# @thekoreanvegan on Instagram

- **Type:** Video
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DboRUL1BDSk
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/68846993-thekoreanvegan-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/3652b4c79e.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-08-04T19:13:29.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Joanne L. Molinaro, The Korean Vegan (@thekoreanvegan) — https://gondola.cc/thekoreanvegan

## Caption

I recently learned that my grandmother—my Cheen Hahlmuhnee—she told my mother when she was pregnant with me, “It doesn’t matter if she’s a boy or a girl, I just want the baby to be healthy.” My father was the eldest son and therefore, traditionally, it was my mother’s job to produce a son. She fully expected that kind of pressure when she married my dad, but instead, her mother-in-law just wanted a healthy, happy grandbaby.

Learning this made me feel loved in a way I had trouble articulating. My grandmother loved me before I was even born. She loved me before I had a chance to do anything to earn that love. She loved me with a love so big and so strong, I could do nothing to lose it. For the first time in my life, at 47 years old, I learned what it felt like to know a love that was unconditional.

I can be worthy just by being me.

I’ve been sitting with this discovery for the past several days and golly… it makes me miss my grandmother so much. It makes me regret not getting to know her better. I only ever saw her as grandma and never bothered to look at the woman she was before she was my hahlmuhnee. 

I made this brioche for everyone who pre-ordered a copy of my second cookbook, Homemade. It turned out so good, though, so I’ll ask my publisher whether I can share it with everyone. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this story, even if you’ve heard it before. <3

#storytime #brioche

## Stats

- **Views:** 653,894
- **Likes:** 101,158
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 273

## Tags

storytime, brioche

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