Every parent imposes different expectations that they demand their children reach. These standards are usually in the best interest of the child; however, sometimes it is more in favor of the parent. The expectations the mothers have for their children in “The Rocking-Horse Winner,” by D. H. Lawrence and “Two Kinds,” by Amy Tan are examples of such situations. These mothers want nothing more than high social status and envious spectators to watch them with gleaming eyes. The mothers do not see what their children are going through, for they are blinded by the cultural and societal expectations that cloud their minds. Being a parent is one of the most challenging roles a man or woman be. In “Two Kinds”, the narrator, Jing-mei, explains that the mother came to the United States from China in 1949 after she lost everything- home, husband, twin daughters, and her parents. Although she endured these hardships, she came to America with determination in her actions and a yearning for the “American Dream.” After remarrying she gave birth to Jing-mei, the child she would build extremely high expectations for in the future. In the Chinese culture, it is custom that children are obedient, intelligent, and respectful. The mother in “Two Kinds” wants her daughter to have a successful, rich life that she never had. There can be a big difference between how someone sees themselves, and how one actually feels inside. For example, in “The Rocking-Horse Winner,” the mother is described in the first paragraph to be beautiful and extremely fortunate in her upbringing. Society sees her as a woman who has everything, but to her her world is empty and less than extraordinary. Lawrence then explains her adult life as lacking luck, happiness and wealth. She resents her husband for their loveless marriage, and she feels like she cannot love her children. Due to these feelings she has toward her children, her son Paul tries to find the luck needed to help make his family wealthy so his mother will love him. His determination and her greedy persistence prove to be their downfall. A common theme in these two stories is that both mothers strive for high social status. The mother in “The Rocking-Horse Winner” wants nothing more than to be wealthy whereas Jing-mei’s mother in “Two Kinds” wants to gain social status by impressing her peers through her daughter’s talent. Lawrence states, “Although they lived in style, they felt always an anxiety in the house. There was never enough money.” (353) This was such a common feeling in their household that the walls practically whispered “there must be more money,” emphasizing the want for financial status. (353) This behavior proves that the living