Interesting Conversation

Tonight after dinner Daddy took Big Sis to her friend's house to play. Her friend, Angus, is Chinese and his parents own the local Chinese restaurant.

They return home later that evening and Daddy tells me that while they were at Angus' house Big Sis (who is four and a half) asked, "Am I Chinese?" Daddy told her that she is an American. She then said, "I'm Chinese-American."

Angus' dad offered her some Chinese milk. She refused, saying, "I don't like Chinese milk. I'm an American!" And several times that night she told Angus, "I'm not Chinese, I'm an American girl."

This is a topic that I knew would eventually come up...I just didn't know it would come so soon.

While Daddy thinks we should just tell her that she's an American, I don't want to discount her Chinese heritage. She spent the first 8 months of her life in China. I want to instill in her a pride for her birthplace, yet at the same time she lives in America and America's way of life. It's such a tricky topic...I just hope I handle it in a way that doesn't make her feel ashamed.