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We’ve watched our kids make friends with a really diverse group of people. That’s great because it makes their lives and ours way more interesting. It seems like it kind of happens subconsciously, though. Do you find that you and/or your kids consciously seek out people who look like they may come from mixed households? Does that potential common ground make reaching out any easier?

I think that my children, as well as my husband and myself, definitely have an easier time making friends with people who are somewhat “different” than the majority, whether it is by culture, race, way of life, ideas… I’m positive that has to do with our multicultural upbringing. I also think that as “blurs” we tend to be more flexible, more tolerant, and we not only find our differences more acceptable, but also more interesting. And the best part is always finding out how alike we feel inside, the more different we seem to be on the outside.

Kids seem to be very open. It seems like a natural, near no-brainer from my perspective. But maybe it’s because of a multi-cultural upbrining. I had to laugh a couple of weeks ago though when my 12 year old had a couple of friends over playing one evening. One of them is Middle Eastern and Muslim; they decided to make a “terrorist” video. Somehow they Muslim kid ended up with a bag over his head while my son and his buddy played terrorists.

I was amazed at how much attention I guess they paid to CNN and You Tube. All 3 seemed to have a great time, they never did post it on the net. I had to think back of one time when I was maybe 7 or 8 and crucified G.I. Joe on the patio one afternoon. My mother was not amused.

I think a lot of it boils down to demographics (i.e. where you live).  I was raised around a rainbow of friends in Seattle, WA. so diversity was always a natural part of my life.  However, when I moved to South Orange County, CA I experienced true culture-shock (i.e. due to the lack of diversity).  I found it necessary to make a concerted effort to provide my children (and my husband and I) with a diverse group of friends. 

What was interesting, though, is that when I created Melting Pot Moms, so many families seemed to come out of the wordwork! LOL We used to joke “Where were you all when I was doing errands?” We all have diverse backgrounds/ethnicities/cultures and we all had the same longing to create a diverse community for our families—we just needed the avenue of an organization/group to help us “find” each other.

I am so happy when I see the diverse group of friends my boys have now—to them, families with different colors are the norm. And my husband and I have benefitted greatly as well.