Whether you are black and white (like myself), black and Hispanic, Hispanic and Asian, Asian and black, etc., we have all experienced the struggles of being a mixed child. I myself, know the struggles growing up with a white mom and a black dad. Being teased and made fun of because of something I do. And always getting hit with comments like “that's the white side of you" or “the black is coming out."

It does get frustrating, but over the years, I've learned how to deal with it by laughing it off or changing the subject. Based solely off the color of my skin and features, most people don't believe I am half white. We tend to make judgments about who someone is by simply looking at them, instead of really getting to know them. If we're honest, we all do it; I am guilty of it at times, too.

It was hard growing up with two completely different families. On my dad's side, my brother, sister, and I are the only ones who are half white. Everyone else is full black, including all my cousins, aunts, uncles, etc. On my mom's side of the family my siblings and I are the only ones who are half black. They are all very conservative Italian Catholics, but I love them all to death. At family gatherings for either side of the family, my siblings and I stand out. However, my family loves us no matter what the color of our skin is, which is why I wouldn't change who I am for anything.

No one really understands what it is like being a mixed baby unless you have a friend or know someone who is mixed, and even then, you can't fully understand it. Now that I think of it, some of my best friends growing up were mixed. I guess we just had a lot in common, specifically with our identities. It is part of who we are. Reflecting back about my experiences as a mixed child inspired me to put together a list of the most common daily struggles of a mixed kid. Hopefully, it will give all those mixed babies out there something to laugh about as well as some funny stories to share with their mixed friends.

So what are you? What do you consider yourself?

I HATE this question. I am human, that's what I am. I am black and white (or what your ethnicities are). Then, as soon as you get through explaining your ethnic background they ask, “so what do you consider yourself as?" BOTH! I am just as much white as I am black, and if you can't accept that then it's your problem.

When people meet your mom and later say, “Your mom is white?"

I got this all the time growing up and still to this day. When my friends see a picture of my family they say, "wait your mom is white?" My response, “yes, I am half white and half black." Or, when I was a kid in elementary school, people always said that my mom wasn't my mom, because we don't look alike or have the same skin color. I eventually got over it.

On an application when you have to choose ONE ethnicity, and don't know which to choose.

It's always so frustrating when you are filling out an application, and it says to check the one that applies when you aren't just one ethnicity. A lot of people aren't just one ethnicity, so by using this system it forces us to categorize ourselves. It's difficult to make a choice. Or if it says "check all that apply" and you end up checking all of the boxes while secretly hoping they don't think of you as a mutt.

THE HAIR. THE HAIR. THE HAIR.

People trying to understand your hair type is like trying to explain a complicated math equation. “My hair isn't curly but it isn't straight or frizzy, and no, I don't have an afro," is what I usually say when I attempt to describe my hair. If you have long hair people assume that it is fake, which is both insulting and annoying. Not all people of color have short hair or long hair, so stop judging. Another common question is, “why don't you have black hair or white hair?" Although, the worst one that I'm sure a lot of people get and don't care for is “can I touch your hair?" It's like they've never seen braids or long wavy hair on a black girl or coarse hair on a Hispanic girl.

People trying to define your culture for themselves.

When people try to define who you are based on what is convenient, it can make you very mad. It's amazing how much value society still places on the color of your skin. “That girl is white because she has good hair. That guy is Puerto Rican because he has colored skin and wavy short hair." Stop judging people!

You're not Hispanic/Asian. Prove it.

Fortunately, I don't have this problem, but I have a lot of friends that do. Just because someone is Hispanic or Asian or an ethnicity that speaks a language other than English, doesn't mean that they have to prove themselves to you. One of my good friends is half black and half Mexican, but doesn't speak a lick of Spanish. So people say she's not Mexican because she doesn't speak the language, which is so dumb!

These are just some of the many struggles us mixed children face. It all varies on what you are mixed with. My experiences are different from people with Asian or Hispanic backgrounds. It is incredibly subjective. However, the one thing we all have in common is that growing up mixed has shaped us into the beautiful people we are. Love yourself for who you are and everything you are!