More Than Fireworks: What American Families Really Need This Fourth of July

I was born and raised in the United States. My parents came here to further their education and explore new opportunities, drawn by the promise of possibility, like so many others before them. 

They built a life here through hard work and grit, not knowing exactly what would come next, but trusting that this country could offer more.

As a first-generation Indian American raising second-generation Indian American kids, I’ve been asked more times than I can count where I’m "from." And I often respond with a question of my own: Are you asking about my ethnicity or my nationality? Because I am Indian by ethnicity and American by nationality. The truth is, most people living in the United States could ask the same thing when faced with that question because nearly all of us came from somewhere else, whether a generation ago or many. That’s what makes this country so unique. We’re not defined by one story. We're made up of millions.

America has never been one thing. That’s what makes it different from so many places in the world. It’s constantly growing, constantly shifting. It’s a country built by people with different languages, stories, and values learning how to live a rich life based on their own cultural roots and incorporating the best of new ones.

This is a place where my kids can equally slam down khichdi or pizza (we don't discriminate) on a random Thursday night after homework. Where we light fireworks on the Fourth of July and enjoy them on Diwali too. Where they can see their identities as layered and complete, not something they need to shrink to fit in because the reality is, many of their friends are doing the same. They are a byproduct of multiple cultures, embracing it all.

That’s what I choose to celebrate on America’s birthday— not a narrow vision of patriotism, but the incredible richness that comes from living among people who think, live, worship, and dream differently.

Diversity is the very foundation of this country. It’s not a threat. It’s the point.

And yet, I’ve felt a shift in recent years. We’ve become more polarized, more suspicious of difference. Too many conversations feel like they’re rooted in fear or control, rather than curiosity and compassion.

But as American parents, regardless of our origin stories, we have the power to change that.

Our children learn more from what we model than what we say. And we have a real opportunity to show what it looks like to respect, uplift, and stand alongside one another.

And let’s be honest: the day-to-day experience of parenting here isn’t always easy. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly 73% of mothers and over 92% of fathers with children under 18 are working. Most American families rely on dual incomes, and yet our systems haven’t caught up. Paid leave is inconsistent. Childcare is often unaffordable. And community support can be hard to find.

Meanwhile, much of the national conversation gets stuck on whether someone is a "real" American if they don’t speak English at home or whether it's “unpatriotic” to question the system— when in reality, there are far more urgent, systemic concerns. Families are drowning in costs, burnout, and too often left to navigate it all alone.

So as we celebrate this country, it’s worth asking:

What does freedom really mean for working families today?

What kind of example are we setting for our kids when it comes to inclusion, empathy, and shared responsibility?

Are we building a country that reflects the values we say we believe in or one that only works for a few?

I believe we are doing better, in small, quiet ways every day— in our homes, in our neighborhoods, in our workplaces and the way we choose to raise our children. but maybe it's time we're not doing these things quietly, but bringing more attention to it.

This Fourth of July, I’ll be thinking about what it truly means to be American. About the power of belonging. About the strength it takes to embrace difference instead of rejecting it. And about the joy of raising kids who see themselves as whole and see others the same way too.

Anisha Pandya Patel, Founder of MasalaMommy

Anisha is pregnancy and postpartum coach, corporate well-being consultant, author of Expecting: A Pregnancy Journal, and founder of MasalaMommy. She helps ambitious women navigate early motherhood with confidence, care, and connection—blending holistic wisdom with real-life experience. Through coaching, content, and consulting, she supports both individuals and organizations in creating healthier transitions for working parents. When she’s not working, she’s raising three boys and embracing the beautiful, messy balance of parenting and purpose.

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