[Image via ThoughtCo.]
Chinese New Year — an event that was invented to get busy adult Chinese sons and daughters to visit their parents at least once a year.
You’ll meet all kinds of relatives during the 2-day ang pow pilgrimage: From the chatty younger aunties to the stern older uncle who nods and says nothing, to your snazzy older cousin working in Sales.
But from all of them, you’ll hear pretty much the same questions fired out year after year.
1.“What did you get for your results?”
As a kid, the line of questioning starts early. You feel the weight of familial expectation coming from the first time from people other than your parents.
Should you answer with anything less than straight A’s, you’ll find yourself being compared to every single one of your siblings, your cousins, and even your own parents (“Your dad had straight A’s, how come you don’t?”).
[The only meme that hits a little bit too close to home]
2.“When are you going to find a job?”
Once you’ve graduated, you might think the annual CNY interrogation session no longer applies to you.
Boy are you wrong.
Without batting an eyelid, your relatives will send a barrage of questions about which company you applied to, what your first drawn salary is, whether you’ll be promoted to management in two years (Ha!), and so on.
3.“When are you going to find a boyfriend/girlfriend?”
Growing up, there were always some aunties and uncles who told you to be completely celibate throughout your entire student life.
And now, these same kepoh ji’s are pressuring you for the answer to this infamous line.
Did you say you are single? Too bad, you’ve fallen into their trap.
You’ve just given them the perfect ammunition to recommend every single eligible son or daughter of so-and-so that have come into brief contact with them within the past 6 months.
4.“When are you going to get married?”
Once you’ve entered a long-term relationship though, being partnered up seems to be free real estate for your relatives to come out with this other infamous line.
Resist the urge to fire back with this zinger: “If I were to ever get married, you wouldn’t be invited anyway,” and instead say:
“We’re saving money for the wedding.”
[When relatives ask you when is he going to propose.]
5. “When are you going to have a baby?”
“When will I have a grandson to bounce on my lap?” is every parent’s dream, because when you get a grandkid, you get to spoil them without any consequences.
But not every married couple needs to have kids to be happy, Auntie Cindy.
[Every grandparent just wants a grandchild to manja]
6.“What results did your son get?”
And so the cycle is complete. What your relatives said to you, they will say to your kid. Just as everyone loves being the backseat driver, everyone loves to have a say about how to raise a kid.
At this point in your life, be prepared to justify your parenting decisions at every step of the conversation.
But you can be different. You can break the cycle of comparing your kids to others or disregarding their opinions.
Trust me, you’ll have a much more harmonious Chinese New Year.
Do your relatives say these 6 things during Chinese New Year? Let us know in the comments!
For more articles like this, read: I’m a Chinese Girl Raised in a Traditional Chinese Family. Here’s My Story
And 8 Signs Your Family Believes in Chinese New Year Superstitions
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