Raising my mixed race daughter

[Sharrr]

I'm a white British single mum raising a beautiful curly haired jamacian / white British 8 year old girl recently she's been breaking down at night getting really upset she says she dousent fit in she's not like everyone else .she thinks she's ugly and just wants to be pretty like everyone else .obviously I know she is beautiful and tell her so all the time however it has been a constant issue for her that she's the only girl with curly hair etc etc I've told her it's great to be different etc .I was wondering if there are any mums out there who would like to meet up for play dates etc I live in middleton manchester and my daughter being the only child and struggling to make a bestie at school gets very lonely ..I'd love to arrange some meet ups with other mums. And daughters and I'd appreciate any advise ..thank you in advance sharr

I think there's a specific board here on MN where other mums or women who have grown up mixed with a white parent could offer you advice on helping your daughter feel comfortable as herself. “Being a parent > Multicultural families”

Besides that:
Are you able to get around GM easily (own car or happy with buses etc)?

I recommend signing her onto a Rainbows/Brownies group, if you can get one. It's great for confidence boosting and because it's adult led it's not like kids get left out from the group. They tend to be cheaper than a lot of other clubs, but do so many different activities. Even if you're on a waiting list (my DS waited 2 years to join Cubs!) it's worth it.

Representation does matter. I don't know what it's like in Middleton but I live in another borough where it's predominately white and my mixed DS (different mix to your child) is def one of a scant handful in his year, let alone school. I really made an effort to take him to events and groups in town, it's just more diverse. Having said that, he did not make permanent friends with anyone he met at these events, such is the one-off nature of these things, but I believe it helped him realise there were lots of kids who looked different.
The Art Gallery in town does children's events, as does the Whitworth near the uni. I basically signed up to every single newsletter for any kind of public space (the new Aviva Studios, etc). Z-Arts is great too, with a strong black community, though you need to sign up to a general membership first to access most of their events.

No local advice I'm afraid, but also seek out movies / TV / books that feature black girls and women. Your local library might have some ideas.

Thank you to all for your advice I run the local youth club and also I am a brownie leader even still she still is yet to make permanent friends .