This week on the Real World Parenting podcast, Dr. Laura Anderson continues her conversation from last episode with Mark Hagland on intersecting identities of being LGBTQ+ and a transracial adoptee.

Mark Hagland shares how learning about and engaging with the complexities in his identity have deepened his thoughtfulness, compassion, and vision. He explains the phrase he coined, "Don't tragedize your child's narrative."

Mark was born in South Korea in 1960 and adopted as an infant by white parents of Norwegian and German descent, and grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He is a professional business journalist and lives in Chicago. He has participated in in-person and online forums around transracial adoption for over 20 years, and has spoken publicly about issues around transracial adoption in numerous settings, both in the United States and in Europe.

What You Will Learn:

• The importance of teaching your child how to navigate their mindspace

• The harm that is done when you tragedize your child's narrative

• That identity complexity makes life richer

• Why it is critical to center the experiences of adoptees

Resources:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/TRA101

www.markhaglandbook.com