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Why I’m Raising Cultural Awareness to Promote Social Change
Multiculturalism has been a passion of mine ever since I moved to the United States. However, after having children, this passion grew even stronger as I realized that raising my kids with an understanding of diverse cultures would enable them to interact and thrive in a multicultural society. This realization is why I am committed…
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Bill of Rights for People of Mixed Heritage by Maria P. P. Root, Ph.D.
In 1992, Dr. Maria P. P. Root wrote the Bill of Rights for People of Mixed Heritage, a groundbreaking document empowering individuals of mixed heritage to assert their identities, whatever they might be. In the United States, people who appear ethnically ambiguous have often been rendered invisible or pressured to “choose a side” based on…
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Becoming Bicultural to Parent the Children of Today ~ Book Review
Immigration is often a hot topic in the United States, and becoming bicultural is frequently equated with being an immigrant. However, we are witnessing a unique moment in history where our global society, regardless of origin, is evolving. Parenting in this context presents challenges that previous generations didn’t face, and preparing our children for today’s…
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Talking to Kids About Poverty: Raising Respectful and Compassionate Children
On any given day, I find myself telling my children about my childhood and the things I didn’t have growing up. When they complain about the internet being down, having too many toys to pick up, or how little time they got to stay in the pool, I remind them how fortunate they are. It’s…
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Starting Kindergarten at 4 Years Old and Life Without My Mom: #TheYearOf40
Months before we moved into the house my father was building with the money he won in the lottery, I was one of those kids starting kindergarten at 4 years old in a neighborhood school. If you’re thinking that was very young, let me clarify that this wasn’t my first time in school; I had…
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The Year My Father Won the Lottery & We Moved to Villa Mella#TheYearOf40
It was 1980, a year that marked the beginning of a new decade and also my third year on earth. However, in our family’s history, 1980 will forever be remembered as the year my father won the lottery in the most unexpected way. Here’s the thing: my father has never been a gambler. He never…
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My Toddler Tantrum Phase and Happenings from 1979 #TheYearOf40
When I decided to embark on this storytelling exercise, I didn’t anticipate how challenging it would be to extract memories of my early years from my mother and father. However, when it came to recalling my second year of life—when my toddler tantrum phase began—it wasn’t as difficult as I expected. With just a simple…
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When I Was One Year Old, Rainbows Came in Black & White #TheYearOf40
When I was one year old, rainbows came in black and white… but luckily for me, Polaroids were already in color. It was 1978, and my family was still living in the house where I was born. Many things we now take for granted didn’t exist back then. Thanks to my father’s passion for photography,…
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Where My Life Story Began: A Poor Neighborhood of Santo Domingo #TheYearOf40
A few months ago, I started a personal project to document my life through a series of pictures and essays that I will one day give to my children, so they can understand where my life story began and, therefore, their origin. At some point, I decided it would be a good idea to share…
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40 Things I Am Grateful For On My 40th Birthday #TheYearOf40
Today is my 40th birthday. As you know, I’ve been preparing for this day for quite some time because I think it’s a big deal. I didn’t think too much about turning 30 a decade ago, so my excitement this time around is a sign of growth that I celebrate wholeheartedly. Besides taking the day…
