151: ”I Think Our Mother Figure Is So Important. I Think It Doesn’t Matter What Age You Are, You Still Need Them.” Mothers Day 2023 ft Bertha Jimenez Ph.D, Murielle Miszcak, & Preet Pannu

Today is my birthday, so we are having a double celebration. Grab your favorite beverage as we delve into the inspiring stories of three immigrant mothers in Brooklyn on our latest White Label American podcast episode. Bertha, Murielle, and Preet share their unique challenges and triumphs in motherhood and how their immigrant journey has shaped their experiences. From building a community in a new environment to breaking cultural barriers and raising bi or multilingual children in multicultural America, our guests offer valuable insights on resilience and self-confidence in the era of social media controversies. We'd like to extend a special thank you to Bertha Jimenez Ph.D., Murielle Miszcak, and Preet Pannu for taking the time to share their stories, as well as our Patrons Nnenna and Sarah for their questions and support, and our dear friend Beatriz Nour of InBetweenish Podcast. Stay tuned for our upcoming Father's Day episode!

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[00:09:26] Growing up in a strict Indian household in Kenya with multigenerational households. They were taught to respect elders, be polite, and eat dinner at the table. Education was valued. They now struggle to enforce these values with their American children.

[00:27:30] An individual discusses their open-mindedness towards spirituality and their willingness to let their children choose their own path, regardless of religion, while also acknowledging traditions and the importance of a spiritual connection and community.

[00:40:02] A woman discusses her unique mother who overcame traditional gender roles and familial abuse, and how her family ultimately accepted her husband despite their differences. She also values the concept of a supportive maternal community.

[00:55:54] Supportive attitude towards pursuing non-illegal interests, but critical of certain music genres.

[00:58:24] Be mindful of the messages in hip hop, especially with regard to disrespecting women and the lack of representation for women and older adults.

[01:04:34] Prioritizing being a hands-on mother over her career but has recently returned to full-time work. She emphasizes the importance of finding what works best for each individual's path and identifying one's needs for self-care.

[01:19:34] Describing her anxious biracial child's need for a therapist who understands his identity.

[01:22:40] The practice of gratitude is important for everyone, even atheists. Remind yourself of what you are grateful for before bedtime to keep yourself from feeling alone and lonely, and realize that you have everything you need at every moment in your life.

[01:31:49] Stay resilient, have a strong sense of self and values to not get influenced easily. It's up to individual families and parents to solve such influences on teenagers who may not have a strong value system. It's crucial to explain and show the consequences of one's actions to prevent violence.

[01:43:46] Social media is orchestrated and mostly for entertainment, people should remind themselves not to take it too seriously or apply it to their own lives. Opinions on social media are mostly BS.