Yanwen’s blog

We had lunch with a young couple from China. They are a burgeoning family of four. They face the challenge of the first generation of an immigrant family: finding jobs while raising two young children. To find a professional job, they might need to learn new skills, like going back to school if needed.

The young couple brought me back to the time when we were around their age and our children were small. Life was also full of challenges but we were young, surrounded with the precious children, and felt immensely hopeful and fulfilled.

I told the young couple that right now their main asset is TIME. Make full use of their time to acquire solid skills with needed certifications, build network wherever they can, open to all possibilities and opportunities, even unconventional ones like freelance and entrepreneurship.

While providing a loving and nourishing environment for their children, they need to maintain their physical and mental health amidst all the life stress. This is something we tend to neglect.

In navigating the complexities of job hunting and family life, it's essential for this burgeoning family to cherish every moment spent with their children. Don't forget to read with them, sing and dance with them.

Time passes very fast, and amidst the hustle and bustle of daily challenges, it's easy to overlook the joy and wonder that children bring to our lives. By embracing each precious moment together, we not only create lasting memories for us all but also cultivate a sense of gratitude and fulfillment that sustains us through life's challenges.

So many things happened during the weekend, meeting my Korean student, meeting someone at the swimming pool of YMCA, my daughter's art sale. They all mean something to me. I wish I could record them before they fade out in my memory.

First, my daughter had an art sale last Saturday, first time since she quit her well-paid New York job in October 2021. The sale was an opportunity for networking and free marketing for her art.

I was overjoyed to learn that she sold over 10 prints that day. She exceeded my expectations again, just like before when she was the first girl winning the chess tournament trophy in elementary school and when she snatched a prize in an international essay contest in high school.

While it is heartening to see my daughter fearlessly embrace her passion and the untold hardships involved, her courage and determination to carve out her own path and to triumph on her own terms is a source of inspiration and strength for me. Here's a heartfelt tribute to her spirit and accomplishments!

Second, my student talked to me about the incoming summer break of her daughters'. I said, it's better to make a plan for this large chunk of time. Having a plan can help us get more done, like planning to finish reading 10 books in summer, etc. She said, my eldest daughter wouldn't listen to me because she doesn't like reading. Oh boy, she got more problem than I thought. Still, I tried.

Before anything else, we need to understand why she doesn't enjoy reading. Perhaps we can encourage her to explore topics or subjects that she's passionate about. She might enjoy this exploration process, which can make the reading experience more enjoyable.

Next, as a parent, we need to lead by example. Sometimes, seeing others have so much fun reading can inspire someone to give it a try. Make sure we start with easy books.

Finally, the key to implementing a plan is to set a realistic goal. If the girl is reluctant to commit to 10 books, suggest starting with 8 or less. Remember to talk to your girl about the book after each reading, its character, its event, what would you do if you were in the story, etc. That will help her with critical thinking and communication skills. Both skills are super cool in the long run.

Perhaps you can make this your summer goal: helping her find enjoyment in reading or become a bookworm.

Happy Mother's Day! We celebrated the day joyfully with the children.

Mother’s Day always means a moment of reflection upon life's many facets. If life is a journey, motherhood is an integral part of it for mothers. In this part, we witness not only transformation of our children but also evolution of ourselves. For many years of our prime lives, mothers make a lot of sacrifice physically and in terms of time, that no one can replace.

It's impossible to capture the multifaceted journey of motherhood and acknowledge both its challenges and its profound rewards.

Through the years, amidst adversity and hardships—balancing dissertations, deadlines, childcare, work, and moments of helplessness—so many times when I felt overwhelmed and alone, I would like to quit it all. Yet, in these moments, motherhood brought me a profound sense of purpose and an unwavering source of strength. For my children, I knew I had to be resilient. This resilience is one of motherhood's transformative powers within me.

Amidst these challenges, there are moments of pure joy of watching their angelic sleep, singing silly songs with them and forgetting the world of troubles. These moments serve as anchors, empowering me to bounce back with renewed resilience and energy.

When we consider the sacrifices mothers make, it's tempting to contemplate giving up on motherhood altogether.

Despite the sacrifices I've made, the blessings are immeasurable and life-enriching. I cherish them deeply, and wouldn't trade them for anything, even if it meant starting all over again.

In conclusion, here's my heartfelt tribute to the extraordinary journey of motherhood—a celebration of its challenges, sacrifices, and the profound blessings it brings to life.

When I met my Korean student last week, I shared with her one of my observations from China: the robots.

Last year, I was fascinated by the police robot cars patrolling the streets, which lined up with busy shops. After returning to New York City and reading about shop robbery crimes here, I thought about these robot cars. It would be super cool if these robot police were here in NYC, where crime rates are higher than in most big cities in the world.

I told my student, this year I saw more of them in China, such as at restaurants serving food, hotels cleaning rooms, and airports providing information. They seem more integrated, narrowing their distance with humans.

My student asked me, 'What do you think will happen next year in Beijing?' I'm not exactly sure what will happen, but I believe robots will eventually integrate into human life, becoming members of families and providing physical and emotional support, as well as playing roles in companionship and caregiving in China's aging market. Even my sister looks forward to having a 机器人保姆, a robot babysitter.

To achieve this, advancements in AI technology are necessary to close the gap between machines and humans.

Of course, some concerns arise with it, such as privacy and boundaries. Additionally, among seniors and vulnerable populations, there are reasonable concerns about potential economic exploitation and emotional manipulation by emotionally intelligent robots.

Many young people worry that robots are taking over more and more jobs traditionally performed by humans.

Those who rely on robots for emotional support and companionship could potentially become dependent on technology to fulfill their emotional needs.

These close human-robot interactions are not all blessings. Humans become humans because of human environments. Just imagine how much a child would miss if he spends most of his waking hours with a robot companion.

While it might be natural for someone like me, a worrisome head, to have concerns about the possible robot intrusion in human life, at least we should be aware of both opportunities and challenges involved and open up dialogues so we can proactively maximize benefits and minimize risks.

Happy birthday to my sister! She is in Shanghai meeting her son there, the best birthday gift for her.

This came yesterday from an old friend of mine, “看张洁毕淑敏的书，她们都是过了六十开始做减法。房子卖了，书送人，减少一切不必要的关系，活动。…赤条条来去无牵挂。挺好。"

Here's my rough translation. "I read the books by Zhang Jie and Bi Shumin. Both started downsizing after turning 60, selling their houses, giving away books, reducing unnecessary relationships and activities... We come to this world with nothing, so be it when we leave."