How was your experience in a interracial relationship? How do you feel your childrens experiences will be diffrent from yours growing up?

My name is Stephene White, I am 27 year old American Indian-Caucasian female. I have two young children from a previous inter-racial relationship of 9 years. I met him when I was 15 and never really put any thought into the fact that he was an “African American” male. I realized that he was of color, obviously, but I don’t feel it played a major role in our relationship.

A year into our relationship I became pregnant: my parents were concerned, not only because I was pregnant at 16, but I learned later also because they were going to have bi-racial children. They did not know how they would feel about it. Once they were born, they loved them regardless, which I realize is a blessing.
When I was in the relationship with my boyfriend, I didn’t feel as if I was challenged all the time by prejudice. People would stare when we would be out together, but I didn’t pay much attention. There may have been more incidents but either I was oblivious or didn’t care about what people thought about my relationship.

I know my children will not experience the same up brining as I did. I realize that my daughter, now 10, will go through many things, especially being a woman of color. I already see the difference in beauty ideals. How she compares herself, for example she says she wants straight hair instead of her curls.
My son will also have a different experience. I hope that his father talks to him about his own experiences and that they keep that dialogue open. I try to make sure that my children have confidence in who they are and confidence in who they would like to be one day. I know that there will be challenges along the way.