times have changed

When my two sons of First Nations ancestry were adopted there were no culture plans as there are now. With both of them, there was a discussion of the fact that they had a different heritage, and that we should work at ways to include this in our parenting and our lives. Their Aboriginal community sent a letter saying that they couldn't offer anything in terms of resources, but that they did support the adoptions. Things are different now. Not just in regards to culture plans, but in all adoptions done in our province. When we first applied to adopt there was no "Adoption Education Program" as there is today. Most learning accomplished by adoptive parents was done on their own time, and was self directed. Whether your child was a newborn, or was 12, you received essentially the same preparation, and this also applied whether your child was caucasion, First Nations or had any other ancestry.
It's good that times have changed.
I have learned a lot in the time I've been parenting. Like lots of parents, some days I wish I could go back and do it again knowing what I know now. But I can't. We can all learn from the mistakes of the past. Having the requirement to have a culture plan for children joining a family with a different heritage is a good thing.