Congratulations! You've crossed the first hurdle by successfully the completing the adoption procedures to get ownership of the child. The next hurdle that poses before you is wee bit tougher and trickier - the task of revealing the truth to your child about who she is. Quite understandably, it's an issue that requires a lot of tact and thought. But if you handle it confidently with an honest approach, you've won the challenge.

Here are some pointers that could help you deal with this comfortably.

What is the right age?
Most adoptive parents are left in a quandary about how long they have to wait before letting the child know the truth.

The earliest you could start is probably as soon as the child becomes interactive. Ages 3 to 7 is considered the ideal period to tell your child. Starting early helps your child learn the "adoption language" and grasp her adoption story. This could also prove to be beneficial for you - giving you confidence to handle the issue without much discomfort at a later stage.

However, there are conflicting opinions among experts on this. Some believe its best to start talking to the child at an early stage so that he/ she starts accepting the fact. While others feel that it is best to wait till the child is older, when he/ she is ready to comprehend better.

Don't wait until the child gets to know from an outside source
Nothing can be more embarrassing than your adopted child coming and asking you about her real parents. Besides being a shocking revelation to the child, it could have a long-term negative impact on the relationship between you and the child. So don't withhold the information for long.

Be honest
It is absolutely important that you tell the truth to the child in whatever you say. However, you could be discreet about things you would not want to tell the child. For instance, there could be a difficult side to your child's story. And you prefer she rather not know about it and lose her innocence. Instead you would choose to focus on the happiness she's brought to your family. So the way you want to handle it, entirely depends on you. But do remember, if you're unable to answer a question, just admit that you don't know, and don't make-up a story.

Make it simple
Remember adoption is a very complicated subject. So make sure, you keep it simple and bring it down to your child's level while you're talking about it. Also remember, as you unfold the past, the child's imagination will be running wild. So the more creative you are and the more cheerful story you weave, the more memorable and exciting it would be for the child.

Also remember to take the child's age into account before you disclose the facts. Don't tell too many things that will leave the child confused. Be discreet in giving information and tell only what is necessary or she needs to know at her age. The rest you could reveal gradually.

Re-assure that you love her
When you talk about adoption to your child, do make it a point to re-assure her that she belongs to the family. Make her feel wanted and loved and tell her how important and special she is - to all the members in the family.

Be ready to talk when your child wants to
No matter how often your child pipes up with question, it is critical you answer her - and make sure to be positive. Because repetition helps a child absorb the concepts surrounding adoption. It is also one way of helping her handle the topic comfortably.

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