Raw Parenting Podcast Newsletter - March 2026
Subject: Raising Mixed Kids: The Beautiful Parts and the Hard Parts No One Talks About
Dear Parents,
Mixed kids are a hot topic right now, especially with athletes like Eileen Gu and Alysa Liu bringing more attention to what it means to grow up between two cultures.
As parents of three mixed children ourselves, this got us thinking:
Are there special advantages to being raised in two cultures?
And just as importantly, are there hidden challenges that no one really talks about?
The more we thought about it, the more we realized this is such an important conversation. Because raising mixed kids is not just about cute genetics and bilingual babies. It is also about identity, belonging, family expectations, culture, and helping your child feel fully confident in who they are.
Two Different Worlds Under One Roof
Before we can even talk about mixed kids, we have to talk about the two cultures they are growing up between.
In our home, that means Chinese culture and Western culture.
And trust us, there are differences.
Some of them are funny.
Some of them are beautiful.
Some of them are intense.
For example, in Chinese culture, food is a huge deal. A whole chicken can be served at the table, head and all, because that shows freshness. Leaving your plate empty can mean people will keep offering you more food. Hot water is treated like medicine. There is a soup for everything. Sore throat? Soup. Cold? Soup. Pregnancy? Soup.
There is also a strong culture of preserving things. Furniture gets covered. Remotes get wrapped in plastic. Cars get protected like family heirlooms. Everything is meant to last.
And then there are the beliefs and habits that are passed down almost automatically. Dry your hair or you will get a headache. Stay out of the sun. Protect your skin. Always take care of your body in very specific ways.
Western culture, at least in our experience, feels very different. It is often more relaxed, more individualistic, and more focused on personal preference and freedom. There is usually less pressure to fit one exact mold.
And that is where mixed kids live. Right in the middle.
The Gift of Growing Up in Two Cultures
There are some really beautiful things about being mixed.
First, mixed kids often get to see the world from more than one angle. They are exposed to different languages, different foods, different celebrations, different values, and different ways of thinking.
That is a huge gift.
Our girls get to experience Chinese New Year, dragon dancing, Chinese language, and family customs that many Western kids do not get to experience. At the same time, they are also growing up with the freedom and self-expression that often comes more naturally in Western homes.
That blend can be powerful.
You get the strong family values and work ethic from one side.
You get the openness and self-expression from the other.
In a lot of ways, it really can be the best of both worlds.
We also think being mixed can help kids become more adaptable. They learn early that people live differently, think differently, and value different things. That can create a deeper appreciation for culture in general.
And honestly, there is something really special about your child being able to move between two worlds and feel connected to both.
The Hard Part No One Likes to Talk About
But being mixed is not always simple.
One of the biggest struggles mixed kids may face is the feeling of not being fully enough in either culture.
Not Chinese enough here.
Not white enough there.
Not fully this. Not fully that.
We see this in public conversations around athletes like Eileen Gu. She has spoken openly about how complicated it can feel to be between cultures, and how people from both sides can question where you belong.
That is something we think parents of mixed kids need to be mindful of.
Because even if our children are loved deeply, they may still wrestle with questions like:
Where do I belong?
Who am I most like?
Why do I feel different here?
Why do I feel different there?
Those are real questions.
And our job as parents is not to answer all
Expectations Can Look Very Different
One thing we have noticed is that Chinese culture often carries a much heavier sense of expectation.
Education matters.
Status matters.
Achievement matters.
Family reputation matters.
There can be a lot of pressure on Chinese children to succeed, perform, and make the family proud.
In many Western households, there is often more freedom to “find your passion” and do what makes you happy, even if the path is less traditional.
That difference can create tension, but it can also create balance.
A mixed child may grow up with strong discipline and work ethic, while also feeling more freedom to be themselves.
And that balance, when handled well, can be incredibly healthy.
The Identity Question
One of the things we wonder about most as parents is how our girls will see themselves when they get older.
Will they ever feel like they have to choose?
Will they feel torn between cultures?
Will they feel proud of both?
We hope they grow up knowing they do not have to shrink any part of themselves to fit someone else’s definition.
They do not have to be “more” one side to deserve belonging.
They are already enough.
That might be one of the most important lessons mixed kids need to hear.
So Is Being Mixed an Advantage?
For us, yes, overall we do think being mixed is an advantage.
Not because it is easy.
Not because there will not be challenges.
But because there is so much richness in growing up with contrast.
There is beauty in having more than one lens.
There is beauty in learning to appreciate more than one culture.
There is beauty in building an identity that is uniquely your own.
Yes, there may be moments of confusion.
Yes, there may be moments of feeling in-between.
But there is also strength there.
And we believe that strength can become one of the greatest gifts our children carry.
Join the Conversation!
We’d love to hear from you! Is being raised in two cultures an advantage… or does it make life harder? Hit reply and let us know, or join the conversation on our latest post.
Reading with your little ones is such a special bonding experience. Let’s make sure the books we choose bring joy, learning, and positivity into their lives!
With love,
Tom & Malorie
The Raw Parenting Podcast
P.S. Want more real talk on parenting? Check out our latest podcast episode for a deep dive into this topic! 🎙️
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P.S.: “Growing as parents through deep, real conversations to raise better kids.”
See you next month!
