It was dinner time and I didn't feel like going down to eat, but mom would scream blue murder. She was so crazy about family this, family that, family eat together, family that together. Sometimes, I wonder how she turned to how she was ; The typical In the Staten Mommy - where - should - I-keep-the - plate, keep-it-on-my-head-na type of mother.

Being an American that she was, it was the least I expected from her. Mom met dad when he went to college in the US. They dated, got married and boom they had us. We were five, I was the only girl, had two over protective elder...