Podcast Episode 18:
Life in a Mixed-race, Blended, Adoptive Family!

For this episode, I speak with mom and step-mom Jackie Gillard. Jackie is a writer with a great blog called “My Papaya Jambalaya: Random thoughts on life in a second marriage with a blended, transracial, adoptive family.”

But before we get further into the details of my chat with Jackie, first I want to take a minute to make sure you know all the ways you can listen to our show:

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Now back to what this interview is all about. Jackie and I chat about her unique journey to motherhood, first with becoming a step-mom and then, following unsuccessful fertility treatments, through international adoption. Jackie wrote a beautiful contribution to the 1,000 Families Project on our website, thenewfamily.com. And it’s actually one of the posts that helped us get nominated for best blog in the Canadian Online Publishing Awards. Jackie opens up about the triumphs and challenges of life in a trans-racial blended family, including how she handles some of the crazy comments from strangers. And you won’t want to miss the story of the first moment she met her daughter.

Here are some great resources related to my discussion with Jackie.

Jackie’s 1,000 Families story

Jackie’s blog My Papaya Jambalaya

Jackie’s Recent Today’s Parent feature, “The reality of trans-racial adoption”

Transracial Adoption Facebook Group

Jackie’s Favourite Parenting Advice:
“Be yourself and accept that you’re not going to be perfect as a parent. Forgive yourself and when it’s necessary ask your child for forgiveness also, which I have done. Make retribution. Go back and say, ‘Hey, you know what? Mommy had a headache this morning. I’m sorry I snapped at you at breakfast. Can you forgive me? I didn’t mean to and I overreacted.’ Cut yourself some slack also. Nobody’s perfect.You’re not going to ruin your child, especially if you go back to them and apologize.”

Photo credit: Christine Cousins Photography

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