I Came from Korea on a Bumper Boat…

…or so my younger self thought.

When I was really young, we lived in the city of Coon Rapids, Minnesota.  Nearby there was a family fun center called Lily Putt that, if memory serves me right, had miniature golf, go-karts and bumper boats.  Those bumper boats must have made an impression because, according to my parents, I told someone that I came from Korea on a bumper boat.

I do not remember a time when I didn’t know that I was adopted.  It never came as a shock to me because it was just a part of my life from the first day I arrived in the U.S. at 18 months.  My mom tells me a funny story about how my great-grandmother looked at her and asked, “You’re not going to tell her she’s adopted are you?”  My mom, who is blonde haired and blue eyed responded by saying, “I think she’s going to figure it out!”  We still laugh about that.

Just shows how much society has changed its views on the topic of adoption.  What used to be hush-hush is now the “trendy” thing to do thanks to an expanding list of celebrities adopting both domestically and internationally.  I’m not much of a trend follower but I think it is great that there is more awareness about adoption and an overall positive view of it.

Here is a list provided by Parents.com of celebrity moms who have adopted:

Jillian Michaels, Trainer – Adopted daughter Lukensia from Haiti

Charlize Theron, Actress – Adopted son Jackson

Viola Davis, Actress – Adopted daughter Genesis Tennon through domestic adoption

Kristin Davis, Actress – Adopted daughter Gemma Rose Davis through domestic adoption

Denise Richards, Actress – Adopted daughter Eloise Joni Richards through domestic adoption

Mariska Hargitay, Actress – Adopted daughter Amaya Josephine and son Andrew Nicolas through domestic adoption

Sheryl Crow, Musician – Adopted sons Wyatt Steven and Levi James Crow through domestic adoption

Sandra Bullock, Actress – Adopted son Louis Bardo Bullock through domestic adoption

Katherine Heigl, Actress – Adopted daughter Nancy Leigh ("Naleigh") from South Korea and daughter Adalaide Marie Hope through domestic adoption

Madonna, Singer – Adopted son David Banda Mwale Ciccone Ritchie and daughter Mercy James from Malawi

Angelina Jolie, Actress – Adopted sons Maddox Chivan (Cambodia) and Pax Thien (Vietnam); daughter Zahara Marley (Ethiopia)

Nicole Kidman, Actress – Adopted daughter Isabella Jane and Connor Antony

Calista Flockhart, Actress – Adopted Son Liam

Michelle Pfeiffer, Actress – Adopted daughter Claudia

Meg Ryan, Actress – Adopted daughter Daisy True from China

Edie Falco, Actress – Adopted son Anderson and daughter Macy

Sharon Stone, Actress – Adopted sons Roan Joseph, Laird Vonne, and Quinn Kelly

Mary-Louise Parker, Actress – Adopted daughter Caroline "Ash" Aberash Parker from Africa

Jamie Lee Curtis, Actress – Adopted daughter Annie and son Tom

Rosie O'Donnell, Talk Show Host/Actress – Adopted sons Parker Jaren and Blake Christopher; daughter Chelsea Belle

Diane Keaton, Actress – Adopted daughter Dexter and son Duke

Kirstie Alley, Actress – Adopted son William True and daughter Lillie Price