The Importance Of Mixed Children Understanding Their Parent’s Culture

Both of my daughters are biracial. They are half black and half Mexican. I always try to incorporate both cultures in my daughter’s lives, whether it is celebrating and understanding black history month or what happened at the Alamo, I always want my daughters to be culturally well-rounded and informed. I believe that it’s necessary for children who are of a mixed race to know about their culture to prevent identity crisis. 

If you have mixed children, give them some love and let them know that having more than one culture is beautiful as well. It has been proven that interracial children are more likely to be bullied than children who identify with just one race. Bullying is never okay, being bullied for being mixed  can leave a child with identity issues and self-hate. Having a discussion with your children to let them know how to handle if someone mistreats them because of their mixed race can boost their self-esteem and save them from a lot of heartache. 

Some of the ways that I incorporate both cultures in my daughter’s lives is speaking both Spanish and English. My daughter Luciana is only 4 months but we speak to her in Spanish as well, so she can understand more clearly when she is older. We teach about our culture and celebrate specific cultural holidays to help them feel more accepted and proud of who they are. After COVID has finally subsided we plan on taking the girls to Mexico to experience Mexican culture for themselves. 

Mamas, teach your children self- love and acceptance, by having them embracing their mixed culture, equally. No culture is better than the other and one culture shouldn’t be emphasized more than the other one. Teach them self-care by embracing the culture that makes them who they are!