Years ago when I was in college, a friend and I drove from our New England schools to California. Along the way we stopped in Memphis- home of amazing barbecue, a rich musical heritage, Graceland, the Peabody Ducks, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and the Lorraine Motel. The Lorraine Motel may not have been mentioned in…
history
How You and Your Kids Can Stop Asian Hate
The days following the Atlanta shooting have been difficult. They’ve been filled with impactful conversations about Asian hate on and offline as well as how current events have impacted my biracial teens. I am grateful to those who have read, shared, commented, and messaged to check on me and my family. I’m also incredibly thankful…
What My Biracial Teen Wants You to Know About Anti-Asian Racism
“I’m going to read your post about ways to stop Asian hate,” my 17 year old daughter, Emily, told me late one night this past weekend. The next morning I woke up to a series of texts that shared her struggles with anti-Asian racism as a biracial teen. As a family, we’ve always talked about…
6 Things You Can Do to Stop Asian Hate Right Now
I am Asian- Chinese, to be specific. The rise in violence, discrimination, and xenophobia against fellow Asians around the country over the past year has been terrible. This week’s Atlanta shooting by a domestic terrorist who “was fed up, at the end of his rope” and “had a bad day” is absolutely horrific. If you’ve…
How Minecraft Teaches Kids About Social Justice Movements
First Minecraft’s Uncensored Library gave censored journalists freedom in the virtual world and then let kids vote on important issues through Build the Vote. Now through Lessons in Good Trouble, Minecraft teaches kids about social justice movements around the world. Lessons in Good Trouble aims to share how global social justice movements influenced positive changes…
3 Days in Williamsburg: What My Tween & Teen Learned About History and Physics While Having Fun
This post is sponsored by Visit Williamsburg If you’ve never traveled to Williamsburg, Virginia, or visited when you were a child, the area is a fabulous destination for adventurous families who like to learn through travel. Williamsburg, and nearby Jamestowne and Yorktown, form Virginia’s Historic Triangle where you can go back in time to…
Teaching Kids About Growing Up Chinese American in San Francisco with An American Girl Story – Ivy & Julie 1976: A Happy Balance
This is a sponsored post As a child of the 70s who grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, watching An American Girl Story — Ivy & Julie 1976: A Happy Balance was like a peek into my childhood. The newest American Girl special tells the story of Ivy Ling, a 10-year-old Chinese-American girl…
Teaching Kids About Race, Privilege, Equality & Civil Rights in an Age Appropriate Way
As parents, my husband and I are committed to open and honest dialogues with our kids about anything and everything but there are times when we struggle to make sense of current events. We talk about friendships, money, our marriage, social media behavior, alcohol, sex, race, and so much more. We seize teachable moments that…
Disney’s The American Presidents DVD Box Set Review & Giveaway
It’s Inauguration Weekend which means all things presidential if you’re a DC area resident like we are! We’ve been watching the preparations since after Christmas when bleachers started appearing on Pennsylvania Avenue (the Inaugural Parade route that President Obama will take after his Inaugural Address at the Capitol Building), reading about the different balls- both…
Thanksgiving Sites for Kids- My Latest Column on The LeapFrog Community
What’s the true meaning of Thanksgiving? While it’s a time to come together as a family, it’s also a chance to celebrate the harvest. Sometimes this gets lost in the modern interpretation of the day between annual parades, football games, and gorging ourselves on delicious food, all of which I am guilty of….