Multi-racial or ethnic children

I was wondering the positions thata lot of you ladies may have on this topic. I myself am the product of an interacial marriage as well as my husband. My mother is African American and my father is Puerto Rican... My husbands mother is White and his father is African American.
We both had many similar experiences growing up in the community as far as not always being able to fit on one side or the other... people wanting you to claim only one race but at the same time constently reminding you that in there eyes you will never be really one of them. Me and my husband however had different experiences as far as how we were taught to deal with these issues and how to identify. My family has always taught me to be proud of everything I was and I never had to explain my reason for existence to anyone. (though I have felt I had to sometimes :/ ) My husbands family on the other hand always made him chose one side or the other and made him feel as though a part of him was not right and to hide it....
Now these situations can be tough out in society amoung your peers, but when it comes from your own family it can be even tougher.
My husband and I plan on raising my son the way I was raised. To be proud of who you are no matter what society may have to say. That you don't have to choose a side, that it is okay to not be able to be categorized on site.
Those of you out there who have or are having multiracial or ethnic children, how do plan on raising them, and what has been your experiences thus far?

I think its sad that this is even an issue!  
In my opinion, it doesn't matter what race or mix of races you are... everyone is unique and comes from different roots, whether they are all one "color" of roots or not! I'm glad you're gonna teach your son to just be who he is and be happy and proud of himself and his family.
But I am always confused by this issue on the other hand, because I always think its funny how they call Barack Obama the "African American" candidate...... he is HALF black and HALF white... so why can't he call himself a white man?? LOL He's just as much one as the other. Silly to me.

i myself don't have any interracial children..but i just wanted to say i would raise them like you were raised, to love themselves for who they are and be proud of their heritage...for some reason my family was schocked when i got preggo by my hubby..they thought i was gonna have biracial kids..and my mom even wanted me to, she actually asked one of my exes to get me pregnant so she could have a mixed grandbaby..she is silly..lol
btw you guys are gonna have some BEAUTIFUL babies!!

Yes I agree with you. It is sad that it is even an issue, but it is still something that I have to prepare my children for. Everyone is so color conscious it is ridiculous.
Lol have you seen the previews for that BET program "Is Barack Black Enough" I couldn't believe they were even having the discussion. It just shows the ignorance that is out there.
I also believe that it is funny when people boast about being just one so called "pure" race.... but if you just read history books you can see that just like you said "everyone is unique and comes from different roots"
*sighs* I did have a hard time growing up with this issue but I wouldn't trade my experience for anything.

I am a mixed baby as well. My Mother is a Jewish Polish/Russian/German, and my biological father is a Christian Puerto Rican/Native American.

I never met my father and was raised by my Mom's side of the family until she passed away when I was 14. My Mom always taught me to be proud of who I am and never be ashamed of all of my heritages. Now when she passed away, my Grandfather (my mom's father) legally adopted me. It was such a total different thing when I went with him. He denied the fact that my Father was half Puerto Rican, which pretty much I felt like he was denying me. BUT he never denied the Native American side only so I can get benefits from being enrolled in the tribe. I've tried telling him on several occasions that I am 25% Puerto Rican, but he hears nothing of it so I finally just gave up on him. And I dont know why he is like that, I mean he has an ex fiance who was Cuban for christs sake! I love him dearly he has taken care of me like his own daughter and I am very thankful for that. I will never lose who I am and my daughter will know who she is as well and I will make sure she will never deny where her or her family comes from.

I was raised to accept everyone as they are. I am white Kyle is black. He was raised to accept everyone as well. His best friends consist of a Puerto Rican, an asian man, a juggalo white boy, a punk/gothic white guy and a mixture of black and mixed friends. He counts them as his brothers, and they have been friends since childhood. None of them look or act alike at all. I on the other hand lived in a town that was 97% white the first half of my life and never experienced knowing any other races or ever seeing a gay person or anything like that, but I do have a sister who has cerebal palsy and she always had a hard time fitting in. My parents taught us that every person is an individual and never to treat someone bad bc they are "different" than you. When people asked us "what is wrong with your sister?" I would always respond that there is nothing "wrong" with her, she just has a disability that affects her muscles- she is a smart and comical person, go talk to her and you will see for yourself! Now Kyle and I are having a son together and we plan on raising him with the same values. To reach out and make a diverse group of friends, and I never want to see him in a clique!  To accept people and try to get to know them, not what you see on the surface. Those are our views...

Well I haven't had my baby yet.......but she or he will be taught that no matter what race you are don't discriminate against anyone......I had to learn on my own not only how to deal with being a minority but also dating outside my race on my own.....I guess you can say i did pretty good.....but i am gonna teach my kids no matter what anyone says about you being mixed do the best at everything you do and don't let anyone ever try to tell you that you can't do something (that is legit).

Quoting NicolaW ~ 12w2d left!:“ I am a mixed baby as well. My Mother is a Jewish Polish/Russian/German, and my biological father is a ... [snip!] ... I am and my daughter will know who she is as well and I will make sure she will never deny where her or her family comes from.”

you know..that is like my stupid ass dad..he is so racist it isn't even funny..we cant get along b/c of it...but he is scottish and he was schocked to find out that yes my mom is german, but she is JEWISH-german and irish/native american..why did he think my grandma's last name is Schriber?...he is and idiot.

My baby boy is going to be mixed, I'm Puerto Rican andthe Hubbys white ( Italian/Irish), we were both raised to see people and not "color", and will raise our son the same way..=0)

I'm creole. I guess you could say it's multi-racial. When i was growing up I use to get teased a lot because I was very light. The african-american kids didn't want to play with me because i wasn't as dark as they were. It really hurt my feelings. As I grew older, I realized how wonderful my culture is. My mom always told me to be proud of my family and I am.

Quoting ~Mommy of 3~:“ you know..that is like my stupid ass dad..he is so racist it isn't even funny..we cant get along b/c ... [snip!] ... but she is JEWISH-german and irish/native american..why did he think my grandma's last name is Schriber?...he is and idiot.”

Yea my Grandfather is 78 years old and you cant teach an old dog new tricks. I mean lets face it he came from the days where there was segregation going on and all of that. Of course as everything started to become liberalized he saw that they weren't bad people. But he still thinks that there shouldn't be interracial relationships and whatnot. Of course I never agreed with that. People his age just dont understand and will never understand it.

Quoting NicolaW ~ 12w2d left!:“ Yea my Grandfather is 78 years old and you cant teach an old dog new tricks. I mean lets face it he ... [snip!] ... and whatnot. Of course I never agreed with that. People his age just dont understand and will never understand it.”

yea my dad is only 42 though...he thinks he is an older man trapped in his body..he claims to be a member of the kkk..i really don't wanna know so i just assume it is true...but he is crazy..he doesn't believe in interracial dating either..he has actually hit some guy on the street for kissing his gf (the guy was black and the girl was white)..someone is gonna kill him one of these days for crazy shit like that..i hate it..i try to have a relationship w/ him b/c he is my father, but he knows better than to speak his racist b.s. around me b/c that could change real quick and he would NEVER see his grandkids again...oh and not to mention my mom is a lesbian and he despises her (that is all i hear about)..but i get the feeling he is just jealous b/c he is still in love w/ her..ugh i hate ignorance and intolerance.

the sad thing is that society feels the need toclassify all people and it doesn't matter what your race is. I am puerto rican and mexican Paul ( my other half) is mexican and panamanian. We have a daughter andare expecting another child in January. There are some that say our children will never be mexican enough or puerto rican enough ect.Our job is make sure that they areraised proud ofwho they are and not afraid of what society has to say. I don't expect them to chose. To me its very important that they e aware of all cultures. I tell myself that my job isn't to make sure that our daughter is a strong hispanic, but that she is a strong woman. It sounds to me like you area strong person. you and your husbandare going to do a great job.

i was raised that all ppl are the same as far as skin colour goes... and my whole family is completely the same... my girls know that im white, their real father is black and that makes them BROWN not black or white... my oldest daughter is just starting to realise the whole colour thing and says to "ma...he's black, or he's white" and i always answer with the same thing " yes he is, but it doesnt matter what their colour is"

Yeah but when they get of age i am gonna teach my kids that yes racism still does exist even though some people don't believe it does.....it really does....but thats when they start getting an understanding of that like Middle school