My son told me I should do some research to find my own niche. I am not a good student and have been lazy doing any research.  My niche? I think I should be comfortable finding a community of parents who have experienced some forms of cultural conflicts with their American born children, like me growing up in China and raising children in America. Conflicts inevitably erupt when my Chinese culture-based upbringing meet their American cultural resistance. Being a mom caught in between two cultures, I have learned, among others, conflict-management skill is an absolute life-saver in keeping a fire under control.

By the way, if there is a competition for the best-behaved mom, I would certainly be rewarded the first prize. Because I have kept my mouth shut as much as I am aware of in front of my children’s friends, for I know how much this foreign accent mom could embarrass her children. My son once told me in his primary school years, “Mom, let me do the talking.”  I don’t need to be told twice on this.  I would save my children’s face by not working in a Chinese restaurant.  I would put on some decent clothes when I showed up in my children’s schools.  Of course, the best performance is to pretend that I did not know them in public.  To be fair, they are good children, but I have learned how to behave to save their dear faces.

Yes, this is my niche — the experience of a Chinese mom with her American born children.