Mother of mine
My mother is a tiny Asian woman, weighing only 95 pounds when she got married. By age 17, we both knew there was no way that I would be able to fit into any of her traditional Chinese dresses that she wore when she got married to my dad. She often peers up at me with strange curiosity and asks how she had a giant of a daughter like me. We have different personalities but also very similar characteristics. I am more aggressive, rational, stubborn and a total American. We are both emotional and anxious, impatient and prone to outbursts. She is always loving and hugging and the family is always the number one priority in her mind.
I think of the struggle that she has been through, immigrating to the States and not speaking the language, pulled away from all her friends and family. Then raising two foreign daughters, who are so American, in an unfamiliar environment. I am not grateful enough to her for pulling and keeping our family together, for centering our minds and our hearts every time we get together. But at least today, I can try to be. Thank you mom - xie xie mama.
I think of the struggle that she has been through, immigrating to the States and not speaking the language, pulled away from all her friends and family. Then raising two foreign daughters, who are so American, in an unfamiliar environment. I am not grateful enough to her for pulling and keeping our family together, for centering our minds and our hearts every time we get together. But at least today, I can try to be. Thank you mom - xie xie mama.
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| Mom, Siri, Dad and Me |
Mamas like that are unsung heroes :]
ReplyDeleteI don't know how I would handle a situation like that. It must be hard O__O
Happy Mothers day
ReplyDeleteHappy Mothers day .
ReplyDeleteYes, that must have been complicated in so many ways - but she clearly has done a great job with you! :-)
ReplyDeleteLove the pic! :-)
Such a sweet post, Ruth:) Happy Mother's Day!
ReplyDeleteSweet words! Happy mothers day :)
ReplyDeleteOh, this is so sweet! I can only imagine how difficult it must have been for your mother to raise children in a foreign home! You seem to have turn out lovely though for all her great efforts :)
ReplyDeleteAww such a sweet post Rooth, your mother sounds like an amazing woman.
ReplyDeletexo erica
Your mother sounds like an *amazing* woman, as do you for writing such a beautiful, thoughtful post.
ReplyDeleteThis is so sweet. My mother struggled learning English too when we moved from Israel to Australia. Although it must have been difficult for her to leave her family and home, she often speaks about it as one of the best decisions of her life.
ReplyDeleteSo sweet . . . I hope you all had a lovely Mother's Day!
ReplyDeleteWow, teeny tiny! I would love to see the traditional Chinese dresses...how lucky that she still has them.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful family!
Very sweet of you to acknowledge your mom in this post. Hope you had a great Mother's Day with her yesterday.
ReplyDeleteMy mom is a tiny little thing too - it's so annoying, haha! Love this sweet post!
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful post to such an amazing woman!
ReplyDeletethis is a wonderful post!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful post! :)
ReplyDeleteAwww...happy Mother's Day to your Mommy.
ReplyDeleteMoms are so amazing, no? I am always so amazed by how they have accomplished so much, especially in new countries, with new languages, with so little resources and so much to learn and absorb.
ReplyDeleteHope you had a great Mother's Day!
Cheers.
What an amazing adventure your mom has been on! Her struggles made her the woman she is today. Beautiful and inspiring mother's day post!
ReplyDeleteYour mom sounds like a pretty amazing woman. Hope you had a wonderful day celebrating her. :)
ReplyDeleteaww, your mother sounds like such a great woman - hope you all had a great mother's day ;) ;)
ReplyDeletexoxo
the older i get, the more i get to appreciate my mother, her characteristics and her personality. i definitely see myself in her now more than ever. it's a good feeling to have such a wonderful individual as a mom and i'm sure you feel the same about yours :)
ReplyDeleteMy background's a bit similar to yours in that my mum came here to Australia from Hong Kong without much grasp of English at all, and with no friends or family here. And they stayed so that I could have a better education. Our mums are pretty awesome, if you ask me. I know mine has given up a lot for me...
ReplyDeleteRonnie xo
There is nothing giant about you at all, girl!
ReplyDeleteAnd what a heart-warming post. Your mother is such a fighter and inspiration.
Your mom is beautiful!
ReplyDelete