Helping my daughter connect to culture as she grows- advice?
Hi! Single mom to my two month old princess 🥰. She is my world. I am entirely white (Sámi, to be specific) and her father is Chinese and Indigenous Taiwanese. His family speaks Mandarin and Korean. I’m currently learning both languages, but aside from that, I’d really like to hear from other moms that share her culture on how to best keep it in her life. Unfortunately, father and his family will be quite distant in the future, as they have a history and some issues to work out amongst themselves. So, it’s up to me! I am going to look into some Chinese learning schools, which will be helpful when she’s older. I already know how to cook quite a lot of cultural dishes as well, though primarily Korean (learned from her father’s mom, who technically grew up in Korea) and Japanese cuisine (just my favorite lol). I am just so afraid of her feeling separated from her identity not having her father around… Do you think I should keep up with traditional holidays? I’m nowhere near opposed, and like celebrating / sharing events like that, but don’t want to be seen as trying too hard, or appropriating in any way. I would also love for her to be able to make other friends who she feels a resemblance to, so she can feel more comfortable once she’s in school. Any advice helps!!
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She’s so so beautiful
She is beautiful!
I’m sorry I don’t have any advice but I loved your post so much. Your daughter has a wonderful mother. 🖤
Hi, your baby is so lovely! Congratulations 🎊 I just read your post, and I am sorry to hear you are going to start this new chapter with her dad not being around. But it sounds like you are nailing it already 😊 already learning the languages, cooking under your belt, which you can pass on from learning from her dad's mother! That will be so nice share 🥰 i think if you feel comfortable, then keeping up with a couple of traditional holidays would be great. But dont put too much pressure on yourself if you miss one, im sure you will have a lot to juggle being a single mom. And you dont want to be burning out. I have this book, "The Festive Food of China," by Deh-Ta Hsiung.
It is a great book that I use when I want to reconnect to my background but cant rememberwhat is coming up. I am British born Chinese, and I do struggle to remember my families celebrations and history.
The book goes through the variety of Chinese holidays. I was thinking of using it as a reference book to celebrate some traditions with our baby when she is growing up 🙏
I would not worry about being seen as trying too hard, you wont be. I think it sounds great what you would like to do. And it is up to you at the end of the day. She will be one cultured baby, and i hope to help mine experience it too ☺️
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