Millenial Bing Yao discusses motherhood

This millennial writer and communication professional discusses motherhood

“Today, the mass media, the internet and our work-life style have put much pressure on the so-called motherhood. We need to rethink the role moms play in our time“, says Bing Yao

The first-Generation millennial (1981-1991) woman talks about the meaning of motherhood and how it affects her generation.

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1 – What does ‘being a mom’ mean to you?

In my eyes, being a mom means providing love, understanding and support to her kids, which is very ideal, and which contradicts with many facts.

2 – Do you think motherhood is outdated or should be reinvented?

Definitely it should be reinvented, as the world has so overwhelmingly changed. It is no longer the confined environment where moms and kids can stay close without interference from the outside world. Today, the mass media, the internet and our work-life style have put much pressure on the so-called motherhood. We need to rethink the role moms play in our time.

3 – Does your mom inspire you to have a family of your own some day?

No, not at all. I have been actually much discouraged by seeing the life my mom has led all these years. It seems to me, she has fired her own life to fuel the operation of the whole family, by working every day outside and doing household chores inside. She has no time for herself and becomes quick-tempered and has developed much grudge as time goes by. She seems lost at the fact that why she has done so well as a mom and wife but still not happy at all.

4 – As a parent, what would you change from the way your mom is dealing/ has dealt with motherhood?

I certainly would, but the thing is not only that I should change, but the whole social environment should change together as well. Today, there is increasingly tighter links between motherhood and social environment, that mom is no longer the only one to decide how to behave so that a positive effect could be produced. The mass media, the school, other organizations and of course the husband and other family members could exert great influence and therefore influence my way dealing with motherhood.

5 – What price would you put on your mom’s love?

It is priceless. One of the greatest luck for a person is that he or she gets mom’s unconditional love, by which I mean, mom loves him or her for what he or she is, not because he or she has achieved something, or is smart or bright.