Sampan interviews four moms about motherhood, parenting, and their own upbringings as children of immigrant pa

May 7, 2026 - 12:08

For Mother's Day, four mothers sat down to reflect on the journey of raising children while carrying the weight of their own immigrant upbringings. Each woman spoke about the delicate balance between honoring the traditions they grew up with and forging a new path for their own kids.

One mother recalled how her parents worked multiple jobs and rarely had time for emotional conversations. As a parent now, she makes a point to ask her children how they feel, not just how they performed in school. Another mom described the pressure to succeed academically that she felt as a child. She now tries to teach her kids that failure is part of learning, a lesson her own parents never had the luxury to offer.

The interviews also touched on language. One woman said she struggled to speak her parents' native tongue as a child. Now she speaks it with her own children, hoping to pass on a connection to the culture she once tried to escape.

All four agreed that parenting is harder than they expected. But they also said their immigrant parents gave them a model of resilience. They are learning to adapt that strength into something softer, more patient, and more present for the next generation.