What began as a way of growing our family has presented educational opportunities in some of the most unique places. Periodically, I will discuss some of those opportunities that can, of course, be adapted for all types of families.

Because of our eastern European family ancestry, we decided to adopt from Ukraine. And so began our first educational lesson. Where is Ukraine?

Ukraine was a former Soviet Republic. It was considered the bread basket of the USSR and it is bordered by Poland, Belorus, Russia, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary, Moldavia and the Black Sea. The capital is Kyiv and Ukraine has been a country that has experienced occupation by many different countries over the years.

In learning more about Ukraine, our daughter has learned about her heritage. What was it like in a communist country? They were not allowed to display religious symbols, food was in short supply and everyone was “equal” as determined by the communist government.

Ukrainians are a group that has persevered in very difficult circumstances. Most underreported is what is known as the Ukrainian Holocaust. During 1932-1933, seven million Ukrainians were killed by starvation when Joseph Stalin decided to create a man-made famine by not allowing grain or ovens in the area.

One can easily learn about the country they live in but what about one of the countries of your family’s ancestry? Have you considered visiting the country? Could your child identify where your family came from on a world map? Do you know one major event that took place in that country?

Learning about your ancestry is fascinating. Connecting the dots to today is amazing. Ever wonder why you like a certain type of food? Do you have certain likes or dislikes but can’t figure out why? Never miss an opportunity to teach your child about their ancestry. By learning about their ancestry it gives children a better understanding of who they are and what their family went through to give them the opportunities they have today. Those lessons should never be lost to history.