“When the world seems to turn its back on you, your mother will still be there, right next to you.” This quote by an anonymous author exemplifies the typical mother and daughter relationship. The majority of mothers will agree that their daughter is their life’s treasure and the bond they share is like no other. In the story “Two Kinds” by Amy Tan, the mother comes from a very tragic background which caused her to move to America with a desire to achieve her own idea of the “American Dream.” To fulfill the missing pieces, she hopes to seek it through her daughter, Jing-mei. Amy Tan does not clarify who was right and who was wrong between the two women and their relationship, but certain scenes allow the readers to have their own interpretation. By not taking sides in the story, the author illustrates her emotions about not fulfilling her mother’s hopes she had for her. Jing-mei’s lack of perfection caused many problems in their relationship throughout the story. When Jing-mei was introduced to the idea of becoming a prodigy, she was willingly thrilled. Ultimately, she was excited of finally receiving the approval from her parents that she has never gotten. Her mother compared her to Shirley Temple, and designed at home tests so Jing-mei can practice. As the test continued, the questions began to get harder and harder. She quotes, “And after seeing my mother’s disappointed face once again, something inside of me began to die. I hated the tests, they raised hopes and failed expectations.” This quotes illustrates the struggles of never being good enough for her mother. Her self-esteem is what died inside. This example shows the mother’s intense fantasy for perfection. Later on, the mother convinces Jing-mei to take piano lessons with a neighbor who is a retired piano teacher, Mr. Chong. Mr. Chong referred to himself as “Beethoven” which shows how Jing-mei is surrounded by the pressure of becoming a prodigy