Being raised by a single-parent to becoming a step child in an interracial marriage

by Claudia Ramirez-Yaglian
(N. Hills, CA, LA)

I don't think you have ever touched on a topic such as this one. If you have I must have missed it. I have a pretty unique but maybe not uncommon situation. I'm Mexican American and so is my first born daughter. I raised my daughter as a single parent for 10 years before I met my husband. My husband is Armenian. Not only did my daughter have to adjust to sharing her mother with this man who became her step-father, but she also now has two siblings that are Mexican-American Armenian. At times she feels out of place. She never lived with her biological father who is also Mexican American. She has always been with me. Not only is her father and siblings Armenian, but she is also now 13 years older than my second daughter and 17 years older than my son. Is there any advice out there on how to deal not only w/blended families, but, blended families of different cultures? I would like to know how I can help my daughter feel like she's part of the family. I guess this would be similar to a child who is adopted by parents and siblings of another race? Maybe you can write an article on this topic or have people share their experiences on how they deal with this type of family life and I can share mine too. I think this type of situation may becoming more common than we think with all those single parents out their meeting people from other racial backgrounds. I think this would be a great article for many people out their. I am curious to know if there are many of us in this situation. Please consider writing a story on this topic.