Hi Mary, thanks for posting. I'm sure you're right about the being an adult bit. Confidence in yourself and in your relationship strengthens you. But setting is important too.

I was always comfortable in Edinburgh with my Chinese gf. We could walk around arm in arm. But London was different. My gf and future wife was black. There were NO mixed race couples in those days. We had an external and internal experience. I think not being able to show affection openly affected our relationship. We agonised often as to whether we should stay together.

After our son was born, our attitude changed completely. It had to. People came and talked to us about becoming mixed race couples. It was a barrier that had to be broken through. I'm sure Caritia can back me up on this. London is filled with mixed race couples with their children.

I'm interested in what you said about writers from a mixed race background. I think these are the sort of books I should have in my house for my children to read. One of the things they grew up with was not finding children like themselves in picture books.

Thanks for joining!