Since the beginning of time, parents raise their children with the intention of them growing up to be respectable, educated, and a positive contribution to society. They become role models to their children; teaching them the importance of working hard, sharing your blessings, and one day, making a difference in their sphere of influence. It is a parent’s dream to wake up one day and truly realize that your years of disciplining, advising, loving, and praying finally paid off and your child becomes a role model, or perhaps even a hero, for someone else.
My American husband and I moved our family to the United States from Singapore when my children were 13 and 10. It was difficult teaching and maintaining my Chinese customs in a country known for teenage rebellion and desires for liberal self-expression. It was important to me to represent strong family values and help my children develop a self-motivating attitude to achieve any success. Through the many screaming fights, tears wept, and occasional punishment, my children succeeded in life and far surpassed my high expectations. Both of my children are constantly teaching me and enriching my life with their lives’ lessons learned but it is my daughter that has risen a hero in my heart.
My daughter looks, speaks, and exudes the American way of life. But not many people know that unlike most Americans, she upholds the Chinese tradition of bestowing thanks and showing respect through her monthly allowance to my husband and I. Even as a 28 year-old, she still always asks for permission when visiting me in my home, even if it is only for a can of Coke or going out to meet a friend for lunch. She’s my listening ear when I need inspiration or support and offers sage wisdom in terms I can understand without hurting my feelings. She shows me how to look at life from different angles and encourages me to empathize with those that I cannot necessarily relate with.
My daughter grew up to be a smart, independent woman filled with overflowing compassion and aspirations to help others. It was no surprise that she decided to become a nurse and assist those that need help at the worst time of their lives. She takes care of people who were healthy individuals an hour ago and are now in the trauma intensive care unit with broken bones and on life-saving machines. She takes care of prisoners suffering injuries from a jail fight and criminals with bullet wounds after running away from the police. She takes care of recklessly driving teenagers and the old grandmas and grandpas injured in the accident. Passing no judgment, she provides the best nursing care and treats them as though they were one of her family’s own. She works overtime shifts not for financial reasons but because her unit is short-staffed and additional nurses are needed. She even makes time to recognize her peers for their great work, earning them awards and well-deserved distinction.
Recently, I became involved with charity work for an tribal home in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Being a housewife, I offered prayers and some fundraising but needed a steadier source of funding for the tribal home. I approached my daughter to donate some of the monthly allowance needed but she decided to pay for it all. We visited the children last October and her gentle love and genuine generosity for the children made her a hero in their hearts as well.
Heroes exist wherever someone has a dream. It is my dream come true that my daughter became mine.