It was Chinese New Year—the Year of the Rooster—and you had just turned two. We were rushing through the narrow, crowded streets off Bowery, dodging the holiday bustle to make our reservation. Every child we passed was dressed in vibrant red; it was a spectacular sight. Back then, you didn’t say much, but you always […]

Last night, as you turned 11, I watched you blow out your candles, filled with pride, my mind flashed back through a decade of memories, stopping vividly on the evening of your violin recital. I remembered you standing there, just fifteen minutes before the curtain, showing me the angry, weeping scabs behind your knees. Your […]

“Slather her in cream,” mom would say, “and the itchiness will go away.” It never did. The problem began as a few mild red bumps in one spot, then spread like wildfire. How do you tell a toddler to stop scratching or rubbing? Prescription creams were too concentrated, and identifying the source of the irritation […]