I asked for an interpreter instead of letting my daughter translate

Dear Delyara, For years, my teenage daughter translated at appointments because her English was stronger than mine. She translated bills, medical information, school meetings, even one frightening discussion about surgery. I told myself this was normal in immigrant families. Eventually, I saw the responsibility on her face. At my latest hospital appointment, I requested a professional interpreter in advance. The receptionist initially said my daughter could help if she was coming. I said no, she is my child. An interpreter joined by video. My daughter sat beside me and got to be seventeen. She checked her phone, looked bored, and held my hand when the doctor discussed results instead of carrying the doctor’s words into my language herself. Self-esteem sometimes means admitting you need help from the system so the person you love can stop providing a service she was never supposed to owe you.