Week 6 - Amanda Wong

“My mother not my mother” follows the experience of Professor Kieu Linh, as she asks her mother why she never loved her throughout her life, something Kieu Linh struggled with growing up and into her adulthood. Her mother explains it simply, she is not her mother. Kieu Linh’s real mother is her aunt who had always interacted with her lovingly. This story of love and motherhood explores the struggles of many Asian-Americans.

I think it speaks magnitudes to the fact that Kieu Linh knew something was not right. She picked up on the strained relationship between her and the aunt, who took on the role of her mother. Children are more connected to their inner intuition.

It isn’t uncommon for children to be passed around to different family members, as pride and shame are important within Asian culture. So much so that children are not raised and loved by their biological parents.

We tend to normalize how a mother and father by building expectations of their role in our lives the kind of relationship we should have with them. This article highlights how important family is. As a child grows up there is a bond, a connection made between their caregivers. The topic, ‘giving life and life giving,’ delves into the relationship we form with those around us who take after us.

Reference: Kieu Linh Caroline Valverde. “My Mother Not My Mother.”

Question: Have you ever experienced a sense of knowing about something that a family member lied about?

Image: https://www.theodysseyonline.com/why-we-are-drawn-to-the-love-hate-relationship