UPDATE: Thanks everyone for voting for Dawn; she won the “Best Adoption Blog” prize and I am so happy! I’d like to give a special thanks to anyone who came here from Resist Racism and clicked just because I said to.
So there’s this little “Best Blog” contest going on at some parenting web site called “The Bump”… you may have heard of it? Anyway, one of my favorite adoptive parent bloggers Dawn of This Woman’s Work is one of the contenders, and I’d like to encourage anyone who still reads here (yes, all three of you!) to go on over and give her a vote — no registration required.
In her post about why she wants to win this contest, Dawn writes:
- Because I’m tired of the same old cultural ideas about adoption getting play ALL THE DANG TIME.
- Because adoption may be a miracle for the adoptive parents but it’s a whole lot more complicated for our kids, for our kids’ first parents and for the communities/countries that lose those kids.
- Because if I won the $1000 grand prize I’d donate it to Ethica, who “advocates for national and international improvement of adoption practices, offering support, education and advocacy to all persons affected by adoption.” (per their mission statement)
As of this writing, another blog is currently in the lead. And if that blog wins, the $1000 grand prize will be used to…. fund the blogger’s adoption of a girl from South Korea. Who will be re-named Lily. **sigh**
Obviously folks can make their own choices, but I would rather support the important work of Ethica and a progressive adoptive parent ally than yet another adoption from the world’s 14th largest economy. If you agree, please go and vote for Dawn!
Jenna writes eloquently on her own blog about why she nominated Dawn and why Dawn deserves to win:
Promoting change is as easy as sharing your story, honestly and openly. Promoting change is as easy as helping people learn about themselves by learning about yourself in a public forum. Promoting change doesn’t have to be big and scary. Promoting change starts here and now.
It is my opinion that Dawn’s blog embodies what the adoption blogosphere should be working toward: honestly accepting the challenges that face us and working toward ethical goals. We’ll all make mistakes along the way but we can do it.
Yes, we can.
p.s. Apparently the contest folks said it’s okay to hit refresh and vote a bunch of times, so please vote often until the contest ends at 11.59 pm Eastern on Monday!
(In case you’re wondering, Jessica, the comments are closed to encourage people to go and vote.)
