You should 'play' with your immigrant elders

Conversations club for June are going to be on June 12th and June 26th at 7pm ET. Link will be sent

Don’t forget to join me on book tour. I am in London tonight and then Houston and Austin at the end of the month — then I head over to Toronto in July. West Coast will be added soon for Fall!

And if you’ve read the book, can you please consider leaving a review on Goodreads or Amazon?

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Here’s my belated, shortened May recommendations and resources before an essay on incorporating play into your family relationships:

May recommendations and resources

I love Dr. Mona’s work on LinkedIN and her Substack and new podcast!

I am currently reading Such A Bad Influence by Olivia Meunter and it’s so fascinating. It’s about a child influencer thanks to parents who documented everything. It’s twisty and great (though I am only near the beginning!). I just read Perfectly Nice Neighbors by Kia Abdullah and loved the racial undertones and narratives we inherit, and succumb to, when it comes to power, privilege, marginalization, and fear.

Other things I have found fascinating

This post about different friendship styles:

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This piece about family estrangement. This piece on the psychological toll of being the only woman of color at work. I love this video from amazing artists and poets on how to remain hopeful. And this advice on writing:

You should ‘play’ with your immigrant parents and elders

My relationship with my immigrant parents has always felt so serious. There are many things at play that helped me lighten it— all which I discuss in my book.

Recently though, I remind my parents all the time that we’re learning to be adults together and have growing relationships in ways they never could with their own families or parents back home. I specifically ask about their past hobbies or interests, and seek out ways to connect through these.

Your relationship with your parents or eldest doesn’t have to be stuck. Even when/if it doesn’t feel emotionally deep or fulfilling, you can attempt to shift interactions and quality time spent together through play. It allows you to still get time together without the “talking” or the having to fill the silence parts of interaction.