Adoptive parents of internationally adopted children don’t always have a lot of information about their kids’ past, but we can find out as much as possible about who they are as individuals in other ways. I have enjoyed researching and reading about my son’s astrological sign and used basic numerology to find out more about him.

I recognize this sounds New Age-y, and just the mention of astrology makes some folks roll their eyes and think of Nancy Reagan, but the bottom line for me is that astrology adds a dimension of identity to my son. And I repeat, it adds a dimension.

I recognize just because someone’s a Capricorn doesn’t mean they have all of the characteristics listed for that sign, but chances are, they have  a few. There is usually an uncanny coincidence between an individual and their astrological information, but if nothing else, it makes for interesting conversation and food for thought.

When a person grows up with their biological family, they usually have a grasp of their ancestral history. Hence, they can say stuff like, “I am creative like my grandmother on my father’s side.” But many internationally adopted children do not have this foundation, so in their case, astrology is a window into personality.

Astrological information allows me -- and will allow me in the future once my son gets older -- to identify aspects of his inherent nature and talk with him about them. For example, my son can say, “I am a very proud person because it's my Leo nature.”

If any of this makes sense to you, I have two recommendations to begin the journey of learning more about your child -- adopted or not -- via astrology and numerology. One is to buy the “The Secret Language of Birthdays” by Gary Goldschneider and Joost Elffers.

This book has a full description for every day of the year, so if your child’s birthday is May 15, you can look up that date and read tons of information and characteristics that are usually associated with someone born on this day. I have found it to be quite accurate for all of my family members.

My second suggestion is to pull a free astrological chart from alabe.com. To obtain an accurate chart, you have to know the date and time of your child’s birth. I actually have the time of my son's birth, but if you do not know the exact time your child was born, type in noon. Once you pull the chart, print it out, save it and read it once a year. The chart will contain some stuff that’s accurate and some stuff that isn’t, but chances are it will make more even more sense in the future.

If you want to take it a step further, you can pay to have a “full” chart created for your child, but be sure you research the business or individual pulling the chart before you pay them money. Sadly, a few kooky apples have spoiled the astrology barrel.

Let me tell you a little bit about my son, Kai, and his astrological information. Anyone who knows him and knows a thing or two about astrology is not surprised he is a Leo. Kai River is the King of the Jungle: a leader with a strong will and a load roar. He has hair down to the middle of his back that we refer to as his “mane.” (My husband and I have tried to talk Kai into a haircut for almost a year, but he refuses to have it cut off. I know I could drag him to the salon or just chop it myself, but I really believe in trusting children when their safety is not at risk. Plus, the lion loves his mane, I guess.)

Once upon a time, I was skeptical of astrology, but then I started reading my own and was blown away by the accuracy of it. (I am Gemini through and through!) You won’t find me blowing my family’s grocery allowance at the next psychic fair, and I certainly don’t subscribe to a lot of New Age dogma, but much of my astrological findings about Kai have been right on.

Aside from revealing aspects of my child’s personality, astrology is just plain fun. My advice is to approach it lightly, see what you learn and refer back to the information down the road.