China adoption party ideas?

[hipporina]

No ideas but that is a real nice idea.

Are people able to adopt SONS from China??? I always thought they only let the girls be adopted?? My SIL adopted her ds from Korea as she wanted a son and said China only had girls...

Jill

Their little boy has a cleft lip/pallet so that is probably why he is up for adoption.

Those are neat ideas. I was thinking about doing it before they go so that we don't overwhelm him when he gets here. I think they will be leaving around the 11th so we don't have much time.

I just hate it that adoptions are for a large part ignored. In August 04 we got 2 of our kids for adoption. We had nothing we needed for a little girl and very little for our new son, and of course we were very excited about our children. No one did anything though. No shower, party, anything. It was the same way with our first pair. Then in Oct 04 my little sister had her dd. It was her second girl baby and they are 18 months apart. DSis didn't need anything, and everyone still had showers for her. It bothers me not because of the gifts but because of the attitude that 1 baby is worth celebrating, but 2 older children aren't. I don't want our friends to feel that way.

 

[SC Minnie]

You have a very kind heart.

Ask your friends what they will be up for. Maybe a small dinner party or buffet for several of their friends before they go. If they don't need gifts and people want to bring something they can be donated to a local shelter or agency that helps families.

 

[nelle]

http://www.heartandseoul.com/index.html


This website has lots of stuff for planning a shower or party it also has links to other websites for more adoption related stuff. I know of someone who had the little chinese take-out boxes as goodie bags and they even used them as invites.
We brought our youngest son home from S. Korea in june and he also has a cleft lip and palate. I think with China most of the boys up for adoption have special needs like cleft lips and palates, heart problems, and other needs. Cleft lip and palate is really a cosmetic SN it's really no big deal it can look scarey in pics but it's really not. Our son just turned 1 and he is the healthiest out of my kids and he is the biggest I often joke that we are going to have to take out loans to feed him when he is a teenager . Sorry to go on about cleft lip and palate I just don't see it as a SN.

 

[grlpwrd]

I am part Chinese and I just want to add that traditionally Chinese babies stay home with their moms for about 30 days before being introduced to the extended family and friends and they have a party.

Here's more info:

In Chinese culture, a baby's first month birthday calls for a celebration. Proud parents introduce their latest addition to friends and relatives by holding a red egg and ginger party. Traditionally, the baby's name is also announced at this time.

Guests attending red egg and ginger parties bring gifts. Lysee or "lucky money" in red envelopes is often given to baby boys, while girls may receive expensive jewelry. The guests don't leave empty handed, either. The parents hand out red-dyed eggs, symbolizing happiness and the renewal of life.

Red egg and ginger parties have their origins in ancient Chinese culture. As in other countries, infant mortality rates in China were quite high prior to the medical advances of the twentieth century. A baby who reached one month of age was likely to survive, and so the event was celebrated.

Traditionally, this was also a time to reintroduce the mother to the world. The Chinese believe mothers are in a highly weakened state in the period immediately following birth. Just as English custom calls for new mothers to enjoy a brief period of confinement, Chinese mothers have traditionally been expected to rest indoors for one full month after giving birth. This helped ensure they didn't become overtired, or contract any germs or illnesses from the outside world that could prove dangerous in their weakened state. Besides resting, they drank a nutritious broth made with pig's feet, eggs, vinegar and ginger. Many new mothers still follow this ritual today.

In the past, due to the traditional importance of male children in Chinese culture, red egg and ginger parties were sometimes given for boys only, or the celebration for boys was more elaborate. Today, parties are given for babies of both sexes.

In recent years, some of the traditions surrounding red egg and ginger parties have been modified. Parents may choose to hold the celebration at a fancy restaurant, complete with costumed Chinese performers or even a children's magician. Also, the baby may be anywhere from one to three months old by the time the party is held. But the custom of passing out red-dyed eggs continues. Parents may also use the brightly colored eggs to announce the birth; an even number of eggs are sent out for a boy, and an odd number to announce a baby girl.

Yes, you have a very kind heart.

 

[CEDmom]

China has a one child per family law - so if its a girl, they throw her out in the rice paddys. No lie. They want to keep their sons because of the family name.

Sorry, but that's got to be about the dumbest thing I've read in a long time. Girls are not put out like yesterday's trash. If a family decides that a baby must be given up she or he is left in a very public place and someone watches nearby to make sure the child is rescued quickly. The Chinese culture is very old and complicated.

As far as a party before traveling I'd keep it simple and maybe chip in for a few guide books. Also one thing that people could donate and would be easy to transport is over the counter children's medicine and vitamins. When we traveled to bring DD home we brought a lot of things items with us and the orphanage was so grateful to have them.