Latest news with #Stefany
Hindustan Times
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Woman writes novel to say goodbye to her ‘dead mother'. Then this happens
Author Stefany Valentine lost all hopes of meeting her mother after not having any contact with her for 25 years and even feared that she had died. But on New Year's eve of 2023, a call from her sister-in-law changed her life. For the first time, in over two decades, in August 2024, Stefany came face-to-face with her mother Meiling Valentine. Speaking to Stefany said she wondered whether she would be able to recognise her mother in the crowd after all these years and safe to say, she added, "I did." "It was just so good to hug her for the first time. I needed that hug," the author said. At the time of Stefany's reunion with her mother at the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, the author was working on her debut novel called 'First Love Language'. Her novel is based on Catie, a Taiwanese-American teen and adoptee, who looks to reconnect with her origin roots by learning Mandarin. A 31-year-old Stefany said that she used the novel, in some ways, "to really say goodbye, to close the door" on finding her birth mother. Meiling was married to Lt. Col. Todd Merrill Valentine and had five children with him. The family used to move around a lot because of Todd's career in the Air Force, spending time in Texas (where Stefany was born), Taiwan and South Dakota. When Stefany was five-years-old, her parents got a divorce and all the kids went into Todd's custody. Their father moved them back to the States and their mother, Meiling, who did not speak any English, was cut of their lives. When Meiling lost ties to her children, she told "I almost collapsed." She said that the language barrier, lack of money and work experience, did not help in being able to find solution. "It was unfair treatment." Despite all these years, Stefany notes that her mother did not have the resources that her dad did even though she tries to maintain a "neutral" stance on their relation. Stefany said that she was made to believe that Meiling was "dangerous" and "neglected" her children. However, she said, that was another cultural divide as she didn't feel neglected in Taiwan. The author recalls that her and her siblings left behind their Taiwanese culture in America. "It was 'Go to school, speak English, assimilate, we're not doing that that anymore. And I think that was that. Losing a mother is one thing, and then losing your culture," she told While Stefany initially struggled to get a hold on English, her escape methods eventually led her to a writing career. When Stefany turned 8, Todd remarried. Her stepmother, Cindy, brought into the family her four children from a previous relationship. Cindy became a single mother to nine children when Stefany's father passed away in 2006. But the loss led the author to struggle with depression. Stefany said that growing into her teenage years, the rage from the loss of her father and her birth mother's absence, only increased. She was reportedly sent to live with other family members throughout majority of her high school years by Cindy. She was allowed to move back in her senior year. While looking for answers about Meiling, Stefany sought refuge in writing. She wrote a short story for the young-adult anthology, 'When We Become Ours', which points at the adoptee experience. The experience from this work led her to rework her first novel, First Love Language, into a more adoptee-focused piece. She looked historical and genealogical records in her attempts to find Meiling. But several psychichs indicated that Meiling had died, leading to Stefany putting an end to her search. On New Year's 2023, she got a surprising call. "My sister-in-law calls me and is like 'There is a Taiwanese lady in our Mormon church, and she grew up with your mom, and she's going to find her for you'." Initially, Stefany and her siblings were able to reconnect with Meiling via texting and though her siblings were not as much open to the idea of reunion, Cindy facilitated the author's trip to Taiwan. The author said that since Cindy worked with Delta, she was able to provide her with flight and everything. The day finally came in August, Stefany and Meiling were reunited. In the lead up to their first meeting at the encounter, Stefany said, "Nervous, anxious, scared, excited, everything — what wasn't I feeling? It was like Christmas, when you're going to bed and you're like, 'I'm going to get to open the presents tomorrow?' It was very much that for weeks leading up to it, just like, 'One day closer. One day closer.'" The mother-daughter realized how much similar they looked. The two made up for their long-lost time during Stefany's two-week trip to Taiwan last year. Stefany and Meiling went hiking, visited street markets, spent night in an aquarium and even celebrated the latter's birthday with a cake. 'She was like, 'This is the best birthday I've had in 20 years,'" Stefany said. During the second week, Cindy also visited Stefany and Meiling in Taiwan. The birth mother and the stepmother thanked each other for Stefany. Stefany's Taiwan visit also sparked her desire to learn Mandarin. She has applied for the local Chung Yuan University, where she is all set to start the term in the fall. The author said that with the help of her studies, she wants to facilitate reunions between her mother and the other siblings, and to eventually tell Meiling's story. "I want to write a memoir, for sure. But this memoir, I want it to also be her memoir and I want to be able to tell her story and all the complexities of it as well as I can in addition to writing my story," Stefany told Stefany said that now she does not want to waste any more time.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
She Thought Her Long-Lost Mom Was Dead and Wrote a Novel to Say ‘Goodbye.' Then Her Phone Rang (Exclusive)
Author Stefany Valentine published her debut novel, , in January While she was writing the book, about an adoptee looking to reconnect with her culture, Stefany coincidentally reunited with her own birth mom for the first time in 25 years Stefany's experience led her to apply to go to school to learn Mandarin and reconnect with her Taiwanese heritage In August, author Stefany Valentine got a hug she'd previously thought was impossible. After not hearing from her birth mother, Meiling Valentine, for 25 years, Stefany had all but given up on the hope that they might one day reconnect — and even feared Meiling had died. Then an unexpected coincidence brought them back together from opposite sides of the world. 'I was wondering if I would recognize her in a crowd, and I did,' Stefany tells PEOPLE through tears. 'It was just so good to hug her for the first time. I needed that hug.' The reunion between Stefany and Meiling, at the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, unfolded while Stefany was working on her debut novel, First Love Language, which centers around Catie — a Taiwanese-American teen and adoptee looking to reconnect with her birth culture by learning Mandarin. Stefany, 31, calls the process of working on the book 'very therapeutic,' saying that in some ways, she used it to 'to really say goodbye, to close the door,' on finding her birth mom. Related: Mom Breaks Down Her Unique Open Adoption Story and the 1 Rule She's Established with Daughter's Birth Mom (Exclusive) Stefany is one of five siblings born to Meiling and Lt. Col. Todd Merrill Valentine. Due to Todd's career in the Air Force, the family moved around a lot, spending time in Taiwan, Texas (where Stefany was born) and South Dakota. When Stefany was 5, her parents divorced and Todd took custody of the kids and moved them back to the states. Stefany says Meiling, who didn't speak English, was cut out of their lives. "I almost collapsed,' Meiling tells PEOPLE now of losing her ties to her children. 'I looked everywhere for someone who could help me, but because I had no work experience, no money and language barriers, there was no way to find a proper solution. It was unfair treatment." All these years later, Stefany says she tries to stay 'neutral' when it comes to her feelings about what happened between her parents but notes, 'All of the resources that my dad had, my mom didn't.' While growing up apart from her biological mother, Stefany says she was 'fed' what she believes is a false narrative about Meiling — that she was 'dangerous' and 'neglected' her children. 'I think that that was another cultural divide because I don't remember feeling neglected in Taiwan,' Stefany says. In America after the divorce, Stefany says she and her siblings left their Taiwanese culture behind. 'It was 'Go to school, speak English, assimilate, we're not doing that anymore,' ' she recalls. 'And I think that was that. Losing a mother is one thing — and then losing your culture.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Stefany struggled to grasp English, but her escape methods led to her writing career. 'I spent a lot of time daydreaming,' she says. 'And I think that's ultimately what also led me down the path to becoming an author is because to this day, I am just constantly daydreaming.' When Stefany turned 8, her father remarried and her stepmom, Cindy, blended their family with Cindy's four children from a previous relationship. Several years later, in 2006, Stefany's father died of colon cancer. Cindy legally adopted Stefany and her siblings, becoming a single mother to nine children. 'I was struggling with a lot of depression,' Stefany says of the time after her dad's death. As she grappled with her loss and her biological mother's absence, Stefany says her anger only grew as she went into her teenage years. Related: Thinking About Adoption? Here's What to Know 'That rage that had gotten buried over time came right back up because I lost my mom, that's where the anger came from and now I'm losing my dad,' Stefany says. 'I was kicked out of my house for speaking out of turn, speaking my mind and everything.' Cindy sent Stefany to live with other family members throughout most of high school, allowing her to move back in for senior year, Stefany says. For decades, she yearned for answers about Meiling. 'The need to know has always been there,' she says. Stefany sought refuge in writing, writing a short story for the young-adult anthology When We Become Ours, which highlights the adoptee experience. 'To see an entire community of people who have similar feelings and similar traumas and complicated backgrounds and everything, I was like, 'Where have you guys been my entire life?' ' Stefany says. 'I felt like I was trying to farm some land with my bare hands and they were like, 'Here's a hoe.' Like — oh, cool, I can actually get to work now." The experience led Stefany to rework First Love Language, her first novel, to be more adoptee-focused. While she had looked into genealogy and historical records, trying to find Meiling, multiple psychics indicated that Meiling had died and Stefany eventually stopped searching. Then on New Year's Eve 2023, she got a surprising call. 'My sister-in-law calls me and is like, 'There's a Taiwanese lady in our Mormon church, and she grew up with your mom, and she's going to find her for you,' ' Stefany says of the unlikely series of events. She and her siblings were initially able to reconnect with Meiling via text and while, she says, her siblings were less open to a reunion, Cindy later facilitated Stefany's trip to Taiwan 'I think she understood how much it meant to me,' Stefany says of her stepmom. 'She provided us the flight and everything, because she works with Delta.' And in August, Stefany came face-to-face with Meiling for the first time in more than two decades. 'Nervous, anxious, scared, excited, everything — what wasn't I feeling?' Stefany says of the lead-up to their first encounter at the airport. 'It was like Christmas, when you're going to bed and you're like, 'I'm going to get to open the presents tomorrow?' It was very much that for weeks leading up to it, just like, 'One day closer. One day closer.' " Stefany says she was shocked by the physical similarities between herself and Meiling.'Growing up, I've always felt like I look really White, or I look more White than my siblings do. And then when I saw her, I was just like, 'Dude, we look like twins,' ' Stefany says. 'It's not a race thing, it's a feature thing. We just have the exact same features.' Meiling also noticed the similarities, telling PEOPLE, 'The first time I saw Stefany at the airport, I was shocked because she was no longer the cute little girl I often dreamed of. She had grown up and looked so much like me, which touched me." Stefany and Meiling, 57, made up for lost time during Stefany's two-week trip last year, going hiking, visiting street markets, spending the night in an aquarium and even celebrating Meiling's birthday with a cake. 'She was like, 'This is the best birthday I've had in 20 years,' ' Stefany says. During the second week of the trip, Stefany and Meiling spent time with another special visitor — Cindy. 'We got hot pot together,' Stefany says of the meeting between her birth mother and her adopted mother. 'I was like, 'Oh, please be civil with each other. I hope there's no anger.' I think for Meiling, she was very much like, 'You raised my kids. Thank you for that. I appreciate that,' and I think Cindy was very like, 'Well, you gave birth to my daughter, so thank you for that.' I think it was just this handshake, this unspoken handshake that they had for each other.' Stefany adds that being in Taiwan with Cindy was 'healing' for her. 'It was a good way to bury or to begin burying a lot of the past, make peace with what is and not what should be, that sort of thing,' she says. Visiting Taiwan also sparked Stefany's desire to properly study Mandarin after practicing online while working on First Love Language. She successfully applied for the local Chung Yuan University and will start there in the fall. 'The money that I made from my advance from First Love Language, I now get to put toward my tuition, it's so cool,' Stefany says. 'It's so full circle.' She plans to use her studies to help facilitate reunions between Meiling and her other siblings, to 'uplift adoptee voices' in the literary community and to eventually tell her and Meiling's story. 'I want to write a memoir, for sure,' she says. 'But this memoir, I want it to also be her memoir and I want to be able to tell her story and all the complexities of it as well as I can in addition to writing my story." Stefany doesn't want to waste a moment. 'I've already lost her. ... And I don't want regrets," she says of Meiling. "Very rarely do people get a second chance like I'm getting.' Read the original article on People
Buzz Feed
17-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
26 Mother's Day Gifts From Target That Only Look Expensive
We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page. Because no one appreciates a thoughtful bargain more than mom-shaped humans. 1. A Daise rose and sandalwood body mist to give them a new daily go-to that reviewers say smells clean and lasts all day without being overpowering. Plus, the shape is so cute and a perfect way to still give the moms in your life their flowers without giving them actual flowers. Target Promising reviews:"I love how fresh this smells, like clean linen mixed with sandalwood. My favorite spray scent so far. Cute flower shape." — Stefany "It has such an elegant smell, low-key soft floral rose, and low-key warm, earthy sandalwood. This delicate fragrance is calming and sophisticated, perfect for an everyday scent." — Sarah 2. A birdhouse art kit so the kiddos in their life can contribute to the gifting, too! (Plus, it's gonna buy you at least 15 minutes of happy painting time, so that's a win-win in my book.) Target Look, all I'm saying is if a kiddo painted this for me and it was stuffed with Ghirardelli chocolates, I'd be one happy camper. "OMG, so cute! Totally sturdy, too!" — AllyP Price: $6.99 3. A delightful croissant clip-on pouch to make their life simpler and cuter. No more rustling around in their bags to find their fave lip gloss or their ID. It's super handy in this lil' pastry-perfect sidekick! Target Promising review:"I really like attaching the pouch to the inside of my handbag. I dislike having to drag my wallet out for identification or debit cards all the time. This pouch keeps it all conveniently together and handy!" — CA 4. A set of three Rifle Paper Co. magnetic bookmarks so they can always know where they left off in their TBR, no matter the mother-y chaos surrounding them. Target If you want to pair one with a book they'll love, take this quiz and pretend to be your gift receiver to get the PERFECT rec! 5. A garden kneeler — HEAR. ME. OUT. Whether they're parents of small kiddos, grandparents, or they just spend a lot of time in the garden or obsessing over baseboards (🙋🏻♀️), they want this. Hardwood floors are beautiful but also a cruel mistress when it comes to getting down to play with littles. And you can save them from an aching-knees fate for less than the price of your morning coffee. Target Promising reviews:"It is a thick, lightweight pad. I use it inside, too, on the hardwood floor. I do wish they sold a larger one so one could sit on it, too. Totally recommend it!" — Karen " Purchased for my daughter to use while bathing her newborn for her knees! She loves it!" — JLN " This works very well. Sure, there are bigger ones, or softer ones, but for the price, this can't be beat." — Anonymous 6. A set of JLab wireless Bluetooth earbuds because if they are constantly losing, washing, or otherwise mismanaging their expensive pair, these are the ticket. Reviewers SWEAR BY them for durability and sound quality. (Just check out that 4.3-star rating with over 6,000 reviews!) Plus, they'll fit so cutely in their new croissant pouch! Target Promising review:" I bought these in December, and they are still charging, and still sound good after going through the washer TWICE. I thought I would need a new pair but after drying them and charging they are working fine. There might be a slight difference in quality, but nothing too noticeable based on what I use them for. If I need a new pair of earbuds in the future, I will definitely buy these again. 💯" — Salami 7. A stainless steel teapot if they are constantly offering you hot beverages or if they just love a spot of tea to unwind during their self-care time. Pair it with a Celestial Seasonings fruit tea sampler, and you've got yourself a thoughtful, won't-break-the-bank gift. 8. A perfectly springy green Crock-Pot slow cooker so they can make dips, simmer pots, and soups with the click of a button. Plus, the color is ~sublime~ which gives you, like, 15 gift-giver bonus points. Target If you want to make it a tad more personal, you can always include dry ingredients and a printed recipe for a spring simmer pot! 9. A lavender lemonade glass jar candle with a burn time of 50 hours and a sweet springtime scent that will have them smiling every time they light it. Throw in a rechargeable gooseneck electric lighter, and you'll be the belle of the gift-giving ball. Target 10. A framed vintage lemon print because when life gives you spring/summer citrus, frame them for the mom figures in your life for some on-trend LEMON CUTENESS. Target Seriously, lemons are everywhere this year, so if you've got someone on your list who is big into spring/summery vibes, Target has got you and your gift to-do's covered. Promising reviews:"Super cute picture. The picture and frame are well made. Overall, the quality is great, and the price is reasonable." — Meg "Love the bright yellow color on this art piece. Looks great in my living room." — Vinks Price: $32 11. A snuggly pair of slippers if you know their winter pair took a beating, and they could use a little pampering in the form of warm toes. Target 12. A packable straw tote perfect for their trips to spring farmers' market visits and any other sunshiny adventures. It's also Forest Stewardship Council certified, which means that it's made from wood in responsibly managed forests! Good for your mother and Mother Earth? Win-win. Target You can read more about the Forest Stewardship Council certification here! Promising reviews:"Love! Large and roomy and looks expensive." — Anon "Super cute and well-made. Folds flat for travel and is very spacious. Not structured, which I like, and I really like the darker straw color. I plan to use it for summer travel, beach, markets, etc." — Mandysb 13. A matted frame because we might be in the digital age, but who doesn't love getting an already-framed beloved photo they can put on their desk or wall? Target Promising review:"Very cute and loved that the circle added something different to my gallery wall. Good quality. Definitely thicker than your standard photo frame." — Josi 14. An ESW Beauty vanilla almond butter smoothie lip treatment they'll reach for again and again because not only does it help keep their lips in tip-top shape, but it also smells and feels divine. (And we all know that's *not* always the case when it comes to lip products.) Target Promising review:"I absolutely love this lip gloss. The smell is so lovely, like vanilla. It gives a beautiful neutral brown gloss, which I really love. It feels very nice and nourishing on and for my lips. Thank you for making this product vegan, which is overall a plus for me, and I know many others!" — Yael Yasha 15. A set of three potted plant ceramic mushroom buddies you can give all on their own or stick around that fiddle leaf fig you know they've been eyeing at the local plant nursery. Target Promising reviews:"These little guys look so adorable in our garden. They are perfect to make a cute little fairy garden area. The colors are perfection." — Screechies "So cute! They hold up well and don't tip over from being too heavy! Great quality and price." — Srsalty21 16. A set of solar LED outdoor string lights to bring a touch of whimsy to their al fresco spring nights. Just look at those little rattan light hats — they practically scream, "Spring!" At only twenty bucks a pop, this gift can be the light of their night, gifted with love from the light of their life. (Which is you, of course.) Target Promising review:"Great addition to my balcony seating area. Gives off a nice soft light in the evening. The solar charge does wear off overnight but recharges daily. I've had these up throughout the spring, summer, and fall with no problems." — Always Shopping 17. A sling crossbody bag so pretty and stylish it looks like you snagged it from Anthro, but without the Anthro price tag. This one comes with an adjustable strap for the perfect fit, plus plenty of easy-access zippered compartments so they can keep all of their essentials handy. Target Promising reviews:" I recently traveled out of town, and this crossbody was so helpful! I wore it with almost everything. So many compartments, and I was able to just throw it over me." — Mesha "I was looking for something to fulfill the need of carrying around my wallet, keys, phone, diaper, wipes, and a few snacks since my children are older now, and I don't want to carry around a giant diaper bag. This was perfect, and I really liked the style and material. As previously mentioned, if you are looking for something to hold a water bottle, the side pocket will NOT do that, but it works perfectly for hand sanitizer and sunglasses." — Jordan 18. A set of metal gardening tools that are rustproof, sturdy, and perfectly cute, so whether they *actually* plan to do some gardening or just want a few cute accessories for that outdoor workbench they're always meaning to use, you'll win the award for best gift-giver. Target The set includes a spade, a cultivator, and a bypass pruner. Pair this set with a seed starter and some heckin' cheap gardening gloves if you want to really give them a green thumb boost this Mother's Day! 19. A lightweight woven striped throw if they love that Kathleen Kelly You've Got Mail spring apartment vibe, but you don't love the hefty NYC price tag. Target Promising review:"Super soft throw that washes well. It has a great color, is warm but not too warm, and very pretty!" — CBerg Price: $35 20. A Tiny Tags 14-karat gold ion–plated ladybug necklace so they can top off every outfit with a bit of ✨sparkle✨ that is sure to add a touch of whimsy and sophistication no matter how comfy their outfit. Bonus points: You can add a card with the stellar line, "Sorry to bug you, but I just wanted to wish you a happy Mother's Day." You're welcome. Target Tiny Tags was founded by Melissa Clayton after the birth of her first son when she couldn't find the perfect "mommy" necklace and decided to make her own. What started out as a hobby has now become Melissa's life's passion, and boy, does it show! I'm OBSESSED with how dainty-cute (and giftable!) these are! Be sure to check out the cowboy boot, sunflower, and star if you want a peek at the ones sitting in my own cart. 21. A puffy, quilted lumbar pillow to help them get perfectly comfortable, no matter the activity — be it sleep, work, or reading, this pillow will be there to give them support and coziness just like they gave you support and coziness. A full-circle gifting moment. Target Also, this and the striped throw would be such a cozy-book-nook-in-a-bag situation, especially if you throw a book in there, too. (Take this quiz and pretend to be your gift receiver to get the PERFECT rec!) Promising review:"I love this pillow! It is extremely firm and supportive for lower back support on the sofa and office chair! But the puffy design is so soft! It really supports and is also a great accent pillow! Wish it came in more colors!" — Teachermomva 22. A Lego daffodil kit Target Psst. Grab this cute tinted vase so they have a spot to show off their handiwork! Promising review:"This daffodil Lego set was fun and easy to assemble. It probably took me about half an hour to 45 minutes to put together. I took my time and had fun with it. The finished flowers are so cute and fun and are the perfect addition to spring decor in our house. The four finished flowers fit nicely in a vase and look so bright and cheery on our living room cabinet. 100% recommend getting these for a kid or an adult (or yourself!) as a fun spring activity/decor piece." — Sunshine 23. A floral trinket tray so they can spend less time hunting for earring backings and more time admiring their shiny dragon hoard of perfect spring and summer jewelry. Target Promising review:"I got the ivory/blue jewelry tray, and it's so cute! I would definitely recommend this jewelry tray if you're looking for something small that adds a pop of color to your space." — Jennifer Price: $8.50 (originally $10, available in two styles) 24. A star-shaped tea infuser because if their tea time is their "me" time, why not help make it as whimsical and cute as possible? Target Pair it with a loose-leaf tea sampler set and this sweet "best mom ever" mug to really up your gifting game! Price: $12.99 (originally $32.99) 25. A pair of ESW Beauty sheet masks that could accompany a spa headband and wrist guard set for an at-home spa day gift basket. The masks are designed for sharing, so there's one for you and one for them! Is there anything better than a joint Mother's Day self-care party? Target Promising reviews:"Absolutely love this set! The formulas are top-notch, and they include some of my all-time favorites in one convenient bundle. They stick really well, too, and don't dry out quickly. I was super excited to find these masks at my Target!" — Brit "I grabbed a few of these sheet masks for our monthly girls' night, and everyone loved them! The masks delivered a gorgeous glow, making our night even more special. Plus, the ingredients definitely feel way more premium than any other sheet masks I've tried in the past." — Katie Price: $8.99 26. A pair of sunglasses for all the warm weather days ahead when you know they'll always be hunting for a pair. (And these go with everything already in their closet!) Don't forget to grab a cute case to complete the gift! Target Price: $10.50 (originally $14) The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.
