Wednesday, January 27, 2010

My body, my space, right?

In China it is pretty uncommon for a mother to take care of her own child full-time. Usually the grandparents come and move in with the family and care for the kid while mom goes back to work (usually out of financial necessity). Often when the baby is anywhere from 6 months to a year old the grandparents will go home to their home town and take the baby with them. Then the baby will come back to live with the parents when he/she is old enough to go to school. I am asked all the time why my parents or in-laws have not come to live with us, and also if I will send Eve back to America soon.
Anyway, because I care for my own baby I am often left to hang out with all the old grandmas and grandpas caring for their grandkids. Often the older generation either only speaks their home town language, or else speak Mandarin with a very thick accent. Once a withered little old grandma came up to me to chat. I honestly could not understand a word she said. So to help me understand she wanted to know if I fed Eve baby formula or breast fed her, she just reaches out and full on touches my breast! I was a little shocked but answered her that yes I feed Eve breast milk. Shocked as I was, I wish I could say this was an isolated event. However, I have now had my breasts touched by two more old women who are too interested in my baby's diet to keep their hands to themselves =)

4 comments:

Liz Wilcken said...

Yeah, I'm still trying to get used to the Asian culture in my family. Brian's brother married a Mongolian and her parents/sister live with them and raise my nephew while Brian's bro and his wife are in school. I wonder if our other bro-in-law (Japanese) and his parents will do similar things once Brian's sister has a kid? (I'm the only American in-law they have!)

Jared & Shannon said...

Hahaha!!! Sorry, Amy! Gotta love getting used to another culture.... Way to go on being home with Eve!

Krystal said...

Wow---that would be awkward!!! And I had no idea about the "raising" the children situation...I hope you find a few young moms to socialize with and not just grandmas!!

Laura said...

Amy,I know it's not fair for me to laugh at your expense, but please don't leave China. Your stories are to priceless:)