My husband will be the first to tell you that he has struggled with racial identity most of his life. His father wasn’t a part of his life, and his teenage mother was trying her best to provide for his basic needs, leaving Brandon to carve out his place in an all-white family as a biracial child. He grew up in a Disney daze, idolizing the characters and stories of the little boys of Neverland and warm jungles. His adventuresome spirit and wild imagination protected him from the dark thoughts and sadness that came from wandering thoughts of who is father is, was and should have been.
Most people that meet my husband will agree, his presence is intoxicating; his joy can fill you from the tip of your toes to the top of your head in a matter of minutes. His aura emulates pure love and joy, and the genuine nature of his heart is one I envy. He’s a chameleon, always changing his style but somehow manages to nail every look. But, beneath that intense love and devotion is a child buried within him that he keeps hidden. A child that didn’t know how to process why his dad wasn’t there, a boy who didn’t know why his skin was different than his family’s, a young man who endured abuse from a stepfather, that in my humble opinion, envied him. As the only black kid in many of his classes, he was always searching for some place to belong. And over the years he learned to bury, cover and mask his feelings with typical characteristics of his favorite Disney characters and forced himself to become the loving, caring, selfless human that he is today.
When we met in college, I was newly divorced with two young children that were half white and half Liberian. We collaborated on school projects and quickly became best friends that were inseparable. Being a couple came naturally, blending a family is what took work. He wanted to help me raise my children as his own, to guide their path as mixed children and teach them to represent their heritage, rather than mask it.
Being the white wife and mother to a blended family, I find myself on guard with a mama bear instinct you don’t want to mess with. I am a protective wife to a fault, perhaps picking up the slack that scarred his childhood, always wanting to make sure my husband doesn’t endure any more pain and keep this happy bubble that he has us in, protected from popping. I am careful with friendships and am quick to dismiss rather than forgive. I make an effort to choose dolls, books, toys, events and things for my family that represents the diversity of the whole human race. But does that matter? I question myself A LOT. Am I doing enough in my daily life to make sure my family feels represented and loved? Do I advocate enough for a community that is larger than me?
Chelsey Werth is a photographer, producer, creator and mother of four. She grew up on a farm, but would rather ‘glamp’ than camp. She loves to garden, cook and bake, and when she’s not being a modern-day Martha Stewart, she also runs a family blog called Hop & Howl.
BY Chelsey Werth - February 15, 2017
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February 15th, 2017 at 4:49 pm
You have to follow their blogs!
These are amazing photographers + parents! XOXO
#inspired
February 15th, 2017 at 8:44 pm
Beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing!
February 15th, 2017 at 9:29 pm
It saddens me to see that discrimination is still around today, but your family is beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
February 16th, 2017 at 7:44 am
This is a wonderful story. I love it!!!
Thank you so much for sharing. 🙂
February 16th, 2017 at 9:41 am
You are a GORGEOUS family!!
February 16th, 2017 at 11:52 am
This warmed my heart!!! What a beautiful family. Thank you for sharing.
February 16th, 2017 at 2:03 pm
As a mixed woman in her early 30s, this article resonated with me so much. I too was raised by a mostly white family that was completely supportive of me in everyway. While the black side of my family wasn’t absent at all, I just didn’t live close to them and as I grew older felt I lacked some of the black culture. I think what you’re doing and how you’re thinking as a mother with biracial children is incredible–keep up the good work. I love that you’re trying to incorporate as much diversity as possible into your activities. The last sentence cracked me up! My mother had the same struggles but there is hope!
February 19th, 2017 at 9:03 am
[…] I love this family. […]
March 17th, 2017 at 2:26 pm
Thanks a lot we have got it all.