Photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash
“You know Armei tells me that her daughter Lily says she wants to be a YouTube star. Armei is furious. All those tuition fees Armei has to pay, only to see her wasting her time…” Pammy says as the whole family sits down to dinner. Armei’s husband Pan just commuted back from New York City and he’s a little tired. Since Pan usually arrives after eight, it’s the family’s habit to have dinner after 8PM every day.
“Armei has to be firm and says no to such kid’s fantasies. Armei’s husband is too indulgent.” Pan says. Whenever he’s tired, he’s a little cranky, but usually he would grow happier after a bowl of rice noodle, a dish of fried beef with vegetable, and two cups of rice wine.
“If that’s what Lily wants, I don’t see the harm.” Sam says. He’s about to be thirteen years old and has just got into the debate team of his school. He now wants to have an opinion on everything.
“You don’t see the harm, do you? You also want to shoot some binge eating videos with her, don’t you? I forbid you to…” The rice wine hasn’t worked its magic yet and Pan is still a little touchy.
Pammy kicks Pan under the table to signal him not to be too negative on Sam. The father-son relationship has been a little tense for a while and Pammy tries to defuse the situation before anything flairs up. In a haste, she remembers the book somebody recommended to her and she got for Sam, which is supposed to be good. It’s a well accepted notion in the community that Asian boys and girls in America need some heroes, some martial arts, and some ancient Asian wisdom in order to build up self esteem.
“Sam, I saw you reading the ‘Asian Folk Tales’ I got for you. It’s for people a little younger than you, but I didn’t know the book back then. Do you like it?” Pammy tries to introduce a new topic.
“OK.” Sam says without much enthusiasm. His parents are too old school for his taste, but he plays along as best as he can.
“You read it?” Pan asks with a tinge of doubt in his voice. “Tell me which story you like best?”
Sam frowns and tries to find an excuse to ward off his father’s attack, but then suddenly his face lights up and he says, “I really like the ancient story of shoes: A man wants to buy a pair of new shoes. When he gets to the market, he purchases several items first before coming to the shoe store. The store assistant shows him what’s available. The man rummages in his pocket and says, ‘I can’t buy shoes today. I measured my feet at home, but I forgot to bring the measurement with me.'”
“I am glad you take an interest in folk tales. It’s good for you. What an interesting story. I’ve never heard of it before.” Pammy says and smiles sweetly at her son, “how can the man be so stupid?”
“Some people are like that, mom. They don’t deal with reality very well. They resort to pre-determined opinions and measurements.” Sam says and gets up. The next moment, he disappears from the dining room.
“Sam, you eat too quickly. It’s not good for your health. It only takes you like five minutes to eat your dinner.” Pammy shouts at him as he retreats upstairs.
“Did you hear that?” Pan says, fuming.
“Hear what?” Pammy is puzzled.
“Sam is mocking me. Where did you get such a book? Now he finds a new way of mocking me. I work very hard every day so that he can have a good life, but he…” Pan drains his cup of wine. Pammy fills his cup up.
“I don’t understand you. What do you mean he is mocking you?” Pammy asks.
“He is making fun of me. Lily wants to be a YouTuber. I try to handle this reality with my pre-determined opinions and measurements. That’s his words. Did you listen to him? He thinks I’m too old to understand the brave new world he is living in. I need more rice wine. Can you get that folk tale book for me? I need to read it so that I can prepare my counterattack next time.” Pan says and drains another cup.
Haoyan Do 
To be fair eating videos/mukbangs are very popular on YouTube and she can probably make a good income off it. I think parents are very hesitant and resistant when their children want to do non-traditional work. Especially immigrant parents who often have a very different idea of what their children should do when they grow up.
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Yes, immigrant parents are doing everything to influence or force their children into their conservative way of thinking, regardless of the reality. This happens again and again.
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I like how Pan adapts his strategy to deal with his son. Smart move.
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LOL. A little family drama. The battle of will at the dinner table. LOL.
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Hmmm… Dad needs to read, and prepare from an ‘ancient’ book of Asian Folk Tales, so as to prove to his son, that he is not too ‘old to understand the brave new world.’
I guess too much wine can have that effect on the mind…
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That’s a great angle. I haven’t thought about that. Thank you for letting me know. I guess this dad will never be able to understand his son. LOL.
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Never… carries with it an aura of infinity… and retards growth… his wife knows how to arrest his attention with a timely kick… his son, a debate enthusiast, knows how to keep him on track, and push his buttons… now if his wife can only stop using wine as an aid in her endeavor to calm him down… maybe, just may be, the beauty of an wholesome debate can transform the home…
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Yes, a real debate is easy said than done. What most likely to be happening is that people avoid tensions and not to broach “risky” topics. LOL.
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Very interesting read. The dad was willing to read a book but not ready to spend some time with him.
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A typical family drama, LOL. Some parents are more interested in child rearing than others. LOL.
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Yes, common mostly in Asian communities.
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LOL. That’s true.
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Haha 😄 he must be ready with the counterattack the next time 🤣
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That’s true. He is constantly butting heads with his son. He needs to brush up his skills.
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Wow. All I can do is shake my head at the whole thing.
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Let me know if any of your relatives take a sudden interest in being a YouTuber. LOL. What will be your reaction?
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My son uses YouTube on occasion to supplement his blog, https://brotherscampfire.com/ , especially when he’s talking about his ducks or urban farming but he has never quit his job to do it. In fact I don’t think he has a public channel.
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Wow, I’m fascinated with the ducks and the urban farming. Not that I want to do it myself since I am really lazy, but I admire people who can do it. All those organic vegetables and organic duck eggs. I am practically drooling.
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Yes, he really does well and (I’m biased, I know) I’m very proud of him and his hard work ethic.
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Yes, I can feel a proud father in you. And see all the organic veggie on your table. LOL.
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I really like the duck eggs and the occasional goose egg.
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Wow, I haven’t had a goose egg for years and years. LOL. Wish you a great life with more organic food.
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Thank you.
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😊🤣😜
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