This article explores how five children born in Sweden whose parents were born in Iran talk about their own cultural and ethnic backgrounds, and the role these play in their lives. The different ways in which they do so exemplify the complexity involved in the ongoing construction and performance of identities when certain identity options seem compulsory while others are made unavailable to them. The findings show that agency and choice are crucial issues for these children, and that they resist oversimplification, reductionism and categorization based on their cultural or ethnic backgrounds. Furthermore they draw attention to the fact that their reflective choices and self-chosen identities are often challenged both at home and in their schools. This study is intended to expand knowledge of children's lives and experiences and would be useful for both teachers and other professionals working with children.