How does Grandma Dieu Lan help her children after their return? What might her relationships with her children reveal about family relationships in Viet Nam?

How does Grandma Dieu Lan help her children after their return? What might her relationships with her children reveal about family relationships in Viet Nam?

I love that she shows so much of her love via her cooking. That even when Sang was treating her so horribly, she sent over her food. I loved all of the small references to food all throughout really. I think she showed up for them by maintaining a home space that they could all come back to if they needed to since she wasn't able to provide that for them when they were little.

It seems that family relationships are very important to these people. Dieu Lan did everything she could for her family and loved ones. She was determined to provide for them no matter how they treated her or what they did.

She demonstrates through her cooking and love a close, tight relationship.

Grandma focuses on providing food for her family as a way to -hopefully- help everyone feel that sense of family. Although it is easy for people to say that family relationships are important around the world, some cultures respect and protect their oldest generations and also have terms of respect/endearment for older people, even if that person is not related to you.

After I finished this book, I took a long walk and ruminated on the strength of mother love. I just returned from a visit to 2 of my daughters who had babies within 2 days of each other. As I grow older, my mother love becomes stronger, not only for my new grandchildren (I have 5 now), but for my 4 daughters. So, I really connected with Grandma as I read and finished this book during my family time. Is there any human emotion stronger that this?