I am a pretty traditional parent (or maybe not?), who grew up in Minnesota, both of my parents were immigrants from Sweden in the late 1950's. Maybe this is why it interests me so much to hear about different parenting styles. Just the same as everyone else that I know we are always questioning the decisions we make as parents and wonder if we are doing the right thing.
In her new book "Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother", Amy Chua talks about being a chinese mother and what that really means!
"A lot of people wonder how Chinese parents raise such stereotypically successful kids. They wonder what these parents do to produce so many math whizzes and music prodigies, what it's like inside the family, and whether they could do it too. Well, I can tell them, because I've done it. Here are some things my daughters, Sophia and Louisa, were never allowed to do:
• attend a sleepover
• have a playdate
• be in a school play
• complain about not being in a school play
• watch TV or play computer games
• choose their own extracurricular activities
• get any grade less than an A
• not be the No. 1 student in every subject except gym and drama
• play any instrument other than the piano or violin
• not play the piano or violin."
(quote from article/book)
I would not suggest that I have all the answers to parenting and I do think that it helps to learn about the parenting of other cultures. I loved Amy's piece for the humor that she brings to the subject, while also giving us an idea of the decisions she made as a chinese mother, why she made them and the consequences. She doesn't just leave us hanging on her strong words to her children, she helps us to understand her reasoning.
I found the piece in the Wall Street Journal (click here to read the story) but I understand it's also in the New York Times as well... I know that it has struck some heavy debate, but I think that if you are like me it will strike interest not condemnation. And I for one, am buying the book!
read complete article in WSJ here
