I will always be thankful for my immigrant parents. However, there are moments when their overwhelming care can definitely be suffocating. It’s hard sometimes being the first generation in America when you are competing with such different views and perspectives.

Here are things that I have experienced (and I am sure you all have, as well) growing up with Asian American parents.

1. You never leave the house without a coat. Ever. Because for some reason, it is always cold out.

2. You’ve been asked if you want to be a doctor when you grow up.

3. Or a nurse.

4. Or a pediatrician.

5. Maybe even a dentist?

6. If you say 'no,' then get ready to see the look of disappointment in their eyes.

7. Your mom tells you you’re getting fat on the daily.

8. But for some reason she keeps shoveling more food onto your plate even after you told her you were already full?

9. You’re not allowed to date until after high school.

10. Actually, you’re not allowed to date until after college.

11. Honestly, with how your parents are, you’re not allowed to date until after marriage.

12. Your friends love your parents and that’s just because your parents suck up to them whenever they come over.

13. You wish your friends came over more because your parents are definitely nicer when they’re around.

14. THAT MELON HITTING THING EVERY ASIAN DAD DOES WHEN CHOOSING FRUIT AT THE MARKET.

15. “Why can’t you be more like your cousin?”

16. You parents want you to marry someone the same ethnicity as you because “they understand you more.”

17. But don’t worry, if you bring someone home that isn’t the same culture, it’s totally fine.

18. There’s always cooked rice in the house.

19. But if you’re the one that finishes the rice and you don’t cook more, get ready to get yelled at.

20. When you try to leave the house looking fashionable in your crop top but your mom isn’t having it so you have to change.

21. Your parents always made you take an umbrella when it’s sunny out just so you can maintain your “beautiful pale complexion.”

22. You have to make plans with you friends basically 5-7 business days in advance.

23. And even then, the likelihood of your mom saying yes is very slim.

24. You never go grocery shopping with your parents without a fat STACK of coupons.

25. You also never buy anything at the store unless it is on sale.

26. Every family party is basically a competition to see which aunty can hype up their kid more.

27. Shrimp chips and Pocky were always stocked up in the household.

28. All your furniture was wrapped in that weird plastic wrap to “protect it.”

29. The TV remote was, too.

30. Sometimes even that floor had those weird plastic mats also.

31. You have one of those brooms that’s basically a bunch of sticks taped together.

32. But for some reason, they work better than the ones you buy at target.

33. Karaoke is sung at every family gathering.

34. They don’t tell you “I love you” that often.

35. But they ask you if you’ve eaten every hour, and you know that’s their version of it.