Kimchi Mamas

Open Thread Thursday

Welcome to Open Thread Thursday!

--The Kimchi Mamas

Maybe He Took Violin Lessons

An interesting article in Sunday's SF Chronicle on children and self-esteem compares  the Asian (Confucian) model of humility (i.e., "Aw shucks, I'm not all that...") to the rampant narcissism that exists among many American  kids today. The poster boy used to illustrate this more healthy Asian sensibility is Funtwo, a guitar virtuoso whose YouTube video has been watched by more than 24 million viewers!  While Funtwo's rock video made me smile, the newspaper article made me think twice about breaking into applause every time my three-year-old daughter manages to chew and swallow a stem of broccoli!

-Twizzle

Open Thread Thursday

Last Thursday it was sloooooooow around here. We hope everyone had a fun 4th, whether you celebrated with hamburgers or kalbi. What are you all up to this summer? What else is on your mind today?

--The Kimchi Mamas

In eight days

. . . I will be on a plane to South Korea. I am embarking on my third trip to Korea since 2000 (also the third trip to my birth country since I was adopted) - interestingly, I will arrive in Seoul on the 20th, only one day shy of the day the metal stork brought me to Minneapolis on July 21st, 1971. Thirty-five years later, I'm coming full circle.

Only this time instead of coming to the U.S. alone, sitting on an escort's lap (my parents did not come pick me up, instead I was delivered to them by a "helper") I will be surrounded by my partner and my two children ages 9 and 13. This is the first trip to Korea for the Mr. and the kids. I am thrilled to finally be at a place in my life where I want to include them in this journey, which has been such a struggle for me for so many years.

Nomenclature

Do you use Korean (or other Asian) names within your family? Do your kids call you Umma? Your husband Ahpa/Ahbojee? Each other Unnee/Noona/Oppa/etc.? (Or your language equivalent?)

Going Veg

After much pondering, I've decided to try becoming a vegetarian. My reasons are numerous, but they mostly boil down to these facts: I want to lower my cholesterol; I need to lose about twenty pounds; and I want to be kinder to animals. Some of you may know that my 3-year-old daughter is an avid livestock fan and a major afficionado of the pastoral life: she is absolutely obsessed with sheep, goats, and cows (along with Thomas the motherfucking Tank Engine!) and most weekends we find ourselves feeding and petting these delightful domesticated animals at a nearby public farm. I adore livestock almost as much as my daughter does, and have lately begun to feel like a hypocrite--not to mention physically gross--whenever I eat a hamburger. The answer seems simple: eliminate meat from my diet!

Monolithic Asian Community?

I've been meaning to write about a bothersome comment that came up on a sweet Father's Day article written by Rice Daddies' Jeff Yang that appeared on SF Gate a few weeks ago; however, I've been reluctant to post about it on KM because I felt it was not my business; that it was a RD thing, and I didn't want to add fuel to a fire that had been put out weeks ago.

Open Thread Thursday

Welcome to Open Thread Thursday.

--The Kimchi Mamas

Flags for Crocs

Little Nabi just loves her crocs - I'm not too sure how attractive I think they are... they do look cute on children.  Not so much on a man with hairy legs... my personal opinion, so I apologize if any of you are a male who loves his crocs.  More power to you - really, who cares about fashion anyway.  As long as you're comfortable... (ducking punches).

Anyway, I recently bought some accessories to jazz them up in time for the July 4th holiday.  Notice the Stars and Stripes...

There's no stupid question

Tae is about to start "school."  I'm supposed to pack her lunches.  I have no idea what I should pack for her.  We don't really eat sandwiches.  She's allergic to peanuts and nuts.  I don't do meat in my house.  She's a picky eater - she could probably eat slices of cheese for lunch, but I don't want to look like a delinquent parent and just pack her cheese.  And well, I'm too lazy to make any fancy honglien-type bento lunches.

Does anyone have suggestions about what a two year old might like for her first school lunch?

~ eliaday