First of all, we've adopted both internationally and through the public child welfare system.
When you adopt internationally, you are making an active decision to adopt a child. I will use a quote. It's when we learn and know better, we do better. I have definitely learned along the way, as has my husband and as have our children.
Culture was always something that I knew we needed to be actively participating in. It was always something that was a part of my daughter's life. She always had mentors who were from her country. Our family went to language classes. We've been back to China several times with her. She is now 27 and has been back on her own. I wish I could tell you that every family who adopts internationally does that. They don't. Not every family has the resources to do that.
It should be harder for us as adoptive parents, quite frankly, if it's going to be easier for our kids. I think that's the best way to summarize it.