"Trying To Fit In"

Hi!!

You know school is right around the corner and everyone in our house is getting excited and nervous about the first day back!! Myself included (being a teacher)!! That got me to thinking about how important it is to "Fit In" for our kids. We are originally from Midland, TX. Well, in Midland where my son went to school from kindergarten to 2nd grade, there were kids of "many colors". He seemed to "fit in" fine. But...when we moved to Keller several years ago, it was a totally different story. My son was entering the 3rd grade and my daughter into Kindergarten. When we went to "Meet the Teacher" before school started we were in for a rude awakening!! Out of the entire school, there were two African American boys, and then my kids. They were the only African American students in the entire school! I really didn't think about it at the time, but when we got home, both kids made the comment about how they were different from everybody else. Boy, did that open my eyes!! Who would have thought that a 5 year old would pick up on something like that?? I was excited about meeting their teachers and them going to a new school!! They were concerned about being the only ones of "their kind" at school. That was depressing!!

The more I started thinking about it...the more frustrated I got. For example, filling out all of their school records. What ethnicity do I mark?? African American, Caucasian??? No...I get to mark "OTHER". Isn't that a nice way to label my kids? What is wrong with putting a multi-ethnic box on the form? I hate labels! We are all just human beings trying to find a place to fit in. I just recently have found a wonderful support group! The Mavin Foundation. This group supports people who are multi ethnic or who are involved in multi-ethnic relationships. It was actually developed by a 19-year old multi-racial college student who wanted to launch a magazine dedicated to the "mixed- race experience". It is an amazing group of people who do amazing things!! They are spreading the word about "our problems" and how to deal with certain issues. We are definitely not alone!!!

Well, it is getting late and I have to get my daughter to Barney at 7:30 in the morning!! Check back in a couple of days when I will be discussing personal situations that we have encountered being a multi-racial family.

PS...Check out the new Just For Me website!!!

Until next time...
"Sunflower Mom"