Read on Twitter
An uplifting #NewWest story! /thread
Since October, all my kid wants to do is look for pumpkins & Christmas decorations on houses. He's 2, this is the first year he understands holidays.
I suddenly realize what a bummer it'll be when it's Lunar New Year. What'll he look for?
Since October, all my kid wants to do is look for pumpkins & Christmas decorations on houses. He's 2, this is the first year he understands holidays.
I suddenly realize what a bummer it'll be when it's Lunar New Year. What'll he look for?
No matter how hard I work to give him a Chinese cultural education and grounding, it doesn't work with me alone. So much of a festival is a community celebrating together.
How can I raise him to think his celebrations are valued when no one around him shares in the joy?
How can I raise him to think his celebrations are valued when no one around him shares in the joy?
So I did what I assume any mother stuck at home on mat leave during COVID would do. I sent out 150 letters to my neighbours.
I asked if anyone would put up Lunar New Year decorations so that when my kid walked around, he’d feel like our festival was one that was important too, that everyone was also excited for.
I thought I'd get a dozen responses. My kid's pretty cute. Maybe we'd get some pity takers from our friends who know us.
Instead, I got 58.
And counting! In two weeks!
Instead, I got 58.
And counting! In two weeks!
Our neighbourhood is absolutely full of fu diamonds and red lanterns. You literally can't walk past two houses without seeing a LNY decoration.
I’ve had msgs from people I’ve never met. We're getting stopped in the street by strangers with big smiles wishing us happy new year.
Best of all, I’ve seen SO MANY other kids who are not Chinese going around our streets & pointing out all the lanterns and fortune diamonds.
Best of all, I’ve seen SO MANY other kids who are not Chinese going around our streets & pointing out all the lanterns and fortune diamonds.
So many of my neighbours have put up a decoration ON THEIR FRONT DOOR that has LITERALLY NOTHING TO DO WITH THEM, just because I asked them to. For my kid. My tiny toddler with the stripy toque.
So that he would know his culture was important.
So that he would know his culture was important.
The work of anti-racism is long & really fucking hard. And so is the work of mothering.
Anti-racism is about more than food & festivals, of course. Making toddlers happy is pretty low-hanging fruit.
But when my parents immigrated here, this shit could not have happened.
Anti-racism is about more than food & festivals, of course. Making toddlers happy is pretty low-hanging fruit.
But when my parents immigrated here, this shit could not have happened.
For me & my family, this is everything. The work continues but the moments when we get to pause & celebrate a win are so beautiful.
And when I do this work, my kids - and every mother's kids - are front & centre in my mind.
And when I do this work, my kids - and every mother's kids - are front & centre in my mind.
So if you want to see the greatest concentration of Chinese Lunar New Year decorations outside of actual China, come to Sapperton. We got the goods.
Thanks @TheRecord and @TheresaMcManus for calling & telling this story! https://www.newwestrecord.ca/in-the-community/new-westminster-neighbourhood-aims-to-make-lunar-new-year-magical-in-2021-3296485?fbclid=IwAR2N6zJpDBNg8mwuduvNti7SgeXgqB-JOr6mLwuNQoKcZWCCY_p_lQbxsc8
PS If you like uplifting stories about diversity & community you will fucking love what happens when we dismantle white supremacy. The work continues, always.
Also I felt this Tweet to my very core & it's given me a whole new outlook on the amount of emotional & physical labour this shit takes. I am making magic.
Motherhood is just so big. https://twitter.com/dad_on_my_feet/status/1206748343176699904?s=19
Motherhood is just so big. https://twitter.com/dad_on_my_feet/status/1206748343176699904?s=19
