5 Ways to Celebrate Your Gotcha Day
This post may contain affiliate links. That means if you click and buy, I may receive a small commission (at zero cost to you). Please see my full disclosure policy for details.
Many of you have probably celebrated your birthdays with week-long celebrations. No? I know I have! Being able to indulge in favorite foods, get-togethers with friends and family, sleeping in, etc., are fun ways to celebrate your birthday.
But what about a Gotcha Day? How do you celebrate your Gotcha Day? Personally, I think of my Gotcha Day as a more special and significant day for celebrating since that was the day that I came home from Korea to my parents who were waiting with family and friends in LAX with balloons and tears of joy.
5 Ways to Celebrate Your Gotcha Day
#1. Sit Down to a Meal from your Homeland
When I was a little girl, my mum and I would spend the whole day making Korean dishes for dinner. Our kitchen and house would smell like Korea. It was a very fun way to spend a day with my mum. As I got older, we as a family would go to a Korean BBQ restaurant in town for dinner.
Both were and are special experiences I will always cherish. It is so fun to experience some of my heritage and culture even if it is at a restaurant since most of the year I’m eating standard fare here in the States.
#2. Re-watch your Adoption Video
Do you have a video of your arrival? Do you have a video of your adoption at court? It is always a lot of fun go to back and watch these videos with the family as parents talk about the memories and us adoptees can ask questions and reminisce.
Do you have your video on VHS or cassette tape? You will want to have the images and memories preserved on DVD or Blu-Ray. Many photo shops including CVS will have an option even if it is not advertised they can at least direct you to the right vendor.
I also love to watch this gorgeous video of Rachel Potter singing a song written specifically for an adoptive mother and her daughter, thanks to Kathie Lee Gifford and David Friedman.
#3. Watch movies from your Homeland
With all the international t.v. series and movies on Netflix and Amazon Prime nowadays, it’s even easier to find something to watch from your Homeland in your native tongue.
Korean Movies to Stream
Parasite (R) – A dark comedy about greed and class discrimination. Three families destroy each other in their pursuit of the ultimate. (Many disturbing scenes.)
Currently available to stream on HULU.
On Your Wedding Day (13+) – A 10-Year emotional rollercoaster of a romance that repeats itself, filled with near misses and first loves.
The Handmaiden (Amazon Original) (18+) – A Korean language film with English subtitles about a Korean woman who has been hired as a handmaiden to a young and secluded Japanese woman. All the while the handmaiden is plotting her mistress’ demise and destruction in this crime drama.
The Greatest Love (TV Series) (13+) – This romantic comedy is about a K-Pop idol who accidentally gets on the wrong side of Korea’s lead action actor. In order to restore her career, she has to appear as the ‘villain’ on an old bandmate’s reality dating show. Of course, nothing goes right and both the Bachelor on the dating show and the actor fall in love with the singer.
#4. Create New Traditions Together
When I was a teenager, my mum and I would take off for the afternoon to Universal Citywalk in Los Angeles. We’d grab lunch and walk around. It was a fun tradition that was just us girls and allowed us time to bond and create memories together.
Creating traditions that you can look forward to all year long are wonderful ways to celebrate a Gotcha Day.
#5. Take New Family Photos
You probably have a first family photo, no? I still have mine even if it’s grainy and dark from the 1980s. And each year it’s fun to get a new photo taken so you can look through the folder of photos and see how you’ve all changed and stayed the same. And one day, when your parents are no longer with you on this earth it’ll be even more special and meaningful to have these photos as memories and testaments of your family’s love.
There you have it! 5 ways to celebrate your Gotcha Day. I hope you’ve enjoyed these suggestions from my experiences. And a very happy Gotcha Day to you!
Sharing is Caring
Continue the Conversation
How do you celebrate Gotcha Days? How do you celebrate birthdays?
GiGi Eats
July 21, 2020 at 9:25 amI have NEVER heard of Gotcha Day before and I had to google what it was. But now that I know, I LOVE THIS idea and I think it’s VERY important for those who are adopted (and know about it) to celebrate where they came from!
Brianne
July 21, 2020 at 1:41 pmI’d never heard of this until I read this post. I think Gotcha Day sis such an awesome way to celebrate the adoption of a child. It’s a great way to let them know that even though you didn’t give birth to them, they are still your kids and so special and loved. Beautiful.
Bright snow Loveland
July 21, 2020 at 1:44 pmHahah…..have NEVER heard of Gotcha Day in my life. I really enjoyed reading. It’s fun thanks for sharing. Now I know what Gotcha day is.
Matt Taylor
July 21, 2020 at 5:14 pmVery cool ideas, I had never heard of a “Gotcha day” before. But that is a very special day indeed. Sounds like you have some wonderful memories of yours.
Daniel Sierra
July 21, 2020 at 5:21 pmIt is the first time I hear about “Gotcha day”! What a nice celebration, especially celebrating your roots and your homeland! Happy Gotcha day!
Nkem
July 22, 2020 at 12:57 amWhat a great idea! Do you do something like this every year? Do you change or adjust the traditions at all? I spent some time living in Korea so I have an affinity for the food, culture, and media.
Sarah Emery
July 22, 2020 at 2:02 amOh my goodness, this is the first I’m hearing about Gotcha Day and I love everything about it. What a wonderful celebration and great ideas to honor such a wonderful moment.
Ntensibe Edgar Michael
July 22, 2020 at 2:52 amWell, I usually stay in and do a very good job in the kitchen….making myself a sumptuous meal.
thejoyousliving
July 22, 2020 at 8:24 amare you adopted Ntensible? 🙂
Gervin Khan
July 22, 2020 at 4:10 amWow, these are a nice ways to celebrate gotcha day and my most favorite is taking photos with the family.
thejoyousliving
July 22, 2020 at 8:25 amit’s a great way to celebrate any anniversary.
Ann
July 22, 2020 at 4:36 amI love this, its so beautiful!
And I really like your idea about celebrating beeing a family, I think all of us should do that, adoption or not 🙂
Marie Phillips
July 22, 2020 at 6:36 amThese are all great ideas! My oldest daughter just met her newest adopted baby yesterday–she is 3 weeks old!
Steven Morrissette
July 22, 2020 at 9:51 amWow didn’t even know About gotcha day. Those looks like a super cool activity to do with your family
knycxjourneying
July 22, 2020 at 10:54 amNot aware of this “gotcha day” and it’s so fun! You have some great ideas, and I am getting ready to celebrate this day next time! – Knycx Journeying
Emman Damian
July 22, 2020 at 7:57 pmThis is so optimistic and beautiful celebration. I didn’t know Gotcha Day before. So nice!
Elicitfolio
July 22, 2020 at 8:50 pmThese are all great ideas! My coworker just adopted a baby last week! I’m going to share this with for inspiration!
thejoyousliving
July 23, 2020 at 11:23 ambig congratulations to your co-worker!
Lyanna Soria
July 23, 2020 at 6:28 amI’ve never heard of Gotcha Day before but that sounds interesting. Those are some great tips as well.
Monidipa
July 24, 2020 at 7:47 amThe name I first got to know when my ex got his 2nd dog and cat. And these are lovely ways to celebrate the day!