Healing the Tigress
A podcast that focuses on conversations & stories around Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) maternal mental health, hosted by Taiwanese American mothers Peggy (LCSW, PMH-C) & Jasmine (PharmD, PMH-C) who are also postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety survivors.
Mental health is not talked about enough in our AAPI communities, and we want to break these stigmas especially for mothers and partners. As AAPI healthcare providers who personally struggled during postpartum and are now perinatal mental health certified, we want to see more representation of other AAPI parents who know how important it is to take care of our mental health.
We talk with AAPI guests about a variety of themes in mental health and parenting, particularly what that looks like through the lens of our culture within the Western world. There are also discussions with professionals in the field, to help our providers and allies. We're not afraid to talk about the hard things that might seem taboo. We hope this podcast reminds you that you are not alone in your struggles as an AAPI parent!
Healing the Tigress
Ep. 29 - Rethinking Motherhood Through Adoption with Katy Wang
The episode today explores two big themes we haven't touched upon yet on this podcast-- being child-free by choice and then the journey of adoption. Our guest today is Katy Wang, a Taiwanese American early childhood educator for the past 15 years in both private and independent schools all over the Bay Area. Katy has held a variety of positions--everything from an assistant teacher to teacher to site director to program director to now assistant principal.
Katy and her husband fondly call themselves a PANK (Professional Auntie No Kids) and a PUNK (Professional Uncle No Kids), and they love on so many of their friends' children by taking them on fun outings, dinner dates, shopping trips, and more. Katy is definitely the epitome of "fun aunt." But what's unique about Katy's journey that we will explore together in this episode is that even though Katy adores children and works with them day in and out, she had initially wanted to be child-free for a long time due to mental health reasons. Then, not too long ago, she decided to pursue adoption and embark on the parenthood journey with her husband.
We unpack the reasons Katy had for being child-free by choice for a long time and then the reasons for choosing adoption when she and her husband decided to pursue parenthood in the end. Katy shares with us her personal experience of clinical depression and why it had affected her so deeply. She also openly shares with us in detail what the adoption process has been like so far (financially, emotionally, logistically) and how her family has responded to her choices.
Katy is still in the middle of her adoption process, so we have been given a unique perspective and snapshot of this time in her journey before she and her husband are hopefully matched with a baby. We hope this is an episode that might be helpful for anyone who is curious or considering adoption in the U.S., as there are so many factors to consider!
If you're interested in learning more, Katy may be posting more about their journey in the future at a family IG account: @hellochoi.fam
We hope we may be able to record a future episode with Katy from the other side of her adoption process!
Note: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speakers' own. This podcast is not a replacement for therapy or professional/medical advice. If you need more support or advice, please reach out to your own medical professional who can answer your questions with your individual medical history and background in context.
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