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If things go as planned, our match will have several very different racial backgrounds (4 to be exact). We have been preparing for over a year to parent an African American child. Now we're going to have to get a handle on how to provide cultural identity for a child who a much more complicated background.
Any suggestions on providing cultural context for multiracial kids? There's a lot out there about biracial children, but almost nothing on multiracial!
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I was in a very similar situation. We were also prepared for a full African American child. Our daughter is 1/2 cc, 1/4 black and 1/4 Hispanic (Puerto Rican). She is also very fair.
If you read my previous posts you will see some concerns I've had. It definitely is becoming less of a concern. I still wrestle with people commenting on her "Tan" and telling them that she is black and Hispanic. But then it often leads into her adoption story...which I'm not sure if it's my right or not for me to tell people.
Anyway here is what we do. At Thanksgiving my mom made yuca and I made Collards to celebrate her African American and Puerto Rican roots. 80% of our day care workers are from Peurto Rican and they LOVE speaking to her in Spanish and telling her Peurto Rican stories. I would say 90% of our friends are inter-racial couples. I am in the process of trying to find an African American dentist for both of our children. Oh, and books are a HUGE things. We feature children of all different races, disabilities, adoption, not adoption, books with gay parents, straight parents and animal parents:)
I think it is important to learn about the all of the cultural history of your child's background. Then show your appreciation in it. :)
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