How do adoptive families handle stranger questions at splash pads?

Adoptive families — especially transracial and visibly diverse families — sometimes encounter intrusive stranger questions at splash pads: 'Are they yours?' 'Where are they from?' 'How much did they cost?' Adoptive parents and adoptees almost universally find these exhausting. Short calm responses work best: 'Yep, they're my kids,' 'They're from [city] just like me,' or simply 'I'm not going to discuss that, but thanks for asking.' Save the deeper conversations for people who matter — your kid's pediatrician, teacher, family. Strangers don't get the family story. Importantly, never discuss your child's adoption story in front of them with strangers; it's their story, not yours, and they decide who knows. Brief your kids on simple responses if they're old enough: 'I'm here with my mom' is plenty. Connect with adoptive-parent groups (AdoptUSKids, North American Council on Adoptable Children, Holt International alumni) for adoption-affirming community and meetups, including splash pad days where strangers' questions don't happen.