Category Archives: Parenting
Mistaken Identity
As shared live on stage for Stoop Storytelling Series (click to hear the audio!): Look at me. What do you see? You’ll probably say a middle-aged Chinese woman who has worked very hard for every single one of these gray … Continue reading
Don’t Forget Who You Are
“Don’t forget who you are. They will take one look at you, and they’ll always remind you that you’re different. You think you’re White, but you’re not. They’ll always treat you different.” I wish I had listened to my mother. … Continue reading
Posted in Parenting, Relationships, Uncategorized
Tagged assimilation, Chinese, immigration, Mother, parenting, racism, relationships
10 Comments
Roots and Wings
Sending a child off to college removes any illusion of control and bitch slaps me in the face that these children will make all sorts of decisions in their lives, big and small, and there’s not a damn thing I can do about it (other than bailing someone out of jail). Continue reading
Posted in Parenting, Uncategorized
Tagged college, college dorm, freshman, grown and flown, parenting, roots and wings, sending child to college
4 Comments
The Burden of Choice
I’m 45 years old, and I am both ecstatic and dismayed that I have one more student loan payment left. I received my graduate degree in 1997. It’s been a while. It also took me a while to understand why … Continue reading
Posted in Empowerment, Mindfulness, Parenting
Tagged Chinese, choices, mistakes, parenting, tribe, values
3 Comments
When Rice is Love
Twenty four years ago, my parents gave me an old 3-cup rice cooker, National brand. It was rusty on the outside, but it did the job. They loaded me up with used furniture, an Ikea piece or two, mismatched kitchenware, … Continue reading
Posted in Mindfulness, Parenting
Tagged Asian parenting, Chinese, National rice cooker, rice cooker
3 Comments
#winning at What Cost?
I’ve learned to listen to my gut. So when I first started hearing students and teachers describe a certain coach with certain words, it struck me as interesting, and I tucked it away. Fast forward to a year later, and … Continue reading
Posted in Empowerment, Parenting
Tagged abusive sports culture, coaching, McNair, toxic sports culture, University of Maryland
5 Comments
Bearable Lightness of Being
I never quite know who I’m coming home to. There are two human beings in middle school who have the keys to the house and full run of the refrigerator. But I don’t know who I’ll encounter when I … Continue reading
Why I Must Tell My Children I Was Raped
A friend asked the other day if there’s anyone left in Hollywood, referencing the daily news stories of women sharing their stories of being sexually assaulted by powerful men. Hollywood? This isn’t confined to the entertainment industry. I’m conflicted about … Continue reading
Posted in Empowerment, Parenting
Tagged #metoo, rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment, Weinstein
6 Comments
Ninja Princess
I hold great disdain for the princess culture. The nauseating pink and batting eyelashes and the requirement of being saved by someone. There’s something helpless and vapid and useless about these personalities that are heavily marketed towards young girls. Yet … Continue reading
Posted in Parenting
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