel so happy, and in a way validated. This is something most Caucasians will probably never truly understand since they are so used to their race being represented in media. I find speaking about these issues to be difficult especially since most of my friends are white. They usually nod and smile but I know they can't really get it. I'm sure you get this question as well since you have an adopted sister. People ask if my sister and I are biologically related and while I understand their curiosity, it becomes repetitive. It especially frustrates me when people use the term "real parents" when referring to my biological parents. My "real parents" are the people who raised me. I'm not sure if you speak to your parents about your struggles regarding adoption and race, but a part of me feels like I would sound ungrateful if I did so. I know they would hear me out and do everything they could to reassure me it's okay, but it's just not something I would want to get into with them. While I have my sister and best friend, a part of me wishes I kept in contact with my adoption group so I would have more people to relate to. Thank you for sharing your story. I always love to hear about other fellow adoptees!
I think there are huge differences between having asian look (genetics) and having asian cultural identity (growing up in Eastern Asia). People should understand these first of all, and it is not about asians of course, but it is the example now. First of all that matters where you grow up, it will determine your identity. If you grow up in US, then you will be american, or in UK then you will be british, you learn that culture first of all from your young age. Look is just look, nothing else, it is exactly the same (in my opinion), when two white people have different color of hair... it is just the look nothing else. People are just uneducated and juding instantly by look, just because you look asian, you are not asian (inside), as you said your real parents are those who raised you up, then why you feel urged to learn Chinese now? You don't have to chase things you are not related anymore, but I understand your confusion, I have heard similar stories also in the case of half-asian people, there is a time in their life, when they go through this identity crisis, looking for answer who they are really, because the society judge your by the look and just because of your look, you don't feel fitting in. The problem is definitely not with you!
@Sakuraxrox1 Hi thanks for sharing your story! I actually have been back to China and I did feel out of place with everyone staring at me and the group I was with (I was with my family and a tour group). You're right, I definitely prefer America since I grew up in the US, I just wish I was more connected with my culture and wasn't judged by others for not being Asian/white enough for whatever group I'm with.
I’m also adopted from China and live in the Netherlands. It was a pleasure to watch your video!💕. I recognised a lot of things you said🤗. Thank you for your honesty, telling your opinions and perspectives on adoption. Thanks for sharing your story 🥰.
I love how your mother immediately knew (when given the advise that "Chinese babies don't like to be held") that she was NOT going to let go of her baby girl, instant instinct of what was best for her daughter. Thank-you for your honesty and insight, you did an incredible job.
Who is saying such a nonsense? Go to China, they lug their children everywhere around for the first years, so much that I sometimes thought: shxt enough now, let that poor thing down!
@@krollpeter So glad you blew that silly half-truth out of the water. Absolutely no fault of her mom’s or any of the mommies commenting here who reacted out of protective maternal instincts. But whoever it was back in China who gave or translated that nonsensical piece of advice needed to be called out for a such rank stupidity. “Chinese babies don’t like to be coddled/cuddled/whatever”? Babies from any culture love the warmth of being in their mothers’ arms and that piece of advice just needlessly perpetrates very undeserved stereotypes of Chinese parents and people.
Adoption is so hard, there is so much joy but born from such a huge loss. As a bio mom and adoptive mom I can vouch there is absolutely zero difference between my love for my children. You're an adorable daughter! Wishing you much happiness and success in your life ❤️
It's wonderful to see a family that understands "family" is not defined by the mere miracle of genetics, but by love. Great video, and a great message!
You are so very blessed to have been chosen by two amazingly loving human beings. Your daddy is so tender hearted that it even caused my eyes to spring a leak. It is so VERY clear that you could not be any more loved, cherished and adored, had you been born of their flesh and blood. Sending much love and an abundance of beautiful blessings to you and your family. 💝
Love is always the answer. It is the great healer. The great equalizer. Some people are raised in families where their biological parents weren't present for them and these same biological parents never understood how to love their children properly. Your parents love you. That is very clear. You don't need to define yourself exclusively by a culture or by your physiological appearance. What people say is largely not thought through thoroughly in most cases so try not to absorb how they see you.Surround yourself by people who raise you up, not by people who tear you down. I come from a mixed cultural background and I feel part of all of them but I never feel exclusively like one culture over another. I tend to see myself as person in a world that is very culturally rich. I am a person amongst a variety of people who are all on the path of life trying to be the best person we can possible be.
A law was passed in China called "One child policy". As much as your parents might have wanted to keep you, they're probably forced to give you up because of it. But God has blessed you, your sister, your adoptive Mom and Dad to become a loving family. I'm happy for you. And I hope someday you'll meet your biological parents. God bless.
Hey! I'm adopted and Chinese as well and raised by white parents. I found your video because tonight I felt out of touch with myself. I really related to the things you were saying in this video and it comforted me to know other people are going through the same things. This was an amazing video!
My wife and I are adopting a girl from China, she will also be almost 3 years old and we are so excited, it is so much to take in! Thank you for this video, we are always looking for ways to help us better understand all sides.
I had to pause the video about halfway through and SOB. Adoption is beautiful. Every person deserves a loving family. Yes, your parents are special. But so are you. Their lives are more rich because of you and your sister. Thank you THANK YOU for sharing. I know it wasn’t easy but it was extremely helpful in educating people about adoption. And we SO need to hear the adoptee’s perspective. I love your personality and your openness. One day, I hope to adopt and now I can direct my own children to your TH-cam channel as someone they can learn from and relate. God bless you!
Yes... Children should reciprocate especially when parents are aged and when children become so successful they provide the best care like that what Ellen does to her mom.
Wow, a lot of vulnerability and strength shown here. Thank you for being willing to share this story for so many others to hear. I’m sure other adoptees may run across this video and find some comfort in it.
Love how open you are about your adoption,you and your sister are so blessed to have the parents you have you can diffently tell how much your parents love you..
God bless you! thank you for sharing your story. I have two adopted grandchildren that I was blessed to be able to go to China with the whole family and be a part of the adoption process. My kids and grands have a channel called Grace for the Millers. They adopted an older girl who was 12 and a baby boy with special needs that was 2. They are flourishing! So thankful for their adoption and the trip of a lifetime to China exploring the amazing Chinese country and culture.
You are a beautiful girl! I hope you can accept that and realize how special you are. You have a unique path in this world! My granddaughter, Penelope, lived 12 years from China, and now lives in a white family! Talk about confusing! I hope you will watch their channel and connect with her. She still stays in touch with her foster Mom and the whole family just went back to the China this past fall and visited. It was an incredible experience. Just wish I could have gone too! I love China. :)
Thank you for making this video. I really enjoy watching the baby adoption videos. I don’t know anyone adopted, but I’ve always wanted to know how your lives turned out. In my next life I want to adopt. Your Dad is so soft hearted, much love to your adopted parents, they did a great job and with so much love!
Such a sweet video and a sweet family. There are SO many stories on the internet about the adoption process from the parent's point of view which are wonderful, however I LOVE hearing your personal viewpoint of your journey through being adopted by your sweet parent's. You are a brave young woman to allow yourself to be vulnerable and share your amazing story. You are bright, articulate, and your love for your adopted parent's is very evident. Wishing you all the success in the world both personally and professionally!
hey, are you okay? a lot of people seeing this for the first time recently may not know, but this account hasn’t posted in literally three years, and went dead silent since the last video posted on the profile. really hope you’re healthy and well!
You are discovering your place in life and sometimes it is confusing but be kind to your kind parents. There is always someone who has it 100 percent worse than you or I. I’m a 53 year old Cantonese male, been in America since 1969. My father never spoke to us kids. My mother was very abusive verbally and physically. I joined the army in 1986 partly to escape my horrible mother. You were raised with an abundance of love. You’re so lucky.
Thank you for sharing this part of your life with the internet. This whole video was super interesting! I really enjoyed the clip segments with you speaking to your parents, your phone call with your sister, and you speaking by yourself about your identity; so everything. You mentioned that you're trying to learn Chinese. I recently took an intensive Mandarin course at my university (I've been studying Mandarin since middle school. I'm going to be a senior in college in the fall). Something I find helpful for my listening comprehension this last semester was watching Chinese dramas. I'll edit this comment with a few I enjoyed once I remember the names!
Emily, thank you for sharing your story. My hurt for the little girl that didn’t understand why she was left in China with strangers, and rejoiced at the same time, for the loving parents and sister that is your forever family. I love what you said, about our stories all being unique. My son’s best friend, was adopted from South Korea. He is an amazing young man (at 12 years old), and at times, he is uncomfortable with his story (he has such dear parents who love him unconditionally) so I will have him watch this video. Don’t you wish that we, as a culture, could throw away all the stereotypes?? I sure do!! You are an amazing and beautiful young woman, and you have a depth of understanding of how life works, that is not typical of a young person. I think you understand more than many adults. This video really touched my heart, because I also 2 daughters who are near your age. I wish you, your sister, and your parents much love and happiness. Thank you again, for sharing 💜❤️
Thank you for sharing your story. I’m adopted and had all those feelings and now during this quarantine, I’ve been doing a lot of self reflecting on my life and stumble upon these kinds of stories. Your family is pretty cool and so is your story and opening up.
Awww your dad is beautiful, he was sad that you thought maybe he doesn't love you as much as he would a biological child. Treasure your sweet parents, always be kind & loving towards them, as they obviously adore you ♥️
Thank you for sharing. I have a friend that was adopted from Korea and when I asked her how she felt about her adoption she said "I don't have any regrets, because I know my parents wanted me". This sums it up in my mind, when people adopt a child they 100% love that child and are committed to that child's life. In this way, (acknowledging that there is trauma in the beginning) the child is given the kind of love that everyone in this world is searching for. Unconditional, unabashed, abiding love. Every child deserves to be loved unconditionally, and while adoption is not perfect (nothing in life is) it is a beautiful journey that a child and her parents take together.
Our son has been with us for almost two months. When I'm out with him by myself, people tell me we look alike. The funny thing is I'm blonde with light blue eyes and our son is Chinese. Okay, sure. I'll take it.
The comments people make either to make themselves more comfortable or because they feel they need to validate others are often amusing. It seems telling adopted parents they look like the child (even when they don't have any similar features) is quite common. I've noticed this being said time after time with others in my life. I remember one time someone was so insistent that the child replied "that's so weird because I'm adopted" and the commenter insisted they look just alike (parents were from the Netherlands and they had an adopted daughter from China and a son from Africa. The son from Africa was who they said looked just like them). It became super awkward. However, it's much kinder and is a softer than the "real parents" comments. I'd love to see a day where people are just comfortable being together instead of always attempting to use weird validation comments.
So I watched your entire video. I was never adopted but I did adopt my Filipina wife's son. From the moment I met him, he was my child. I don't think he ever felt anything other than being my son. I think your video would be good for adopted children and parents alike should watch. You shouldn't feel out of place. Biological parents have to take whatever child they get. You however, were hand picked. These people chose you and I think that's awesome. You are a beautiful young girl and I can tell that you are an awesome daughter. Not only are you lucky to have them, but they are lucky to you too.
Plenty of children are raised with bio parents who either didn't really want them or don't gel with them. Being raised in an environment like that, is no joke. So I always think that adopted children must have that blessed feeling that their parents really wanted them, to go to the lengths they have to go to, the hoops they have to jump through, and the obstacles they are willing to overcome just to love and raise a child. Yes there is the odd rare example of it not working out, but on the whole adopted children are very loved. I've always thought that to be a wonderful thing. I was raised by parents who didn't gel with me and didn't really want me. They raised me anyway, kinda, but from a young age I wished someone else would take me. It never happened but it's okay. I love these video's because I love seeing how happy everyone is ♥
Thank you for sharing your story. It’s so lovely to see more people sharing their adoption stories. You are paving the way for more adoptees to have more support from their communities ❤️
I'm adopted from China too and I can relate to some parts of the video (some things and perspectives may be different, either personal or from family members). My adoptive parents are spanish and I don't know my biological ones either. I got lucky to meet more girls like me and be able to have them in my life. Really helped me in moments of defeat against people who judged me just because I had asian facial features. I have heard (on tv/news) of children (more girls than boys, and not necessarily chinese adoptees) that have suffered bullying and it got them to commit suicide, which is so sad and upsetting. I have been dealing with bullying for many years, have friends who have deal with it too and friends who didn't have to deal with it. No matter if you have suffered it or not, firstly, we are human and we have feelings. In my case I never felt bad or humiliated in the sense of being adopted but it frustrated me to hear people who doesn't know anything about you to treat you bad cause of where you were born. With time I stopped caring about what people said, even if it sometimes still trigers some feelings of anger against those who speak badly. And I got lucky to go back to China and visit some places, even if I would need many more travels to see all of it. You do you and hopefully you accept yourself as you are because you are a person first and foremost. Also want to learn chinese!
I encourge you to learn and explore more about yourself! Dont worry about ppl that bbully u, ur amazing and their just immature. Just accept and love yourself for who you are.
I loved your video!!! I have three children and I love them all. It is such an amazing journey and gift to have them in my life. You are a smart lady and very well balanced. You are a loving family and I am so happy for all of you.
you’re parents seem so sweet and have such a great heart! I’m glad you chose to share your story. I personally teared up because I also am a Chinese Adoptee as well! Bless you! 💖
You are so insightful 😊. You are beautiful inside and out, thank you for sharing your story for everyone to be inspired and comforted by. I pray some day soon you are able to fully accept yourself and the process of learning who you are and I think you are definitely on your way to that. Be proud to be you and live in the love that surrounds you. You are amazing! Never question that. If it helps, finding yourself is simply life. Om old as dirt and still learning. You fit everywhere. 😊
I can see how’s emotional the parent are , they must have so big kind harts and you are so lucky to have such a lovely parent like these two wonderful people. I am so sure if they don’t have the kindness in them, they will never put themselves out as it’s not an easy road to take. So many obstacle, so much they have to sacrifice, it is not for everyone . You are one of the luckiest one. 🙏🙏😇😇
You hit the adoption lottery. Your parents are amazing people. I can see you grew up with unconditional love. Being an Asian living in California I can emphasize with the need to fit in and it took me probably 20 years to be proud of my Japanese heritage. I can no longer speak Japanese to my regret. I lost a part of my self trying to fit in with the white culture. It's wonderful you are embracing your history and culture. I really enjoyed your video.❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Be proud! When you are confident, it shows and people believe you. So relearn your Japanese and even if you have no one to speak, speak to yourself. I am a multilingual myself and I love diversity. You can fit in and also bring your own touch with you
You are so gorgeous... The clip where you're crying for the orphanage carers just made me cry at your devastation...I guess it was a good sign, like your mother said, that you were capable of forming attachments. I also cry when just born babies cry for the first time, since the the baby is so sad and confused and cold, yet it's a good sign, a sign of life.
Emily, Love your openess about being adopted. 4 of my 6 kids are from China. My two oldest biological sons were older teens when we decided to adopt from China. In my case, I wanted to tell you somethings... you asked your parents about whether they thought they could love a child who wasnt "theirs" and discussed attachment. I wanted to answer that question you had, since I have bio kids too. Honestly, my kids from China were loved immediately, I felt way different about them and the attachment both ways was fast and pretty much instant. With my biological kids that connection was NOT instant, I had to work hard to attach to them. It was all around WAY easier to feel love and attachment to my kids from China. My bio kids felt to me like they did not initially belong to me, while my adopted kids felt like they were mine immediately. I still feel guilty telling my bio kids, how I initially felt. So can I love my adopted kids just like my bio kids? Yes, easily. I today, love all my kids and they all feel like my kids...no difference. But backmthen, yes it was different. I also tell my China children, to love their nationality, birth country and culture. I personally do not believe in tolerance nor do any of my kids. We instead believe in loving all people. We do not practice being color blind here either...I recognize my childrens differences because that is what makes them special, beautiful...its who they are and I would never want to cut out their Chinese because its like saying, you, who you are does not matter and my kids DO matter. I want them to be proud to be Chinese, not ashamed. Our newest daughter struggles with herself being Chinese, she was adopted at 8 years old just 6 months ago. We tell her often, that she is to love China, because China will always be part of her and that we love all of her. That no country is perfect but China is part of all of us. Always. If they want to feel sad or angry its ok though, its their right. We also are older parents, though my Husband and I were together since I was 16 and he was 19 years old, we married when I was 20 years old. Adoption was always part of our plan. Hubby was never supposed to have biological kids and we got prayed over at our church and got pregnant finally, miscarried and 3 weeks later got pregnant again and then a year and a half later got pregnant again and had our 2 boys. Complete miracles. After having them, knowing we now could have biological kids, I still wanted to adopt. My husband was scared to adopt..it took his 13 years to say yes to adoption. I refused to have anymore biological kids till he agreed to adopt at least one. When I was 39 years old, he finally said yes to adopting. After adopting our daughter, then our son, my husband ended up loving and preferring adoption. So, we decided to end the biological option and make Adoption our Plan A. In the last 7 years, we brought home 4 kids from China. Hubby just turned 50 and I turned 47 last month. Thankfully, we look like we are way younger, most people think we look like we are in our mid 30s or younger. But still, we used to be the young parents, now with our youngest 4 we are older parents. I expect my kids to feel weird as they have parents who are older, and thats expected and ok. My oldest 2 loved having young parents and I believe any child would prefer parents to be younger. But us older parents rock too, just slower. 😂😁😉 And our kids still love us anyways!!! My Mom was 35 when she got pregnant by a man who took advantage of her. That man, my biological Father was even older, into his 40s. I felt fearful growing up wondering if my Mom would live long enough to see her grandkids. My Mom looked way younger though, today she is almost 83 years old and she looks about 60 years old. She has seen all 6 of my kids grow up...my Dad only met my first son though. 😔 Also, I never knew my bio father and was adopted by my Dad, my Moms husband when I was a baby. I found out I was adopted in my 20s. It was a blow, I struggled feeling unwanted, unloved, all of these emotions for a few years. A few years later, at 25 years old my Dad..the one who adopted me passed away. It was then I realized the truth about myself. That I was my Dads daughter, and loved him fiercely and nothing would change that. But...I also realized I AM me and even though my identity was rooted in MY Dad, my parents...still..I had a biological father, who while never wanted me ( I was not wanted, because he was embarrassed he could not face his mistakes and how he treated women) ...still I am me partly because of him too. I have learned to love me as I am, with all my roots, differences, and similarities, all of it made me ME. Far as my kids feeling different, my adopted kids are told its ok to feel different. Its acceptable here to express all the feelings they have. My kids were abandoned yes, but I tell them their birth parents in China wanted them because they left them in places they could be found and that I know they are amazing people because I tell them, they have to be because you are amazing. You had to get these amazing traits from someone as you came home to us this way!!! 😁 My kids all have special needs, and 2 have more visible needs people can see. I do not feel they will struggle though with looking different, or being Chinese...and not because they wont feel sad at times of looking different but because we talk about how every single person in our family of 8 HAS differences. We show them our scars, point out our differences and tell them, every one of us has differences, but what makes a family a family is how we can discuss how we all differ and how we all matter and how we ALL make this family what it is by being ourselves. Without each of us being different, our family would be SO boring, we celebrate our differences, while still enjoying the crazy amount of similarities. All of our kids are nearly identical in personalities to each other. Only God could do this, we know its not normal. But our 6 kids all act the same, have similar interests, react the same and overall are WAY more similar on the inside then they look on the outside. Though all our kids strangely have physical similarities to each other, shared hairlines, same identical fingers and fingernails, the list is endless. Truthfully, its strange how it is. People outside our home always tell us, and look at us strangely, saying, how in the world can they all have the same personalities, same multiple medical problems, all 8 of us are even severely allergic !!? We have to go to the pharmacy to pick up 8 peoples allergy and asthma meds. And it looks even stranger when we all file in at the grocery store to pick them up!!! Pharmacist looks at us, like huh, how??? We just laugh. Even their mannerisms, the way they smile, walk, talk etc all 6 are the same way. So while we get some rude, invasive questions outside our home, most people just look at us confused. They can not figure out if their adopted or not, and look at us thinking, maybe one of us parents was married before to someone who is Asian, just because the similarities are so identical. Crazy. Again, this is not normal...but even me, no one knew I was not my Dads daughter because I too was just like him. But I had my entire life to learn, my kids came home like us!!! Really Strange. God for sure. Reason, I tell you all this is because its normal to feel all kinds of feelings being adopted, I know I felt similar things too being adopted myself. Just know, every part of YOU is special, to be celebrated. My children owe me zero gratitude either for adopting them, they never had the choice to be adopted or especially to get me and their Dad as parents. My kids, ALL 6 of them get to decide if they were blessed to have their family or not. My bio kids got stuck with us by biology and our china kids got stuck with us by our choice. None of our kids had a choice in the matter so they all get to decide for themselves if their parents and the family they got were right for them. I always tell my husband and others, only my kids can answer how THEY feel. That is their right. And I also believe that coming to our home and to the USA may be a blessing for them or a curse, or both. Being a part of this family means we get to decide how we feel. I love all my kids, and there is a choice for them to say how they feel with zero anger from anyone. Living out life as a family is one not to be taken lightly. We wanted, desperately each of our children, and to us adopted or biological...each way makes a beautiful family. Blessings to you Emily as you seek to search your life and heart for the peace and undersranding of all the answers you seek and wonder about. We plan to do 23andme DNA testing soon in hopes of them finding bio family. We adopted from China because Hubby loves the culture there, it was the ONLY country he would go too because he heard God tell him our children were there. I had always hoped to go to Latin America. My sister passed away in a small plane crash in 1997, a few months before my Dad passed away and flying far to adopt was scary for me in all honesty. But God worked it out for us. 😁 We still would love to adopt more kids. Today, my kids are 22, 20, 9,8,7 and 5 years old. If we adopt again, we hope to adopt older kids to offset us being older now. We are pretty youthful older parents but still we are the age we are. 😎 May God Bless your life and future.
@Sakuraxrox1 My life does feel like a movie and since I wrote this comment, we are in process to adopt again so the story continues...🙂 We are so excited! Hubby and I really are great friends, growing up together does make it very easy to have an amazing marriage. I was told, getting married young is not a good idea, but its worked out wonderful for us. Far as having a big family, growing up in a large family myself, I actually wanted 0-2 -kids, preferably 0. Once married, it was like ok maybe 2, my husband would love to have 4 but knew he would hit the lottery just to have 1 child. Funny, how God works....now looking to add pur 7th! Irony has it now, I am feeling ready to be done growing our family and Hubby would like to adopt up to 5-6 more kids! He is now so on board adopting, he bought us a 12 passenger bus 2 years back, and now talks of s9meday adding a 15 passenger bus!!!;😮😮😮😮 oh how things changed. 😁
@Sakuraxrox1 Thank You! We do love the fact our kids will have each other. Since we have adopted so many kids, and ones that also have the same medical issues, they have their own personal support group. I was the only one adopted in my family and though I never knew till I was older, there was always conflict with me and the rest of my siblings as I was so different. Once I learned we had the same Mom but different Dad it all made sense. Though irony was my adoptive Dad and I got along the best in the family and had identical views. Crazy. But, still....my kids having each other makes me so happy. My kids all know that being different is a good thing, but truly ALL of them are the same as each other! My oldest 2 biological sons are deeply attached to all their younger siblings. They will be 24 and 22 in October but still live at home, and have no plans to leave. They even do college online and work online and have so for years because they want to be here with their siblings. My second oldest also is the kids fulltime homeschool teacher as he is in college studying to be a Pastor and teacher. Both sons tell me all the time, that having these kids is their dream come true! They both love these kids SO much that both of them generally are carrying their "babies" as they call them or having kids on their laps all day. Even going anywhere, people just stare because my oldest have 2 kids on each of them...people just stare not knowing whether they are the kids Father or not, and especially confused because we are there too and look young ourselves. We are a spectacle for sure. 😁 My oldest ask us to adopt more kids as they feel so incredibly blessed to have each of them, so it's going to be a sad day when we wre finally done adopting. 🙁 Though, as a family we have been talking about buying land. Oldest sons desire, once they move out and marry, to live next door so they can always be with their siblings, so that may be in the works after this next adoption. And while we as parents tell them, that you can move out and live your life anywhere you want, they are horrified at the thought of not seeing their siblings everyday....so our next adventure as a family will be finding enough land to build multiple homes, enough for every kid if they choose. Looking back, growing our family has been such a unique experience but seeing how all of us mesh and grafted together so seamlessly has definitely been a gift from above. God even showed me one day a tree, same leaves but the trees leaves were 2 shades of green all in one tree, as if 2 trees United to make 1, God told me...that is your family! I took a picture and now that will forever remind me of the beauty of our family and how it came to be. 😇❤❤❤ I plan to get a print of that tree and put it on my wall. The world has been at odds with each other so much this last year, but as I sit on our huge couch and all of us are instead are piled on each other laps in what is essentially 2 seats, when I see others panicking at being home together fulltime during this pandemic and realize my family has always been home fulltime and prefers it, when I see my big boys playing every single day with their little siblings and rearranging their online jobs/school at night just so they have all day with their siblings, when I see our family rally around a child who is crying or hurting...every single one of us surrounding whomever is upset or scared, I feel incredibly blessed. And, I also know it's not everyone's story, it was not how I or my husband grew up, it was never our story but like the tree God showed me, he can make the impossible, possible. So honored to have each and every person in my family, what gifts they are!😊😊😊😊
Motherhood or fatherhood does not depend on whether it is biological or adoptive. It is a transcendental, spiritual bond arises between parent and a child. You are a lucky girl. ❤️
Emily, you are lovely soul. It is never too late to learn an new culture and language, even if it is your own. Best wishes for your continuing journey. ❤️👍
I come from a family with really crazy mixed racial backgrounds and we all look very different! We do not worry about cultural stereotypes etc our mixed heritage and differences makes us realize we are global citizens and that is all that matters. Be kind be loving and curious about life and its diversity and enjoy life. Nothing else matters.
As a parent I've known my children since before their own remembrance of themselves. In that sense I know my children better than they know themselves. I'm saddened to think of your struggle to reconcile your beginnings, the love of you true parents (the ones who raised and loved you) and who you are. It's all a beautiful story. No story is perfect.
Being adopted myself, I have never had the courage to ask my parents or family these types of questions! God bless!! I’m now 32 and I understand being shy and not always talking about yourself and coming to accept who you are!! It’s taken me years and years to learn to love me for me!! I also was adopted into a Caucasian family and grew up thinking I was the same until I started getting made fun of 😭 I am and look 100% Korean and had to learn a lot of culture on my own. My parents taught me as much as they knew and learned about Korean culture but learned more on my own as I got older! Like you mentioned about brushing things off, I feel the same way, it’s hardened me almost too much where sometimes it is hard on the relationships I’ve built
Sweet girl with beautiful eyes, you are a Chinese girl and you will always be one, please be kind and having a wonderful life where ever you are my dear. Baba
You are way beyond your years!!! this video will be so helpful to adoptees and people who adopt... your so lucky to have your parents... and there even luckier to have such a beautiful, intellect, insightful daughter!!!!!
You feel very present and alive in this video, I feared for a second this video would be like 10 years old and you would be a different person. Now I kinda feel I know you and I'm probably not the only one here. I hope the small insecurities disappear and you find your way in life you seem like a nice person to get to know. Best wishes!
You are the most beautiful baby, child and young adult!!! Wow! I'm so happy your parents adopted you! As a mother, my heart strings pull and I've got tears knowing that so many children across the globe need mommy's and daddy's! I can't imagine abandoning a child.
hey! i am also an adoptee from china, who was adopted my american parents and have an older adopted sister too! ! loved everything about this video, how you interviewed your parents and sister, included footage of you as a child and of course the inspirational talk at the end! i could literally relate to everything you said, and this video has helped me feel comfort in our small community of chinese adoptees. i also struggle with my identity, with like, considering myself as white when i look asian, i get you girl 😉 its uncanny that our stories are so similar and maybe one day ill get the courage (and motivation lol) to make a video like this! also, i was just curious what province you're from and where in the states you're from, as well as how old you and your sister are. hehe you even have the same name as my sister!
I can't even fathom what you been through.i mean kids in middle school and high school are anyway without any reason mean to eachother.it was probably worse for you . I really really admire you speaking up about it.I'm sure it will help many other people ❤
Hi Emily, I’m a mom of 5 way past childbearing years but I long for a child! I don’t know how I came to watch gotcha day videos but somehow they popped up on my TH-cam page. Watching all these beautiful children meet their adoptive parents has made me have so many crazy thoughts. One night last week a horrible documentary was brought to my attention and it broke my heart, traumatized me. I began watching the Chinese Adoptions thanking GOD for each one of you who’s life was spared. Who was placed in a good agency and put in homes where you would ( hopefully ) be loved and nurtured. For the reasons you mention you can guess that your birth mom was probably heartbroken to have no choice. Looking at our world today and the women who are fighting for the right to rid themselves of a child instead of the choice to adopt grieves me as I’d bet SO many women in China would give anything to keep their child. Going deep it’s really a spiritual battle. You wonder a bit if your parents ever thought they would love you differently. I can tell you from my own heart after raising my kids. If some miracle happened and I was given the extreme gift of a child, ANY child I for SURE would love him or her as fiercely and completely as any of my kids. I always wonder more how the children feel. Some cry so hard and I can’t imagine how it feels to them. For them to be placed in the hands of strangers has to be so very scary. Anyway. You’re a beautiful young lady and I wish you the best. Thank you for sharing your story!
I was adopted after being rescued from an abusive and neglectful mother. I was rescued by a nurse doing checks on a Friday afternoon. I hadn’t been fed in 2 days and my “ future Aunt” (the nurse) took me to her brother and wife who adopted me when I was 3. I had 3 years of repossession by birth mother before they got me for good. The impact of that time doesn’t go away.
Love this, and as an adoptee, I can completely relate to this process. The best is yet to come. You are LOVED beyond measure. You were chosen, not only by your beautiful parents, but by God. When I've felt different than everyone else, knowing how God sees me, makes all the difference. I am white, and still always felt like I never fit in anywhere.. lol am I Irish, Italian, English, French, German, Norwegian?! Maybe I'm from Greece?! Now that I'm almost 50, the only reason it matters now is to give that to my own children. Funny, my husband bought me this DNA test to find out and I have yet to utilize it. Ha!
Very touching story, I am so glad you are finding yourself and accepting of your adoption. I was truly brought to tears by your story, but in a good way. Thanks for sharing your life and your feelings and I wish you the best in life. God Bless you and your parents never ending love. Peace be with you.
Emily , please love your parents very well I can feel ,see and touch their love for you so much and love is everything, and beautiful please give it back to them always.
Where I live there is a lot of adopted children so much so that no one ever goes up to them and asks them about their adoption story. Yeah I've also been asked a lot about if my parents are my grandparents, but I choose to think its funny and I'm proud of it. I really want my parents to adopt a boy my age that's from somewhere in Asia.
You are a beautiful young lady. Just feel proud of yourself. I think your problem is more about age than culture. Every one is different as you know and that’s the most important point. Your adopted parents love you so much and that’s a wonderful gift 💝. Move forward and achieve your dreams. You’re so bright and special I just know you will do well. Xx
Early history taught that adoption was a noble act. You're beautiful hun, inside and out. You made me realize, it's time for me and my wife to adopt. XOXO
Some children aren't as fortunate to have the adoptive parents as you do; even in regular families, children are having a hard time fitting in where love should be unconditional. You are truly blessed.
Your parents are the sweetest. I started bawling when your Dad cried.
So did I. What a blessed family.
You can be happyto came into this blessed familly.biological parents couldnt love you more believe me.god bless you ❤
Your dad is such a sweetheart, he made me cry
Hola bonita: hace un tiempo vi el video de tu adopción y pensaba que había sido tu vida ......desde el.primer momento has tenido la suerte del riego que significa adoptar ,es el.mas grande acto de amor del ser humano,seas de donde seas ,atravesar el.mundo para ir a buscarte y darte tan gran amor, se llevan mí admiracion.....Dios te bendijo!!!!!!!
Maria Teresa from Argentina.
My parents didn't actually want me, I just happened when my mother became pregnant....But your parents desperately wanted you and went out of their way to to bring you into their family. They wanted YOU, so they could love YOU!!! You are special!!!
Aww😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 God loves YOU the way YOU are! YOU are His treasure and His creation. May you feel God's love and peace today!♥♥♥
I taught in a Chinese bilingual school for 22 years and had the pleasure of teaching many girls who were adopted from China. Some of them returned to China when they were in high school and college to volunteer to care for the children in the orphanage from which they had been adopted, and sometimes the women who worked there remembered them from when they were babies there. Their parents were devoted, progressive parents who supported their daughters to have full lives with intellectual as well as artistic enrichment, and happy social lives. They were some of my favorite students.
Your adoptive father and mother are very kind. Bless you.
totally agreed with your comment; Emily was expressing her gratitude to her adopted parents for their unconditional love, sacrify, and creating a safety net for her good life.. Emily is a product of good parenting and education.. Bravo to her parents, wish Emily the best for the rest of her journey..
What a gorgeous, brave and intellegent young lady! The older we get the more we realize there is no such thing as "normal" and fitting in. I lived with my actual family but never felt loved. I hardly had a relationship with my mom, so much so I wanted to be adopted to people who actually wanted me. Family is so much deeper than blood. There's families that are together but there's no love and than there families that were brought together by adoption who have a love most children with biological parents will never know. You and your family are amazing! Something to never be ashamed about! May God continue to bless you all your life! Thank you for sharing your story ❤
We adopted our son from South Korea a year ago and vlogged the experience as well. Your video made me cry. So special. Thank you for sharing
I feel that how much your parents love you . Now it's your time to show them some love coz they're getting old so pls be kind with them and always respect .
bule afghan offarin! I can see how a good son you are for your parents. I’m so proud of you.
if she is brought up with chinese culture yes she will, but now i dont really know
Hopfully she is i think and bule afghan u made a valid point thank u anyway
Her parents are so lovely and honest, her father is such a gentle man.
She is a nice kind girl, sure she knows that
"Chinese children don't like to be held." This broke my heart on so many levels. Children everywhere desire affection and yearn to be close to their caregivers. It's probably custom of that culture to not be overly affectionate but it's still sad to me. Your mother is a smart lady.
Actually this is so totally not true. I live in China and observe children being held all the time. They literally spend their first two years of life in the arms of their grandparents.
Great video. I really love what you are sharing. You are unique ! Exactly who you are meant to be.
Catherine Park Thank you for letting me know I was incorrect on my assumption. It makes me happy knowing it’s not a culture thing and just that single persons opinion.
Levine Levine Clearly you can’t read and are having troubles comprehending what I said. Have a beautiful day.
HakunaMatata
This was most likely a translation error, orphanage won’t be able to provide a professional interpreter. Anyway, Emily has loving parents is most important.
this is not true, I live in china and are around Chinese kids every day and they are very clingy on me sometimes having 20 of them pushing you down, and this was a great watch I also want adapt a Chinese girl
Your parent are very good person,may God bless them
you are such a beautiful girl！
You leaved China when you little gril, Can you speak Chinese?
In Chinese, a saying, I often heard from my mother...."the parents whom brought you up are greater than the birth parents."
My mother also said...".kindness must be remembered for a thousand years"
This pretty girl is so luck to have love n kind adoptive parents. So love them and take care of them well.
May heavens bless you and the lovely parents.
Exactly True!the one who brought you up are the Greatest human being.
could your Dad be any cuter? what a sweet man! He absolutely loves his little girl !! Your mom is also lovely, she seems like a very strong lady.
Right,good eyes,,dad is so sensitive person ,
You have a beautiful story. My brother and I were abandoned July 30th, 1970 at a motel in Los Angeles. I was 4 and he was 2. We went through several foster homes and adopted three years later. Like you, we looked different from our “white” parents. Our ethnicity was unknown unknown at that time, but we obviously looked mixed being much “browner”. In 2013, we DNA tested and found out we were half-siblings with different biological fathers. Our ethnicity was also determined. My colorful outward appearance came from my Native American ancestry and his came from Southeast Asia. In 2018, we DNA tested with Ancestry and finally received a close enough match that identified our biological mother as well as my biological father (both deceased). From there, I was able to piece together the rest of the story including identifying my brother’s biological father. Earlier this year, I found, contacted and confirmed his father was alive and living in Bangkok, Thailand. They’ve started developing a relationship and my brother has a few more half-siblings. Hug your parents for me and enjoy your adoption journey wherever it takes you. Also, if our stories were just like everyone else’s, we’d just be average 😉👍🏻
Sean FromTX wow
I was abandoned on September 16th 2005 5 days after I was born. I was abandoned in a hospital in Hefei Anhui province. The Children’s welfare institute of hefei city found me and took me and searched for my parents for 2 months they never found them and they decided that I was to be up for adoption at 22 months old 20 months after I was declared up for adoption I was brought to America with my new Mother and Father where I would go to a Home in which there was to be 7 children waiting for me. I along with 3 others were adopted From China. It took me 1 year and 6 months to go from Chinese to English I am great full for the parents who adopted me and the police officers who found me.
Dragon Riders O INCREDIBLE! Interestingly enough, this past Sunday, I spoke with a “foundling” just like us. She was abandoned in a dumpster and left to die 37 years ago. She is truly a living miracle. We shared our stories over the phone for nearly 2 1/2 hours. I’ve had many verbal conversations with other adoptees over the years, but never another foundling. It was an absolute honor. It’s good to hear you are grateful for your adopted family and thanks for sharing your story!
Sean FromTX wow.
Bless you...what an incredible story. I have two daughters adopted from China. Sometimes, I think that people only think these kids are the only ones abandoned; your sharing lets us know that even in the US this happens.
Tess M I have 3 sisters who were also adopted from China as well. Honestly about 400 million Chinese girls were abandoned. The death rate was 21:28
Hi Emily!
I was also adopted from China and I have an older sister who was adopted too. Being adopted by loving parents was the best thing that has ever happened to me and I am grateful every day to be with people who love me and in a country that gives me freedoms that I would not have if I were still in China. I really related to a lot of things you mentioned in this video. Growing up I was embarrassed to be Chinese, especially since I grew up in a predominately Caucasian neighborhood and went to a high school that did not have much diversity. My best friend throughout childhood is also adopted from China and we were in the same grade. We would always reject anything that reminded us of Chinese culture, making comments like "That's so Asian" in a negative way. I laughed along with racist jokes in order to fit in or seem as white as possible. My parents sent me to Chinese school every Saturday for years in attempt to get me and my sister to learn Chinese, but I did not take it seriously so I didn't really learn it. Now that I'm in college and am in a much more diverse setting, I wish I payed more attention and absorbed the Chinese culture more.
I'm not ashamed of being Chinese anymore, but I still have racial identity crises (as I like to call it) where I struggle feeling completely like I fit in. I find it hard to relate to a lot of non-adopted Asians because I don't feel Asian enough. I also still don't feel white enough when I'm with my Caucasian friends since there's still some clear barriers in some situations because of being a minority (there are some things I just cannot explain to them since they are not a minority race nor are they adopted). My roommate in college was Chinese and grew up in a Chinese household and she really helped me to feel connected with the culture.
Seeing Crazy Rich Asians actually was the first time I really felt proud to be Asian (I was 20 years old). I feel that it's sad I hadn't felt that until I was that old. Seeing people who look like me in pop culture made me feel so happy, and in a way validated. This is something most Caucasians will probably never truly understand since they are so used to their race being represented in media. I find speaking about these issues to be difficult especially since most of my friends are white. They usually nod and smile but I know they can't really get it.
I'm sure you get this question as well since you have an adopted sister. People ask if my sister and I are biologically related and while I understand their curiosity, it becomes repetitive. It especially frustrates me when people use the term "real parents" when referring to my biological parents. My "real parents" are the people who raised me. I'm not sure if you speak to your parents about your struggles regarding adoption and race, but a part of me feels like I would sound ungrateful if I did so. I know they would hear me out and do everything they could to reassure me it's okay, but it's just not something I would want to get into with them. While I have my sister and best friend, a part of me wishes I kept in contact with my adoption group so I would have more people to relate to.
Thank you for sharing your story. I always love to hear about other fellow adoptees!
JLK12 I don’t think I have ever related to a comment more. Thank you for showing me that I’m not the only one that is going through this!
Thank you so much for sharing your story!! I can totally relate to all of those feelings.
SAME lol
I think there are huge differences between having asian look (genetics) and having asian cultural identity (growing up in Eastern Asia). People should understand these first of all, and it is not about asians of course, but it is the example now. First of all that matters where you grow up, it will determine your identity. If you grow up in US, then you will be american, or in UK then you will be british, you learn that culture first of all from your young age. Look is just look, nothing else, it is exactly the same (in my opinion), when two white people have different color of hair... it is just the look nothing else. People are just uneducated and juding instantly by look, just because you look asian, you are not asian (inside), as you said your real parents are those who raised you up, then why you feel urged to learn Chinese now? You don't have to chase things you are not related anymore, but I understand your confusion, I have heard similar stories also in the case of half-asian people, there is a time in their life, when they go through this identity crisis, looking for answer who they are really, because the society judge your by the look and just because of your look, you don't feel fitting in. The problem is definitely not with you!
@Sakuraxrox1 Hi thanks for sharing your story! I actually have been back to China and I did feel out of place with everyone staring at me and the group I was with (I was with my family and a tour group). You're right, I definitely prefer America since I grew up in the US, I just wish I was more connected with my culture and wasn't judged by others for not being Asian/white enough for whatever group I'm with.
I’m also adopted from China and live in the Netherlands. It was a pleasure to watch your video!💕. I recognised a lot of things you said🤗. Thank you for your honesty, telling your opinions and perspectives on adoption. Thanks for sharing your story 🥰.
Huanhuan Chen omg!!! Zoiets wilden ik altijd al !! Hoop dat dit geen catfish is ofs😅😊maar ik sta er oprecht voor open
Huanhuan Chen snap ik helemaal! Ga ik dat doen ;)
I see you ^^
"When I give my love, it's forever" wow. Rare to found anymore. I love the values they share
I love how your mother immediately knew (when given the advise that "Chinese babies don't like to be held") that she was NOT going to let go of her baby girl, instant instinct of what was best for her daughter. Thank-you for your honesty and insight, you did an incredible job.
Barbie Longfellow-Ott I liked that too. Sometimes it’s just best to follow our Mama instincts!!
@@loriadams7724 absolutely!
Barbie Longfellow-Ott hi hor u mail me nacimshigari315@gmail.com
Who is saying such a nonsense?
Go to China, they lug their children everywhere around for the first years, so much that I sometimes thought: shxt enough now, let that poor thing down!
@@krollpeter
So glad you blew that silly half-truth out of the water. Absolutely no fault of her mom’s or any of the mommies commenting here who reacted out of protective maternal instincts. But whoever it was back in China who gave or translated that nonsensical piece of advice needed to be called out for a such rank stupidity. “Chinese babies don’t like to be coddled/cuddled/whatever”? Babies from any culture love the warmth of being in their mothers’ arms and that piece of advice just needlessly perpetrates very undeserved stereotypes of Chinese parents and people.
Please take care of your parent they are so cute please
Adoption is so hard, there is so much joy but born from such a huge loss. As a bio mom and adoptive mom I can vouch there is absolutely zero difference between my love for my children.
You're an adorable daughter! Wishing you much happiness and success in your life ❤️
It's wonderful to see a family that understands "family" is not defined by the mere miracle of genetics, but by love. Great video, and a great message!
You are so very blessed to have been chosen by two amazingly loving human beings. Your daddy is so tender hearted that it even caused my eyes to spring a leak. It is so VERY clear that you could not be any more loved, cherished and adored, had you been born of their flesh and blood. Sending much love and an abundance of beautiful blessings to you and your family. 💝
Love is always the answer. It is the great healer. The great equalizer. Some people are raised in families where their biological parents weren't present for them and these same biological parents never understood how to love their children properly. Your parents love you. That is very clear. You don't need to define yourself exclusively by a culture or by your physiological appearance. What people say is largely not thought through thoroughly in most cases so try not to absorb how they see you.Surround yourself by people who raise you up, not by people who tear you down. I come from a mixed cultural background and I feel part of all of them but I never feel exclusively like one culture over another. I tend to see myself as person in a world that is very culturally rich. I am a person amongst a variety of people who are all on the path of life trying to be the best person we can possible be.
你的父母是非常善良的人，感謝神,把你托付給這樣的家庭。你非常幸運。Bless you!
A law was passed in China called "One child policy". As much as your parents might have wanted to keep you, they're probably forced to give you up because of it. But God has blessed you, your sister, your adoptive Mom and Dad to become a loving family. I'm happy for you. And I hope someday you'll meet your biological parents. God bless.
Hey! I'm adopted and Chinese as well and raised by white parents. I found your video because tonight I felt out of touch with myself. I really related to the things you were saying in this video and it comforted me to know other people are going through the same things. This was an amazing video!
I’m so glad to hear that! Made my day :)
I was adopted in the 60's. It's an amazing journey. It is pure love of a baby in need. They are your real parents!
My wife and I are adopting a girl from China, she will also be almost 3 years old and we are so excited, it is so much to take in! Thank you for this video, we are always looking for ways to help us better understand all sides.
that’s so exciting! wishing you the best of luck
I had to pause the video about halfway through and SOB. Adoption is beautiful. Every person deserves a loving family. Yes, your parents are special. But so are you. Their lives are more rich because of you and your sister. Thank you THANK YOU for sharing. I know it wasn’t easy but it was extremely helpful in educating people about adoption. And we SO need to hear the adoptee’s perspective. I love your personality and your openness. One day, I hope to adopt and now I can direct my own children to your TH-cam channel as someone they can learn from and relate. God bless you!
You have to return the love and kindness your parents give you, as the Chinese say, think of the source of the water when you drink it. Best wishes!
Yes... Children should reciprocate especially when parents are aged and when children become so successful they provide the best care like that what Ellen does to her mom.
You should’ve gave your daddy a big hug 🤗 they love you very much.
She did.
Oh your dad, what a sweetheart ❤. Your mom and dad are precious and you are very blessed. Thank you for sharing your story!!
Her parents really love her and you can see it so clearly! Like when he cried I cried and I don’t even know you
Wow, a lot of vulnerability and strength shown here. Thank you for being willing to share this story for so many others to hear. I’m sure other adoptees may run across this video and find some comfort in it.
Love how open you are about your adoption,you and your sister are so blessed to have the parents you have you can diffently tell how much your parents love you..
Dad's love is so pure, so genuine and so limitless. He is quite shy to express it, esp in front of camera, because it is so moving.
God bless you! thank you for sharing your story. I have two adopted grandchildren that I was blessed to be able to go to China with the whole family and be a part of the adoption process. My kids and grands have a channel called Grace for the Millers. They adopted an older girl who was 12 and a baby boy with special needs that was 2. They are flourishing! So thankful for their adoption and the trip of a lifetime to China exploring the amazing Chinese country and culture.
You are a beautiful girl! I hope you can accept that and realize how special you are. You have a unique path in this world! My granddaughter, Penelope, lived 12 years from China, and now lives in a white family! Talk about confusing! I hope you will watch their channel and connect with her. She still stays in touch with her foster Mom and the whole family just went back to the China this past fall and visited. It was an incredible experience. Just wish I could have gone too! I love China. :)
Thank you for making this video. I really enjoy watching the baby adoption videos. I don’t know anyone adopted, but I’ve always wanted to know how your lives turned out. In my next life I want to adopt. Your Dad is so soft hearted, much love to your adopted parents, they did a great job and with so much love!
What beautiful parents you have. I feel like they love you more deeply. Travelling to find you. Just gorgeous people.
What a precious family you are a part of because of adoption. They are lucky to have you!
Such a sweet video and a sweet family. There are SO many stories on the internet about the adoption process from the parent's point of view which are wonderful, however I LOVE hearing your personal viewpoint of your journey through being adopted by your sweet parent's. You are a brave young woman to allow yourself to be vulnerable and share your amazing story. You are bright, articulate, and your love for your adopted parent's is very evident. Wishing you all the success in the world both personally and professionally!
Diversity should be celebrated! Your parents are GOOD people..and you are a lovely and beautiful young lady ( with striking features!).
I’m not adopted but I can tell u my father has never loved me like ur dad loves u.
@@monkeybearmax im so sorry to hear that... i hope you getting loved.. and i no God loves you ♡
She is a beauty isn't she!!
hey, are you okay? a lot of people seeing this for the first time recently may not know, but this account hasn’t posted in literally three years, and went dead silent since the last video posted on the profile. really hope you’re healthy and well!
You are discovering your place in life and sometimes it is confusing but be kind to your kind parents. There is always someone who has it 100 percent worse than you or I. I’m a 53 year old Cantonese male, been in America since 1969. My father never spoke to us kids. My mother was very abusive verbally and physically. I joined the army in 1986 partly to escape my horrible mother. You were raised with an abundance of love. You’re so lucky.
Busapassion, hope u have a family now that loves and respects you.
@@ushasharma7452 Thank you Usha Sharma. May you have a life with an abundance of love and happiness.
Thank you for sharing this part of your life with the internet. This whole video was super interesting! I really enjoyed the clip segments with you speaking to your parents, your phone call with your sister, and you speaking by yourself about your identity; so everything. You mentioned that you're trying to learn Chinese. I recently took an intensive Mandarin course at my university (I've been studying Mandarin since middle school. I'm going to be a senior in college in the fall). Something I find helpful for my listening comprehension this last semester was watching Chinese dramas. I'll edit this comment with a few I enjoyed once I remember the names!
Emily, thank you for sharing your story. My hurt for the little girl that didn’t understand why she was left in China with strangers, and rejoiced at the same time, for the loving parents and sister that is your forever family. I love what you said, about our stories all being unique. My son’s best friend, was adopted from South Korea. He is an amazing young man (at 12 years old), and at times, he is uncomfortable with his story (he has such dear parents who love him unconditionally) so I will have him watch this video. Don’t you wish that we, as a culture, could throw away all the stereotypes?? I sure do!!
You are an amazing and beautiful young woman, and you have a depth of understanding of how life works, that is not typical of a young person. I think you understand more than many adults. This video really touched my heart, because I also 2 daughters who are near your age. I wish you, your sister, and your parents much love and happiness. Thank you again, for sharing 💜❤️
L
You are lucky and so are your mom and dad, great lovable parents. Your so cute. I have 3 Chinese daughters.
Thank you for sharing your story. I’m adopted and had all those feelings and now during this quarantine, I’ve been doing a lot of self reflecting on my life and stumble upon these kinds of stories. Your family is pretty cool and so is your story and opening up.
Awww your dad is beautiful, he was sad that you thought maybe he doesn't love you as much as he would a biological child. Treasure your sweet parents, always be kind & loving towards them, as they obviously adore you ♥️
I love the honesty of this video, your parents are so kind, 加油！
Shan Lu Are you Chinese?
Thank you for sharing. I have a friend that was adopted from Korea and when I asked her how she felt about her adoption she said "I don't have any regrets, because I know my parents wanted me". This sums it up in my mind, when people adopt a child they 100% love that child and are committed to that child's life. In this way, (acknowledging that there is trauma in the beginning) the child is given the kind of love that everyone in this world is searching for. Unconditional, unabashed, abiding love. Every child deserves to be loved unconditionally, and while adoption is not perfect (nothing in life is) it is a beautiful journey that a child and her parents take together.
Our son has been with us for almost two months. When I'm out with him by myself, people tell me we look alike. The funny thing is I'm blonde with light blue eyes and our son is Chinese. Okay, sure. I'll take it.
The comments people make either to make themselves more comfortable or because they feel they need to validate others are often amusing. It seems telling adopted parents they look like the child (even when they don't have any similar features) is quite common. I've noticed this being said time after time with others in my life. I remember one time someone was so insistent that the child replied "that's so weird because I'm adopted" and the commenter insisted they look just alike (parents were from the Netherlands and they had an adopted daughter from China and a son from Africa. The son from Africa was who they said looked just like them). It became super awkward.
However, it's much kinder and is a softer than the "real parents" comments. I'd love to see a day where people are just comfortable being together instead of always attempting to use weird validation comments.
So I watched your entire video. I was never adopted but I did adopt my Filipina wife's son. From the moment I met him, he was my child. I don't think he ever felt anything other than being my son. I think your video would be good for adopted children and parents alike should watch. You shouldn't feel out of place. Biological parents have to take whatever child they get. You however, were hand picked. These people chose you and I think that's awesome. You are a beautiful young girl and I can tell that you are an awesome daughter. Not only are you lucky to have them, but they are lucky to you too.
Plenty of children are raised with bio parents who either didn't really want them or don't gel with them. Being raised in an environment like that, is no joke. So I always think that adopted children must have that blessed feeling that their parents really wanted them, to go to the lengths they have to go to, the hoops they have to jump through, and the obstacles they are willing to overcome just to love and raise a child. Yes there is the odd rare example of it not working out, but on the whole adopted children are very loved. I've always thought that to be a wonderful thing. I was raised by parents who didn't gel with me and didn't really want me. They raised me anyway, kinda, but from a young age I wished someone else would take me. It never happened but it's okay. I love these video's because I love seeing how happy everyone is ♥
Thank you for sharing your story. It’s so lovely to see more people sharing their adoption stories. You are paving the way for more adoptees to have more support from their communities ❤️
They are your real parents now.... Never abandoned them...
Your dad made me cry! This is so sweet
I'm adopted from China too and I can relate to some parts of the video (some things and perspectives may be different, either personal or from family members). My adoptive parents are spanish and I don't know my biological ones either. I got lucky to meet more girls like me and be able to have them in my life. Really helped me in moments of defeat against people who judged me just because I had asian facial features. I have heard (on tv/news) of children (more girls than boys, and not necessarily chinese adoptees) that have suffered bullying and it got them to commit suicide, which is so sad and upsetting. I have been dealing with bullying for many years, have friends who have deal with it too and friends who didn't have to deal with it. No matter if you have suffered it or not, firstly, we are human and we have feelings. In my case I never felt bad or humiliated in the sense of being adopted but it frustrated me to hear people who doesn't know anything about you to treat you bad cause of where you were born. With time I stopped caring about what people said, even if it sometimes still trigers some feelings of anger against those who speak badly. And I got lucky to go back to China and visit some places, even if I would need many more travels to see all of it. You do you and hopefully you accept yourself as you are because you are a person first and foremost. Also want to learn chinese!
I encourge you to learn and explore more about yourself! Dont worry about ppl that bbully u, ur amazing and their just immature. Just accept and love yourself for who you are.
@@ChloeChu-qq1jm Yeah, I know! That's one of the reasons why I'm still standing and fighting. I accept my origins and my roots 😁.
@@ChloeChu-qq1jm Yeah, I know! That's one of the reasons why I'm still standing and fighting. I accept my origins and my roots 😁.
I loved your video!!! I have three children and I love them all. It is such an amazing journey and gift to have them in my life. You are a smart lady and very well balanced. You are a loving family and I am so happy for all of you.
You've grown up to be an amazing young woman. From this video it can be easily seen that your parents love you with all their heart without reserve.
you’re parents seem so sweet and have such a great heart! I’m glad you chose to share your story. I personally teared up because I also am a Chinese Adoptee as well! Bless you! 💖
You are so insightful 😊. You are beautiful inside and out, thank you for sharing your story for everyone to be inspired and comforted by. I pray some day soon you are able to fully accept yourself and the process of learning who you are and I think you are definitely on your way to that. Be proud to be you and live in the love that surrounds you. You are amazing! Never question that. If it helps, finding yourself is simply life. Om old as dirt and still learning. You fit everywhere. 😊
I can see how’s emotional the parent are , they must have so big kind harts and you are so lucky to have such a lovely parent like these two wonderful people. I am so sure if they don’t have the kindness in them, they will never put themselves out as it’s not an easy road to take. So many obstacle, so much they have to sacrifice, it is not for everyone . You are one of the luckiest one. 🙏🙏😇😇
You're very LUCKY Emily..your dad n mom very nice person ...God bless you n your family...
Oh gosh when your dad started crying, I started crying too! Your dad is so pure! Btw you're so pretty!
You hit the adoption lottery. Your parents are amazing people. I can see you grew up with unconditional love. Being an Asian living in California I can emphasize with the need to fit in and it took me probably 20 years to be proud of my Japanese heritage. I can no longer speak Japanese to my regret. I lost a part of my self trying to fit in with the white culture. It's wonderful you are embracing your history and culture. I really enjoyed your video.❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Be proud! When you are confident, it shows and people believe you. So relearn your Japanese and even if you have no one to speak, speak to yourself. I am a multilingual myself and I love diversity. You can fit in and also bring your own touch with you
Seeing your dad makes me cry. He is so sweet and I can see how much he loves you so much.
Aww my heart when your dad started to cry I can see how much they love you ❤️ cherish your parents all you can
You are so gorgeous...
The clip where you're crying for the orphanage carers just made me cry at your devastation...I guess it was a good sign, like your mother said, that you were capable of forming attachments. I also cry when just born babies cry for the first time, since the the baby is so sad and confused and cold, yet it's a good sign, a sign of life.
Emily,
Love your openess about being adopted. 4 of my 6 kids are from China. My two oldest biological sons were older teens when we decided to adopt from China. In my case, I wanted to tell you somethings...
you asked your parents about whether they thought they could love a child who wasnt "theirs" and discussed attachment. I wanted to answer that question you had, since I have bio kids too. Honestly, my kids from China were loved immediately, I felt way different about them and the attachment both ways was fast and pretty much instant. With my biological kids that connection was NOT instant, I had to work hard to attach to them. It was all around WAY easier to feel love and attachment to my kids from China. My bio kids felt to me like they did not initially belong to me, while my adopted kids felt like they were mine immediately. I still feel guilty telling my bio kids, how I initially felt. So can I love my adopted kids just like my bio kids? Yes, easily. I today, love all my kids and they all feel like my kids...no difference. But backmthen, yes it was different.
I also tell my China children, to love their nationality, birth country and culture. I personally do not believe in tolerance nor do any of my kids. We instead believe in loving all people. We do not practice being color blind here either...I recognize my childrens differences because that is what makes them special, beautiful...its who they are and I would never want to cut out their Chinese because its like saying, you, who you are does not matter and my kids DO matter. I want them to be proud to be Chinese, not ashamed. Our newest daughter struggles with herself being Chinese, she was adopted at 8 years old just 6 months ago. We tell her often, that she is to love China, because China will always be part of her and that we love all of her. That no country is perfect but China is part of all of us. Always. If they want to feel sad or angry its ok though, its their right.
We also are older parents, though my Husband and I were together since I was 16 and he was 19 years old, we married when I was 20 years old. Adoption was always part of our plan. Hubby was never supposed to have biological kids and we got prayed over at our church and got pregnant finally, miscarried and 3 weeks later got pregnant again and then a year and a half later got pregnant again and had our 2 boys. Complete miracles. After having them, knowing we now could have biological kids, I still wanted to adopt. My husband was scared to adopt..it took his 13 years to say yes to adoption. I refused to have anymore biological kids till he agreed to adopt at least one. When I was 39 years old, he finally said yes to adopting. After adopting our daughter, then our son, my husband ended up loving and preferring adoption. So, we decided to end the biological option and make Adoption our Plan A. In the last 7 years, we brought home 4 kids from China.
Hubby just turned 50 and I turned 47 last month. Thankfully, we look like we are way younger, most people think we look like we are in our mid 30s or younger. But still, we used to be the young parents, now with our youngest 4 we are older parents. I expect my kids to feel weird as they have parents who are older, and thats expected and ok. My oldest 2 loved having young parents and I believe any child would prefer parents to be younger. But us older parents rock too, just slower. 😂😁😉 And our kids still love us anyways!!!
My Mom was 35 when she got pregnant by a man who took advantage of her. That man, my biological Father was even older, into his 40s. I felt fearful growing up wondering if my Mom would live long enough to see her grandkids. My Mom looked way younger though, today she is almost 83 years old and she looks about 60 years old. She has seen all 6 of my kids grow up...my Dad only met my first son though. 😔
Also, I never knew my bio father and was adopted by my Dad, my Moms husband when I was a baby. I found out I was adopted in my 20s. It was a blow, I struggled feeling unwanted, unloved, all of these emotions for a few years. A few years later, at 25 years old my Dad..the one who adopted me passed away. It was then I realized the truth about myself. That I was my Dads daughter, and loved him fiercely and nothing would change that. But...I also realized I AM me and even though my identity was rooted in MY Dad, my parents...still..I had a biological father, who while never wanted me ( I was not wanted, because he was embarrassed he could not face his mistakes and how he treated women) ...still I am me partly because of him too. I have learned to love me as I am, with all my roots, differences, and similarities, all of it made me ME.
Far as my kids feeling different, my adopted kids are told its ok to feel different. Its acceptable here to express all the feelings they have. My kids were abandoned yes, but I tell them their birth parents in China wanted them because they left them in places they could be found and that I know they are amazing people because I tell them, they have to be because you are amazing. You had to get these amazing traits from someone as you came home to us this way!!! 😁
My kids all have special needs, and 2 have more visible needs people can see. I do not feel they will struggle though with looking different, or being Chinese...and not because they wont feel sad at times of looking different but because we talk about how every single person in our family of 8 HAS differences. We show them our scars, point out our differences and tell them, every one of us has differences, but what makes a family a family is how we can discuss how we all differ and how we all matter and how we ALL make this family what it is by being ourselves. Without each of us being different, our family would be SO boring, we celebrate our differences, while still enjoying the crazy amount of similarities. All of our kids are nearly identical in personalities to each other. Only God could do this, we know its not normal. But our 6 kids all act the same, have similar interests, react the same and overall are WAY more similar on the inside then they look on the outside. Though all our kids strangely have physical similarities to each other, shared hairlines, same identical fingers and fingernails, the list is endless. Truthfully, its strange how it is. People outside our home always tell us, and look at us strangely, saying, how in the world can they all have the same personalities, same multiple medical problems, all 8 of us are even severely allergic !!? We have to go to the pharmacy to pick up 8 peoples allergy and asthma meds. And it looks even stranger when we all file in at the grocery store to pick them up!!! Pharmacist looks at us, like huh, how??? We just laugh. Even their mannerisms, the way they smile, walk, talk etc all 6 are the same way. So while we get some rude, invasive questions outside our home, most people just look at us confused. They can not figure out if their adopted or not, and look at us thinking, maybe one of us parents was married before to someone who is Asian, just because the similarities are so identical. Crazy. Again, this is not normal...but even me, no one knew I was not my Dads daughter because I too was just like him. But I had my entire life to learn, my kids came home like us!!! Really Strange. God for sure.
Reason, I tell you all this is because its normal to feel all kinds of feelings being adopted, I know I felt similar things too being adopted myself. Just know, every part of YOU is special, to be celebrated. My children owe me zero gratitude either for adopting them, they never had the choice to be adopted or especially to get me and their Dad as parents. My kids, ALL 6 of them get to decide if they were blessed to have their family or not. My bio kids got stuck with us by biology and our china kids got stuck with us by our choice. None of our kids had a choice in the matter so they all get to decide for themselves if their parents and the family they got were right for them. I always tell my husband and others, only my kids can answer how THEY feel. That is their right. And I also believe that coming to our home and to the USA may be a blessing for them or a curse, or both. Being a part of this family means we get to decide how we feel. I love all my kids, and there is a choice for them to say how they feel with zero anger from anyone.
Living out life as a family is one not to be taken lightly. We wanted, desperately each of our children, and to us adopted or biological...each way makes a beautiful family. Blessings to you Emily as you seek to search your life and heart for the peace and undersranding of all the answers you seek and wonder about.
We plan to do 23andme DNA testing soon in hopes of them finding bio family. We adopted from China because Hubby loves the culture there, it was the ONLY country he would go too because he heard God tell him our children were there. I had always hoped to go to Latin America. My sister passed away in a small plane crash in 1997, a few months before my Dad passed away and flying far to adopt was scary for me in all honesty. But God worked it out for us. 😁 We still would love to adopt more kids. Today, my kids are 22, 20, 9,8,7 and 5 years old. If we adopt again, we hope to adopt older kids to offset us being older now. We are pretty youthful older parents but still we are the age we are. 😎 May God Bless your life and future.
wow! thank you so much for sharing your story. it really touched me. best wishes to you guys as well!
@@emilysunlaycock Emily, Just know you will process out your unique life story and be prepared, because your story will touch millions!
珍惜感恩你的养父母，他们改变了你的人生，给你提供很好的生活条件。
@Sakuraxrox1 My life does feel like a movie and since I wrote this comment, we are in process to adopt again so the story continues...🙂 We are so excited! Hubby and I really are great friends, growing up together does make it very easy to have an amazing marriage. I was told, getting married young is not a good idea, but its worked out wonderful for us. Far as having a big family, growing up in a large family myself, I actually wanted 0-2 -kids, preferably 0. Once married, it was like ok maybe 2, my husband would love to have 4 but knew he would hit the lottery just to have 1 child. Funny, how God works....now looking to add pur 7th! Irony has it now, I am feeling ready to be done growing our family and Hubby would like to adopt up to 5-6 more kids! He is now so on board adopting, he bought us a 12 passenger bus 2 years back, and now talks of s9meday adding a 15 passenger bus!!!;😮😮😮😮 oh how things changed. 😁
@Sakuraxrox1 Thank You! We do love the fact our kids will have each other. Since we have adopted so many kids, and ones that also have the same medical issues, they have their own personal support group. I was the only one adopted in my family and though I never knew till I was older, there was always conflict with me and the rest of my siblings as I was so different. Once I learned we had the same Mom but different Dad it all made sense. Though irony was my adoptive Dad and I got along the best in the family and had identical views. Crazy. But, still....my kids having each other makes me so happy. My kids all know that being different is a good thing, but truly ALL of them are the same as each other! My oldest 2 biological sons are deeply attached to all their younger siblings. They will be 24 and 22 in October but still live at home, and have no plans to leave. They even do college online and work online and have so for years because they want to be here with their siblings. My second oldest also is the kids fulltime homeschool teacher as he is in college studying to be a Pastor and teacher. Both sons tell me all the time, that having these kids is their dream come true! They both love these kids SO much that both of them generally are carrying their "babies" as they call them or having kids on their laps all day. Even going anywhere, people just stare because my oldest have 2 kids on each of them...people just stare not knowing whether they are the kids Father or not, and especially confused because we are there too and look young ourselves. We are a spectacle for sure. 😁 My oldest ask us to adopt more kids as they feel so incredibly blessed to have each of them, so it's going to be a sad day when we wre finally done adopting. 🙁 Though, as a family we have been talking about buying land. Oldest sons desire, once they move out and marry, to live next door so they can always be with their siblings, so that may be in the works after this next adoption. And while we as parents tell them, that you can move out and live your life anywhere you want, they are horrified at the thought of not seeing their siblings everyday....so our next adventure as a family will be finding enough land to build multiple homes, enough for every kid if they choose. Looking back, growing our family has been such a unique experience but seeing how all of us mesh and grafted together so seamlessly has definitely been a gift from above. God even showed me one day a tree, same leaves but the trees leaves were 2 shades of green all in one tree, as if 2 trees United to make 1, God told me...that is your family! I took a picture and now that will forever remind me of the beauty of our family and how it came to be. 😇❤❤❤ I plan to get a print of that tree and put it on my wall. The world has been at odds with each other so much this last year, but as I sit on our huge couch and all of us are instead are piled on each other laps in what is essentially 2 seats, when I see others panicking at being home together fulltime during this pandemic and realize my family has always been home fulltime and prefers it, when I see my big boys playing every single day with their little siblings and rearranging their online jobs/school at night just so they have all day with their siblings, when I see our family rally around a child who is crying or hurting...every single one of us surrounding whomever is upset or scared, I feel incredibly blessed. And, I also know it's not everyone's story, it was not how I or my husband grew up, it was never our story but like the tree God showed me, he can make the impossible, possible. So honored to have each and every person in my family, what gifts they are!😊😊😊😊
Motherhood or fatherhood does not depend on whether it is biological or adoptive. It is a transcendental, spiritual bond arises between parent and a child. You are a lucky girl. ❤️
Emily, you are lovely soul.
It is never too late to learn an new culture and language, even if it is your own.
Best wishes for your continuing journey. ❤️👍
If your father ever gets angry it’s because he loves you, they are truly you’re soul parents!
I come from a family with really crazy mixed racial backgrounds and we all look very different! We do not worry about cultural stereotypes etc our mixed heritage and differences makes us realize we are global citizens and that is all that matters. Be kind be loving and curious about life and its diversity and enjoy life. Nothing else matters.
As a parent I've known my children since before their own remembrance of themselves. In that sense I know my children better than they know themselves. I'm saddened to think of your struggle to reconcile your beginnings, the love of you true parents (the ones who raised and loved you) and who you are. It's all a beautiful story. No story is perfect.
I was adopted from Vietnam and grew up in NY and VA so I identify with your life story. God bless you and your wonderful family.
Being adopted myself, I have never had the courage to ask my parents or family these types of questions! God bless!! I’m now 32 and I understand being shy and not always talking about yourself and coming to accept who you are!! It’s taken me years and years to learn to love me for me!! I also was adopted into a Caucasian family and grew up thinking I was the same until I started getting made fun of 😭 I am and look 100% Korean and had to learn a lot of culture on my own. My parents taught me as much as they knew and learned about Korean culture but learned more on my own as I got older! Like you mentioned about brushing things off, I feel the same way, it’s hardened me almost too much where sometimes it is hard on the relationships I’ve built
Sweet girl with beautiful eyes, you are a Chinese girl and you will always be one, please be kind and having a wonderful life where ever you are my dear. Baba
Dad is truly kind and caring. Mum is beautiful and elegant! WOW! I want to have your parents!
I admire your courage.sending lots of love and prayers your way❤
Ps-you've got amazing parents.
You are way beyond your years!!! this video will be so helpful to adoptees and people who adopt... your so lucky to have your parents... and there even luckier to have such a beautiful, intellect, insightful daughter!!!!!
Wow this is beautiful. I’m only 1 minute in and I’m tearing up ❤️!
You feel very present and alive in this video, I feared for a second this video would be like 10 years old and you would be a different person. Now I kinda feel I know you and I'm probably not the only one here. I hope the small insecurities disappear and you find your way in life you seem like a nice person to get to know.
Best wishes!
You are the most beautiful baby, child and young adult!!! Wow! I'm so happy your parents adopted you! As a mother, my heart strings pull and I've got tears knowing that so many children across the globe need mommy's and daddy's! I can't imagine abandoning a child.
hey! i am also an adoptee from china, who was adopted my american parents and have an older adopted sister too! ! loved everything about this video, how you interviewed your parents and sister, included footage of you as a child and of course the inspirational talk at the end! i could literally relate to everything you said, and this video has helped me feel comfort in our small community of chinese adoptees. i also struggle with my identity, with like, considering myself as white when i look asian, i get you girl 😉 its uncanny that our stories are so similar and maybe one day ill get the courage (and motivation lol) to make a video like this! also, i was just curious what province you're from and where in the states you're from, as well as how old you and your sister are. hehe you even have the same name as my sister!
hey! i am so glad. also thanks for reaching out. i am from the zhejiang province and am 16 (my sister is 19)
Your parents are very kind and loving person. And you grew up to be one beautiful smart girl. God bless you and your parents..
I can't even fathom what you been through.i mean kids in middle school and high school are anyway without any reason mean to eachother.it was probably worse for you .
I really really admire you speaking up about it.I'm sure it will help many other people ❤
Hi Emily,
I’m a mom of 5 way past childbearing years but I long for a child! I don’t know how I came to watch gotcha day videos but somehow they popped up on my TH-cam page. Watching all these beautiful children meet their adoptive parents has made me have so many crazy thoughts. One night last week a horrible documentary was brought to my attention and it broke my heart, traumatized me. I began watching the Chinese Adoptions thanking GOD for each one of you who’s life was spared. Who was placed in a good agency and put in homes where you would ( hopefully ) be loved and nurtured. For the reasons you mention you can guess that your birth mom was probably heartbroken to have no choice. Looking at our world today and the women who are fighting for the right to rid themselves of a child instead of the choice to adopt grieves me as I’d bet SO many women in China would give anything to keep their child. Going deep it’s really a spiritual battle.
You wonder a bit if your parents ever thought they would love you differently. I can tell you from my own heart after raising my kids. If some miracle happened and I was given the extreme gift of a child, ANY child I for SURE would love him or her as fiercely and completely as any of my kids.
I always wonder more how the children feel. Some cry so hard and I can’t imagine how it feels to them. For them to be placed in the hands of strangers has to be so very scary.
Anyway. You’re a beautiful young lady and I wish you the best. Thank you for sharing your story!
I was adopted after being rescued from an abusive and neglectful mother. I was rescued by a nurse doing checks on a Friday afternoon. I hadn’t been fed in 2 days and my “ future Aunt” (the nurse) took me to her brother and wife who adopted me when I was 3. I had 3 years of repossession by birth mother before they got me for good. The impact of that time doesn’t go away.
Love this, and as an adoptee, I can completely relate to this process. The best is yet to come. You are LOVED beyond measure. You were chosen, not only by your beautiful parents, but by God. When I've felt different than everyone else, knowing how God sees me, makes all the difference. I am white, and still always felt like I never fit in anywhere.. lol am I Irish, Italian, English, French, German, Norwegian?! Maybe I'm from Greece?! Now that I'm almost 50, the only reason it matters now is to give that to my own children. Funny, my husband bought me this DNA test to find out and I have yet to utilize it. Ha!
Ohhh you are so welcome. You know you are a blessing. To have a girl is just the most wonderful thing in the world.
I can see, through you, what beautiful people your parents are :) Your dad is so sweet
Every time the father starts to tear up I do to. He was an awesome dad
Very touching story, I am so glad you are finding yourself and accepting of your adoption. I was truly brought to tears by your story, but in a good way. Thanks for sharing your life and your feelings and I wish you the best in life. God Bless you and your parents never ending love. Peace be with you.
Emily , please love your parents very well I can feel ,see and touch their love for you so much and love is everything, and beautiful please give it back to them always.
Where I live there is a lot of adopted children so much so that no one ever goes up to them and asks them about their adoption story. Yeah I've also been asked a lot about if my parents are my grandparents, but I choose to think its funny and I'm proud of it. I really want my parents to adopt a boy my age that's from somewhere in Asia.
You are a beautiful young lady. Just feel proud of yourself. I think your problem is more about age than culture. Every one is different as you know and that’s the most important point. Your adopted parents love you so much and that’s a wonderful gift 💝. Move forward and achieve your dreams. You’re so bright and special I just know you will do well. Xx
Thank you for sharing your life experiences with us. You’re right “Everyone’s unique “ . Wish you have a happy life
Beautiful family! You have such a kind parents, you are a lucky girl.
Early history taught that adoption was a noble act. You're beautiful hun, inside and out. You made me realize, it's time for me and my wife to adopt. XOXO