She is the mother of a Chinese child.
As such, she is supposed to have a working knowledge of the festivals and holidays important to the Chinese people. As her parent, she wants to raise her daughter with at least a whispering of understanding of these festivals and holidays so that when she’s grown she can go forth with some grasp of her original culture.
She doesn’t try to be a Chinese mother. Her daughter already has one of those. Two, in fact. She is the third in her daughter’s line of mothers. A trilogy of mothers for her little one, to whom this matters, very much.
But as her daughter’s surviving mother, it’s her duty to familiarize her with the Chinese holidays and festivals and ensure that she sees other families like hers; and mixes in a world that isn’t dominantly Caucasian.
This mother does the best that she can. She doesn’t attend all the events and parties that the wonderful parents’ group sponsors. She misses out on the opportunity to know these other women; women who’ve found friendship among themselves, and deep bonds that surpass the initial reason that brought them together: the adoption of their children.
Last weekend this group gathered on the beach to celebrate the Chinese Autumn Moon Festival. This mother decided to go. How could she not attend a party on the beach, just up the beach from her very own, after all?
This mother had a glorious few hours on the beach, chatting it up with people who could be her good friends, if only she’d get a bit more involved in the goings-on. Her daughters – middle child brought along begrudgingly, with a school friend – had a blast; three smiling, sandy children were tucked safely into this mother’s soccer-mom-style minivan after the party was over … and then this mother turned and saw it: the autumn moon.
She gasped. Fumbled for her camera and took this snap. Whether or not it is the authentic Autumn Moon, it will suffice, for it is ours.
What a beautiful Autumn Moon!
that is an amazing photo!
Gotta love that soccer-mom style van…
Outstanding! Lovely writing, great story and POV.
Terra