First Dragon Grandson

2013 began with a very important milestone in my son’s life and in our lives.

He welcomed his first- born Isaac on the second day of 2013. For us he is the first grandson carrying on the family name. To the Chinese, the carrying on of the family name from generation to generation is of utmost importance. In the past, it was common for a man to divorce his wife or to take secondary wives if she could not give him a male heir.

Fortunately technology is so advanced these days that one can have designer babies, i.e. you can choose to have a baby boy or a baby girl, depending upon your preferences. This is a boon for the Chinese woman as she need not fear being cast aside for not being able to give her spouse a male child. In the past too, mothers-in-law favor the daughters-in-law who produce male children.

My mum, may her soul rest in peace, had two daughters before she had the coveted baby boy, my brother who was very much cossetted during his infancy. Then there was a string of five girls before she had another two boys. So we are a very large family of ten siblings, seven girls and three boys.

I have one son and now my son has his own son. We are looking forward to visiting them later this month. When the baby is one month old he will be formally introduced to friends and relatives by way of a lunch or dinner. My son told me that they will be hosting a lunch to introduce Isaac.

On my part I will be presenting to my relatives cakes and red eggs, a simplified version of the traditional practice where yellow glutinous rice, roast pork, red eggs and traditional cakes were given. This was done at the full moon of my eldest daughter. Full moon means when the baby is one month old and the new mother has ended her confinement period during which she just stays home to recuperate and to bond with her baby.

This is an auspicious beginning to the new year. In fact I have two nephews who are also expecting their first-borns this month. So there will be a total of three Dragon babies in our extended family this year. Three cycles ago we had five dragon babies, 3 girls and 2 boys. By the end of this month all these dragon children will have become parents. Now our family photograph which will be taken, come the Chinese New Year, will show a much larger number of family members, an event which is much looked forward to.