SETH --- As another long time foster/adoptive parent, I know of what you speak. What becomes natural in "your" world, sounds really strange to someone not familiar. Sometimes its fun just to do it on purpose though......maybe a bit cruel.....but if you handle it right, it can be interesting. Our boys are a great example.

Some poor soul will start off with, "My, aren't they cute," and the like and in an effort to say something, virtually everyone cranks out the same old, "They really look like you." Now our boys are same race, but in point of fact they bear no resemblance to either Karen or I. They DO look a bit like each other although they are not genetically related. At this point you have a choice:

"They really look like you!"
"They're adopted."

That's generally a stopper. Then you smile and say thanks and put them at ease discussing how lucky we are etc. BUT.....You can wait for another in our case, becasuse they do look alike:

"Are they twins?" "No, they're nine and a half months apart." (true)
"My, that must have been hard on your wife."
"No, not really.....they're adopted."

Although it sets some nice folks back a little, I can generally get them to have a laugh and then talk about adoption and fostering. We've gotten a few recruits just that way. Of course for those patronizing sorts that are just passing the time, I just use the stopper with a little smile. Generally shuts them right up.

Spaw