Embracing cultural diversity through learning

I am a Trinidadian through and through but I am raising British children, in the country of their birth, with their British father.

As far as culture goes, I am outnumbered in my house, but that does not stop me from ensuring mine dominates just as powerfully.
My children understand my dialect (even though they are deplorable as imitating it!), they love my local music, we eat corn soup on a Saturday and callaloo on a Sunday, they address my close friends as Aunty and Uncle and their family values are as Caribbean as they come!

It is not an easy feat! In fact it can be a challenge especially with my teenager who is old enough to say “well my friend’s mom does it this way…” usually followed by something to suggest I am overreacting and being all Trini (read dramatic) about something.

Trini parenting is quite different to English parenting (possibly illegal – I joke!) so in order to avoid the kids ringing social services, it was truly essential that they understand the core of who I am – my culture, my Caribbeanness, my Trininess. So they know I am not crazy or awkward or unnecessarily loud and crude, I just had a different upbringing and under my care, so would they. It was important to me that they embrace that and feel proud of it rather than resent it, hoping I could be more like their friends’ parents.

Appreciating the half of their heritage that they inherited from me is the first and most important step.

I wanted to help other parents in my position to rise to the challenge of raising children in a blended culture, by writing these books. I wanted to also help children of all backgrounds learn to appreciate world cultures in order for them to embrace diversity amongst their peers.

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