I made Tết goodie bags for my four year old and her preschool classmates to celebrate Lunar New Year. For some families, this might look like a simple classroom activity. For me, as an Asian American mom, it’s deeply intentional. I grew up experiencing microaggressions and subtle racism that made me wish I looked different. I remember wanting blonde hair and blue eyes because I felt like an outlier instead of a child with a beautiful culture. So this Lunar New Year, we’re doing things differently. We’re celebrating Vietnamese heritage. We’re normalizing cultural traditions in the classroom. We’re raising confident kids who feel proud of their Asian roots. Representation in schools matters. Cultural identity matters. Diversity isn’t something to shrink from — it’s something to honor. Healing can look like little red envelopes, traditional treats, and a preschooler beaming with pride. Happy Tết and Happy Lunar New Year! tet chinesenewyear lunarnewyear vietnamese innerchild