On the occasion of Mother’s Day, American lawyer and second lady of the United States Usha Vance shared a heartwarming conversation with her mother Lakshmi Chilukuri during a special podcast session. Mother and daughter reflect on their shared love of reading and cherished childhood memories.
(Also read: Usha Vance wore an Oscar De La Renta dress and attended the British royal family’s state banquet with JD Vance )
Usha Vance tells stories with her mother
The two talked about their family tradition of reading together, Usha Her mother was introduced as a “wonderful mother and great storyteller” who was also a scientist and university professor. She reflects on how this love of reading began in her childhood and continues to this day through bedtime stories with her own children and even over FaceTime.
Lakshmi Chilukuri also joined in to read the excerpt rudyard kiplingof Just So Stories, including the story “How Camels Got Their Hump.” The entire storytelling session is filled with humour, nostalgia and fun interactions as she brings the classic tale to life through expressive narration and sound effects, much to the delight of her grandchildren.
Reflecting on lessons, memories and connections through books
The conversation also became reflective as they discussed themes in the story. Lakshmi emphasizes that the story, even in its whimsical form, cleverly teaches lessons about responsibility, work, and consequences. She also connected it to real-life experiences, recalling a family trip where the children observed camels in Rajasthan and asked how they moved and worked.
Usha shared how meaningful these moments of reading together are to their family, calling it a tradition that connects generations. The session ended on a high note with Lakshmi expressing her enjoyment of reading to children and adults, while Usha highlighted the importance of storytelling in learning and making connections.
At the end of the special interaction, Usha wished the audience happy mother’s dayencourages everyone to spend time reading with their mother or grandmother, calling it “the best time of the day” and a way to grow together through stories.
About Usha Vance
Usha Vance is an American lawyer who has served as the Second Lady of the United States since 2025 and is the wife of Vice President JD Vance. She is the first Indian-American to hold the position.
Born in San Diego County, California, to Telugu-speaking Indian immigrant parents, she grew up in an upper-middle-class suburb, graduated from Yale University with a degree in history, and later earned a J.D. from Yale Law School. She later clerked for several senior federal judges, including Chief Justice John Roberts, Justice Brett Kavanaugh, and Justice Amul Thapa.
