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6 months ago
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She had moved countries with her family two years earlier, and that gives a little hint about where this is going. Anyway, it was her first day working at a café in the neighborhood. When evening came, and it got a little chilly, who showed up but her mother, my grandmother, holding a sweater. In front of all my mom’s brand-new coworkers and manager, she told her she didn’t want her to catch a cold.
My mom had no choice but to say thanks while mentally scanning for the nearest patch of ground to start digging a hole to live in for the rest of eternity.
This story has since become a staple in our family. I think it captures generational and cultural differences perfectly. My grandma’s logic at the time was basically: teenagers shouldn’t be working at all, but if it’s common here, fine. Still, my own daughter working outside when it’s chilly? Absolutely not.
I bring up this story because, like many family tales, it shows how overprotective, sometimes overbearing, parents can create the funniest moments when their intentions are good and shaped by cultural norms. But that’s miles away from what the 24-year-old who posted about her pretty insane mother was dealing with.
English (US) ·