Suburbutopia

[I suppose Bend isn't really the suburbs, but life sure looks and feels like it.]

We did our annual ease-back-into-school mode with the "Meet the Teacher" event at Henry's school this afternoon. The kids see their new classrooms, check out their teachers and eat popsicles from the PTA. We  catch up from the summer and plan playdates and carpools for flag football practice.

I enjoy the rhythms of life in this town. They're very pleasant and comfortable; like living here in general. I feel vaguely embarrassed that life is so easy for us, though. Must be my liberal guilt. Enjoy the benefits, but feel kinda bad about it. 

But boy, we're a white bunch here. Another transracial adoptive mom and I were looking around to see if there were any new non-white kids, as we know every one of the other eight black kids there, including our own. (This is out of an 800-student public school.) We got very excited to see a black mom - the only one I've seen in Bend. We're progressing!

Yes, I know, race doesn't matter, blah blah, but I can't imagine being in the one percent minority in grade school. Doesn't seem to bother Henry though.

Not much bothers Henry, except when they run out of popsicles. Hope it stays that way.

Comments

[Kathi D]

I had a young Chinese neighbor who spent her first school years in St. Louis, where there were almost no Chinese kids in school, and then moved to our suburbs where she was one of many Chinese kids in school. I told her she must like it better, eh?

No. She liked being in the minority because it was more special! Go figure.

[Berlinswhimsy]

I grew up here and it was the same then, too. In my very large high school, I had one black classmate. And I must admit, when I moved to the city, I was a bit nervous at first because of my naiveness about other cultures. I soon figured it all out and enjoyed it immensely.

[Missy]

I grew up in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. and am constantly surprised at how white things are here in Bend! My older daughter and I always want to say something ridiculous like, "Yay! You're black!" when we see a black person here in town, but we restrain ourselves. I miss the rainbow that is the D.C. suburbs, but Bend is home - more color here is always good, though!