Bill Belew has raised 2 bi-cultural kids, now 34 and 30. And he and his wife are now parenting a 3rd, Mia, who is 8.

Yesterday my mommy and daddy got called to the prince and bull’s office. (Ed. Principal)

I understand that’s not a good thing to happen to students. But pair of ants, too? (Ed. Parents)

It seems my mommy and daddy were talking about me. Uh oh!

Daddy came out of the meeting pretty unhappy. Double Uh, oh!

But as the world turns (Ed. as it turns) out, Daddy was NOT unhappy with me. He was unhappy with the way things are decided at the school.

The prince and bull (Ed. principal) told mommy and daddy they discussed me and which class I should be put in this year.

Leadership, creativity and strong will in a 3-year old

My teachers say I have:

1. leadership. What that means is other kids follow me around. And, well I am curious and like to explore. And the teachers just want us to all sit down.

2. creativity. What that means is I can see lots of things to do in lots of places. My brother reads and plays with me in Japanese. My mom does the same in Chinese. And my dad…well, he is all over the place. So, of course, there’s lots of stuff going on in my mind. And then when I get creative, my friends follow me around. See number 1.

3. a strong-will. Well, yeah. Daddy says if you’re going to set out to do something, finish it. If it’s worth starting it’s worth finishing. The terms of nations. (Ed. Determination) goes a long way. Nothing can be more important than the simple resolution to finish a task. All that sort of thing. So, um, yeah. I can be pretty strong-willed. And the problem is?

The principal said they put me in a class so I would NOT be able to use these ‘gifts.’ So, I would sit down more and not teach other kids how to play. So, that I would be a ‘good’ girl.

Daddy says I need to learn how to obey and how to get along with others. I get that. But not at the expense of squelching my God-given gifts…says, Daddy.

My big brother, Georgie, said, “Sounds like us.” (Him, Micah – my other brother and Daddy). Georgie became a world-class pianist. Micah is a molecular, exercise physiologist. And daddy is all over the place. But, I think he is pretty good at what he does, too. They call him The Traffic Professor.

I’m going to listen to my teacher…or try anyway. But, I am going to listen to my mommy and daddy first.

Don’t know what’s gonna happen next….yet.

Talk to Bill and others about their experiences raising bi-cultural Japanese-American kids.