I have biracial children. When this has come up, I have responded factually, pointing out that my children have one black parent and one white parent, making them both and neither. But I've also tried to point out that in this culture, people like you to be "something" identifiable, and they will generally make their choice for you based on something superficial. As upsetting as this fact is, and as loathe as I was to explain it to my innocent children, I felt by leaving it out I was giving them an incomplete answer that would leave them (temporarily, at least) unprepared for the various reactions to them that they'd encounter out in the world.

1) People are jerks sometimes.

2) You are allowed to be naive. Everyone was once. It's human.

3) A year is not very long, and it's understandable that it will take awhile to fade away (this will only become more apparent as you get older).

have you ever considered that part of what you're being paid for is to simply be there between certain hours? Although most of us wish there was more flexibility, the work day in the United States generally starts sometime before 9AM, and ends some time after 5PM. It is an inconvenience most of the time, but unfortunately that's the way our society is set up.

I am a manager, and I think that the people who have worked for me, including those who did not especially like me, would have to agree that I am fair, and understanding about the occasional lateness, as well as times that, for whatever reason, people need to leave early or be out of the office during work hours for whatever reason. But even if there is no work for them, I do have to insist they be on time...because that is part of the agreement they have with the company we work for, in exchange for their salary.

This is the most unbelievably pretentious letter yet. I generally stay out of the fray here in the Since You Asked message board, but this time I couldn't help myself.