May Is for Mamas, Milestones, and Meaning
五月,是媽媽、里程碑與意義的月份
今年的五月,對我來說特別有意義。
是母親節,是亞裔傳統月(AAPI Heritage Month),也是畢業季。
而對我來說,這三件事同時發生。
Yo! Baby Shop 的起點——我的女兒,
就要從小學畢業了。
我還記得八年前,為了幫她打造一個屬於自己的小天地,
我一直在找高品質、設計美觀的蒙特梭利學習桌椅。
同時,也不停地從台灣扛書回來,想確保每天晚上都有有意義的睡前故事可以共讀。那時候真的試過很多錯誤的選書、搬過很多箱書,但背後全是愛。
一邊育兒,一邊努力讓她的生活保有我們的文化與語言根源。
那時我心想:
與其每次都為了我們家而過度採買,
為什麼不讓好書、雙語讀物、優質育兒用品對整個社群都更容易取得?
讓爸媽不用再為了孩子的需求,不斷搬運重物或大費周章找資源。
一開始,只是和一位媽媽朋友的團購實驗。
沒想到,最後變成了我們家的事業,
一個呼喚,
一個我們全家共同呵護的**「寶寶」品牌**,
也是一個由媽媽的愛與分享精神孕育出來的小宇宙。
而她——也一路跟著這個品牌一起長大。
從那個每天聽我唸故事的小女孩,
變成現在會和我一起分享想法與書中感受的閱讀夥伴。
從每場活動都跟著我跑的小幫手,
到會幫忙佈置、接待客人,甚至在我分身乏術時,勇敢站上櫃檯支援的那位「小老闆」。
(有些老客戶應該還記得她~)
也曾有好幾次,我想過是不是該放下這個事業,
專心陪伴她,還有她那可愛的弟弟。
但她總是攔住我,這麼說:
「不要啦,媽媽,還有很多小朋友需要故事書。」
「不要~大家很喜歡妳講故事呀。」
到後來,甚至說:
「媽媽,我長大也想一起做 Yo! Baby Shop,幫更多小朋友!」
就這樣,來到了 2025 年的五月。
對很多人來說,這是一個充滿轉折與紀念的時刻。
是向自己的文化與根源致敬,也是迎向未來的起點。
而對我而言,是想對我最初的靈感與動力說一句:
謝謝妳,我的寶貝。妳永遠是我堅持下去的理由。
母親節快樂,送給每一位努力築夢、照亮未來、
用故事和愛陪伴孩子成長的媽媽們 💛
This month of May feels extra special.
It’s Mother’s Day. It’s AAPI Heritage Month. It’s graduation season.
And for me—it’s all three at once.
The very reason Yo! Baby Shop began—my daughter—is graduating elementary school in just a few days.
I still remember eight years ago, looking for a beautiful, high-quality Montessori desk and chair to give her a little corner of independence. At the same time, I was hauling cartons of books back from Taiwan—often overbuying just to make sure we had something meaningful to read at bedtime. A lot of trial, a lot of error, and so much love behind it all. (While keeping the heritage, language, and culture alive.)
That’s when the idea came: instead of overbuying for my family, why not make good children’s books, bilingual reads, and quality furniture more accessible for our community? So parents don’t have to overhaul heavy stuff (furniture and books) just to create a meaningful learning space.
What started as a group buy with a fellow mama turned into a business.
A calling.
A "baby" for our family.
A spirit to love and share with other mamas, caregivers, and book-loving families.
She grew up alongside it all.
From being the child I read to every night, to the one who now shares stories, ideas, and reflections with me.
From tagging along to our community events to helping me set up, greet customers, even manage the cashier when I was overwhelmed.
(Some of you might remember that little helper—yes, that was her.)
There were nights I thought about closing the business, just to be more present with her and her precious little brother. But she’d always stop me.
“No, Mama. More kids need storybooks.”
“No, Mama. Kids love your stories.”
Then, eventually:
“Mama, I want to help Yo! Baby Shop when I grow up.”
So here we are—May 2025.
A milestone month for many of us. A time to honor where we come from, and where we’re going.
And in my case, a moment to say: Thank you, my girl. You are my reason why.
Happy Mother’s Day to every mama building dreams, shaping futures, and passing on love—one story at a time.
-- Wendy , Founder of Yo! Baby Shop
Leave a comment