Honouring Duty and Self: Caregiving Across Cultures

About this episode

Maybo Lui discusses the impact of cultural traditions and familial expectations on caregiving, balancing self-care with the demands of her Chinese heritage.

How do familial expectations and cultural traditions impact how you show up as a family caregiver? This is a question Maybo Lui has considered ever since she unexpectedly became a secondary caregiver for her husband's father just weeks after they married. A registered clinical counsellor herself, Maybo observes her position from both a professional lens and a cultural one—as Chinese Canadians, there is filial piety and conflicting cultural assumptions at play. In their conversation, host Bill Israel and Maybo discuss the impacts of caregiving for an in-law, on both the marriage relationship and the wider family dynamic. Maybo seeks to strike a balance between the selfless expectations of her Chinese heritage and the more Western values of individuality and boundaries. Her approach to thoughtful decision-making and embracing each opportunity for relationship-building will resonate with caregivers from every cultural background. Reconsider how you care for your family member and yourself with Maybo's insights: The tension between independence and cultural expectations in caring for a parent; The concept of filial piety and cultu as it relates to emotional and physical caregiving…

People in this episode

Host: Bill Israel

Guest: Maybo Lui

Topics covered

• cultural expectations
• family caregiving
• filial piety
• relationship dynamics
• boundary-setting

Keywords

• caregiving
• Chinese Canadians
• selflessness
• individuality
• healthy relationships

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Victoria, BC

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