Beautiful poem and beautiful writing @leetennant!

A gorgeous article as always @leetennant 💖 You’ve written many for this site (some which sadly and inexplicably didn’t get published) but this one might be my favorite of them all. I dropped Camellia, but the parallels you make between Dong-baek’s life and your own mother’s have me considering giving it another chance.

“In the final estimation, that is all it takes to truly be someone’s hero.
If you’re a hero because of your actions then that’s the only action required.
Just being there.”

I love this.

Beautiful LT! I now understand your issues even more with the drama's portrayal of motherhood.
Extra points for the poem having gay. I miss using it in its intended meaning.

@leetennant I wish your mother did not have to go through all that, but I am happy to read that she fought back, and she is a mother to be proud of indeed!

Thank you for talking about just being there. I strongly believe that we all would be a lot happier if we could all just be there for each other, and yet it seems so hard for some individuals to accomplish at times.

congrats @leetennant , a very beautiful and poetic article .
I love it so much , @oppafangirl , @seashell ,@kdramaswimmer ,@shindy

Thank you for this, LT, I love the way you have interwoven the different strands and created a story to inspire and encourage.
It is Always a pleasure to read what you write...!
I was hesitant to start Camelia as I can only manage 1 or 2 dramas at the same time these days, but now I'm tempted.
💕

Very well said! You have a great mom!

You write beautifully @leetennant and you know it! 😍

Well, I'm crying. This reminds me so much of my own Mum. As usual, I'm your biggest fan, @leetennant! ❤️

I loved your post and your take on Camelia. Thank you @leetennant!

Also, your mom sounds like a badass.

Beautiful LT! Your mum is amazing! You're amazing!

I've heard this story from you before, but here you have written about it so beautifully. I hope you are able to share this with your mom @leetennant, because it's a lovely tribute to her strength, and I'm sure she would be proud of your talent as well.

💖

The writers have had some difficulty with Yong-shik's character. I like the way you characterize his nature- he certainly is imperfect and yet he is truly a hero, in part because of his unshaken certainties. He hangs in there- and that is what matters the most.

I've not seen this drama yet but this was beautifully written. Your mom also sounds like an incredible woman. Thank you so much for sharing this with us.

I love this tribute to your Mom's strength. I remember realizing in junior high how strong my mom was, and how hard she fought to not break down. My dad when I was 9 and my sister was 7. She was so afraid of money issues, especially since she had grown up during the Depression. Whenever I need strength to deal with life, I always thank my mom for passing hers on.

Thank you, @leetennant, for your beautiful writing and also reminding me of that song. This resonates with me as well. My mother is fiercely independent and fought for every dollar she made. She was a seamstress by trade and largely paid by an honor system by how many dozens she sewed. Luckily for her, she was in a field full of women and found solidarity in that. Then when she went into business for herself, she was the CEO/CFO and had my father to do most of her heavy work. Now, in my life, I’m the middle paid with two male partners on either side. Pay inequality does exist my field, but I’ve not been affected by it. But what you say about the “white knight” is so freakin’ true. I’d much rather someone just be there for me and support me than grand romantic gestures any day. Luckily, I’ve found that and hope you will too. I try not to take it for granted, because it’s writings like this that remind me not to. Thank you again!

Thank you for sharing @leetennant.

What you say about your mum's struggles reminded me of what @michykdrama shared about a movie, "Kim Ji Young Born in 1982". The lot of women even now, as depicted, has changed only a little. We've probably become stronger and more capable because of it, if that can be considered a hidden blessing.

Congrats on having such a great mum and take care!

Lovely writing. Thank you!

😭👏♥️ Thank you for your words and wonderful story.

I'm in great admiration to every single mother out there and to mothers who are married but their partner's behaviour makes her take the burden of raising their kid(s) by herself and become sort of a symbol of a fireplace which can have any forms and doesn't need to be lit up all the time but providing comfort by it's warm, security and light when needed and to every mother who didn't give up. In prehistoric times it was the woman's role to be keeper of fire because it ment keeping life on. There can be mothers who are giving out, similar to DB's mom, but I think every mother has or could have moments in her life when she thinks she doesn't have enough strength or ability to keep the fire alive.

Children are our biggest treasure and the most painful moment especially for me is when your child tells you that you are not good enough, hates you and tells you things to intentionally hurt you. That's why I understand that moment when DB is worried about her mother and tells that she hates her but she needs to be alive and keeping to be by her side forever. I was myself kind of horrible to my mom while teenager but now I can't imagine she could leave me once even when we're so far away from each other. Sometimes there are times I get my buried depression to reach me and all those insecurities and burden try to doubt myself but fortunately it gets back to me that I need to keep the fire on.

Thank you for sharing this story. I agree with all the comments here that this is a beautiful and wonderful piece. I, too, really like Camellia, but for a different reason. It's more about how it resonates with the place and people of my childhood, my favorite part in life. I wish I have half your talent in writing so I can contribute to this month's theme. :)

It turns out, you not only have a great dad, you have a great mom as well! No wonder you turned out great. It's just a little sad that what she went through in 1960s are still mostly true in the world today, in 2019. :(

Thank you for sharing ❤️ Your mom is an inspiration and this story also reminds me to be thankful for so much I have that I take for granted.

I love this! Well done @leetennant.

Wonderfully written. Thanks for sharing a bit of your world with us @leetennant

Beautiful!!!