How I Learned to Understand My Mom
As a child and young teen, I loved my mother but I resented her more. She yelled at me a lot, often about me getting what she considered bad grades. If I brought home anything lower than a 95, she’d say hurtful things (that was how I learned curse words in Chinese). “You’re so dumb. […]
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Her Hitting Taught Me Violence, Not Discipline
Names have been changed. Growing up, it was just my mom, my little sister Shania, and me in an apartment in Flatbush, Brooklyn. Watching my sister was my job. While my mom was cooking, at the store, or on the phone, I was supposed to keep Shania quiet and still. My mother often complained about […]
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Pregnant at 13: What I Wish I’d Heard
Names have been changed. Growing up, most of what I knew about sex I learned from TV or heard about from friends. We didn’t know from experience: None of us had had sex. We called ourselves the virgin crew. My Aunt Gina, who I lived with when I was 12, never talked about sex or […]
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My Foster Parents Showed My Son and Me How to Feel Safe
I am 19 years old, married with two sons. I am surrounded by love and family. However it was not always like this for me. I am a foster care alumna. I first went into care at 3 and exited for good at 18. When I was in care, I felt I had no one […]
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