My mom had called on New Year’s Eve to see what I was doing to celebrate, but I missed her call so she left a message. Here’s what she said, verbatim: “What are you doing New Year’s Eve? Partying already?! *silence* Anywayyyy, I call for have a happy new year and lots of luck to my baby girl. Okay? Then healthy, okay? Bye.”

When my sister Mia got pregnant with her first child, my mom went nuts with excitement. It was her first grandchild and she drove my sister crazy with pregnancy advice. Normally you’d think that comes pretty standard from a grandmother-to-be, but my Korean and somewhat superstitious mother had some rather unconventional tips for my pregnant sister. Below are a few of the highlights: