Goin' Home to a Place They've Never Been Before

In less than 2 days we will be landing in Guatemala City, Guatemala..all 8 of us.  We've known we'd be taking this trip for about ten years now. Ten years of waiting has come down to just 48 hours. 

Why Guatemala?  We are going for vacation, to have fun, and to experience another culture. More importantly, we are going for what the adoption community calls a homeland visit. Our ten year old Guatemalan born children will be visiting their country of birth.   They will get to see a small bit of their beautiful home land, experience some of the rich culture and heritage of their ancestors, and interact with Guatemalan people.. their people. Unlike some homeland visits, we've chosen not to make this about adoption. We won't be visiting past caregivers or searching out biological family. Rather it's about seeing a small part of where they were born. 

Why now?  We decided to make this trip when they were 10 for a couple of reasons. First, they are old enough to remember the trip and to participate in various activities. Second, they are on the cusp of adolescence. We know that the developmental challenge of adolescence is to discover who we are, to develop our identity. We struggle with where we fit in with our families, our communities, and our world. It's no easy task, just ask any parent of a teen!  For people who were adopted the complicated task of adolescence is all the more complex. Imagine being faced with the task of individuating not from just 2 parents, but 4. Now imagine trying figure out your place in 2 families. In the case of internationally adopted teens, imagine finding your place in 2 countries. Not an easy road. It's complicated all the more by the fact that these adolescents often know very little about their biological families and have  lost most of their connection to their original culture when they gained their permanent family.  The tasks ahead of our 10 year olds are not lost on us. So we chose this time to provide them this experience before they are in the midst of  the challenges that undoubtedly lie ahead. 

And so in 48 hours they will be "goin' home to a place they've never been before".  Or at least a place that they don't remember. Perhaps, like the man in John Denver's song, they will notice the beauty of the land..their land, and have an opportunity for introspection learning more about themselves. As their mother I hope that they come away with a greater love for their roots and most of all for themselves.