Throughout our lives, we’ll meet many people who influence us. But for most of us, there’s nobody who gives us more than our mothers. To celebrate that fact, a Beijing mom has produced a book about this most precious relationship, and also to raise money for a good cause. Appropriately, it’s called Mom, I Learn So Much From You.
Em Roblin, though originally from Toronto, is a long-time Beijinger, having lived in the city since 2006. She was keen to emphasize the collaborative nature of Mom, I Learn So Much From You, and describes herself as having “curated” the book rather than written it. She told beijingkids about the unusual way the book was produced.
Em Roblin with her daughter
“It was my best friend’s 50th birthday earlier this year,” Roblin said, “and we decided to do something meaningful and different. Her sons, who are 12 and 10, wrote a list of ’50 things that make Mom so amazing.’ From there we did a brainstorm and decided to do something collaborative. We wanted to get people to think about how they love their own moms and how they’ve learned from them.
“For her party we created a template, which is in the back of the book, in the very same format: “My mom is…. She…. I want to learn to …. too.” We invited a graphic artist, named Chris Q, based out of Shanghai, to capture the energy, and he painted after the event what came out of it. There were about 50 people there, the youngest being a baby on her mother’s lap, the oldest almost 80. Everyone was connecting to what they love about their moms, there was laughter, tears, creative energy… After the event we creatively pulled together a storyline in the voice of a young kid.”
All proceeds from the book will go to the Rural Women Development Foundation, Roblin told us, empowering women and children in remote areas of southern China.
“Our vision and purpose was to have impact, a financial impact and raise awareness,” Roblin said.
Copies of the book cost RMB 50, and can be purchased from their WeChat store by scanning the QR code in the poster above. Alternatively, you can buy a copy in person at the Christmas Fair at the British School of Beijing, Shunyi (BSB Shunyi) on December 7. To find out more you can email Roblin: Emroblin@gmail.com.
Photos: courtesy of Em Roblin
