Could we have an "interracial" talk topic?

[toky]

I would dearly love to talk to other mums in mixed relationships, about all the issues of mixed-race kids etc. I know I could start a general mixed race thread (and will do if this request is turned down), but there are so many 'sub-threads' I'd have to end up starting, from the thorny political issue of mixed-race hair to in-law (in)sensitivity, etc etc!

Have I got this right?
This subject area would cater for a family like mine, which is mixed (colour not religion in my case).

But does not necessarily include, for example, an Indian family, where both parents are Indian.

Would it be able to include a mixed religious family? Parents of different reigion?

Don't mean to sound, inclusive and exclusive, but you see what I am getting at I hope???

I know hmb, that's the difficult part!!!

Yes, I'm scared too!!!

Yes, LM, what you said is what I'm getting at. What I'm looking for is a topic for mixed-race families, like yours and mine.

Not sure about the religion thing as it's not relevant to me.

OK, Well, I suggest we leave it at that then, a topic for mixed race families.

PS. It was getting scary, took me about 15 minutes to compose each post in case I inadvertantly insulted anyone

Oh, hope that I am not out of order posting, as dh and I are both white british. It is just that this is the sort of thread that has all the hallmarks of starting out realy well and ending up unpleasent.

I think the religious thing could become very complicated, for example I belive in god but dh doesn't. I don't self identify as a 'mixed' couple because of this, but I can see that others might IYSWIM.

I don't think you're out of order posting, you have a valid point.

Yes I really hope we can keep this positive. hmb, if you are looking to share experiences, maybe suggest an 'interfaith' (or whatever term you prefer) topic???

The word 'race' / 'ethnicity' should probably be retained in the topic title to avoid confusion - ?

Agree with LM!

And I am trying to tread carefully here - I really don't want to offend anyone - without taking the topic a million miles away from what I intended.

I would like to be able to discuss mixed-race family issues such as those explored by Yasmin Alibhai-Brown in her book /link{http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0704347067/qid=1099048889/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl/026-1730242-5044424\Mixed Feelings: The Complex Lives of Mixed Race Britons}, with others who are going through the same thing.

Sorry, bad link: this is it: Mixed Feelings: The Complex Lives of Mixed Race Britons

I would like to think of this topic in a similar way to, for example, the Special Needs topic. Many parents get valuable help and support sharing with other parents with SN children. I also think people who don't have any links to a SN child or person can post there to ask for help or advice.

I certainly don't feel resentful that they have their own topic and don't think it has been divisive on MN. The fact is, they DO have many different experiences and issues and problems than parents with a non SN child. And it is very similar with mixed race families.

Hope that makes sense and was a reasonable comparison to make..?

Yes yes yes on all counts LM!

Phew! Am off to have lunch, bbl

Phew indeed. Really important to keep this positive as it's a positive subject.

I like the idea of it being for mixed race families but I wonder whether it would be too restrictive in the number of posts.

Im not from a mixed race family (unless you count Anglo-Irish descent)and the only problem we have there is my dh wants too many potatoes. I would certainly read the threads as its interesting to know and find out about different cultures and how people deal with extreme multi-cultural differences. Plus there seems to be loads of mixed-culture relationships on here from MNers kids, marriages, even parents.

Hello everyone -so you're all still at the name thing!! IMHO the name should be as broad as possible and people will select themselves if they feel it's relevant for them. I guess the Special Needs topic area didn't feel the need to specify what they mean by special needs. What I mean is we should leave the name broad e.g. 'mixed families' and then people will join in the threads if it's relevant for them. If someone feels that their family has any aspect of 'mixedness' be it culture, ethnicity, religion or even class then surely we want them to feel they can contribute?

I like "mixed families".

How about "International families"

This sounds a very good idea. Of course the name of the topic would have to be very sensitively chosen. 'Multicultural families' sounds good to me - covers just about all the mixtures I can think of.

I think 'mixed families' could sound as if it was refering to confused people (actually, I could well post on a thread like that ), and 'international' is either a bit too specific (dh and I aren't an international family, we're both British, but we're certainly multicultural) or could refer to non-British families.

Sorry, nit-picking.

how about "mother is from venus, father is from mars"?

okay just joking I think multiultural families sounds okay.

Yingers - that's a really good heading