shuchi & abha

We want to introduce you to Abha and Shuchi Jain. They've been each other's support systems from the very beginning. Abha has helped her daughter through every difficulty that life has presented, and Shuchi, as she got older, supported her mom in every way she could. When she was born, Abha not only got her daughter but found a long-sought best friend. She passed on her love of traditional Indian dance to Shuchi, who went on to train in Western genres as well.

This story is of a fourteen-year-old girl who stepped into high school and realized that she stuck out like a sore thumb. She looked different than everyone else around her and found herself feeling lost. Enrolled in a prominently caucasian secondary school dance program, she felt self-conscious of the way she looked, the food she ate, her mannerisms, and the things that defined her. When she went home to express her concerns to her mom, the conversations often led to tears. Abha would sometimes cry with her. Sometimes, we forget that our struggles are harder for our mothers to see than for us to endure.

Nevertheless, Abha helped her feel comfortable and confident in her own skin and in her background. They talked about Shuchi’s insecurities, and by the time she graduated, she was proud of who she was. With her mother’s help, she was able to find a balance between the part of her that was Indian, and the part that was Canadian. She learned to appreciate all the things that were Indian about the way she looked; dark skin, thick black hair, and noticeable body hair. There are many other immigrant kids who have similar experiences throughout their life. It is difficult to incorporate two parts of yourself into one identity, but it is needless to say that this journey is made easier with the support and understanding of a mother.