Stay at Home Dad: Guide to Teaching Children About Being Multiracial

While in the workforce, I prided myself with having a truly diverse workforce. Whether it was cultural, ethnic, or gender, my employee's added value to my business with what they brought to the table. Their uniqueness was an invaluable asset and resource to conquering tough business decisions. I have learned from their differences and have been a good teacher because of their differences. Now as a stay-at-home dad, I have an opportunity to share the value of diversity with my family. I do have an edge of most due to my family being multiracial. My wife is Caucasian. German and American Indian comprise her lineage. I am African American with lineage of American Indian, Asian, and Caribbean. We have a melting pot of ethnicities in of familial make-up. Respect, teaching, and reinforcement are three attributes used in our daily activities. These are not an all inclusive list, but a start to transforming your home into a diverse home.

Respect

Respect for others should be a given, but in today's society, we see different cultures in different lights. What I stress to my family is to not group an entire group for the actions of one. For example, African American who participated in the riots recently in Oakland doesn't represent all African Americans, but individuals acting passionately on their beliefs. I have my children think of diverse cultures as people first and then their nationalities.

Teaching

What I teach my children is not an opinionated view of cultures, but factual side of different culture. We erase the stereotypes generated by external factors such as media and influential people. My children were leaning about the "Trail of Tears" and only recounted what history books told them. I filled in the gaps as provided to me by generations. When talks of The Great Depression spark their interest, I speak to them from my grandmother who lived through this time period. If there isn't fact behind your teachings, then what value are you adding?

Reinforcement

How do you reinforce your values? Talk about your values on a daily basis. Our family dinner is filled with conversation centered on their diversity. I ask questions about known stereotypes and dispel myths associated with those stereotypes. I also reinforce diversity be putting appropriate media in front of them. If a movie speaks toward a negative side of a particular race, not for purpose of the storyline, then we discuss why.

As the 21^st century stay-at-home dad, my role is to pass along what I have learned from the business world and incorporate in my home life. Diversity in business is not always common place, but in the home, there should not a substitute.