Posted on 01/30/2011 8:41:10 AM PST by SeekAndFind
Amy Chua’s article entitled : “Why Chinese Mothers are Superior” was the one that sparked a firestorm. It’s publication produced this entire controversy and debate and discussion.
See FR threads here :
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2654357/posts
and here:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2658882/posts
and here:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2658015/posts
Also known as GODLY parenting! We need to return to it!!!
A False Alternative indeed! There is not a "digital" choice (a zero or a one) as an approach to parenting. When your daughter reaches a certain age, say 16, and wants to go to a party, the Eastern answer--No! is not always the right one, nor is the Western answer--Yes!
The correct answer depends upon the circumstances. Who else will be there? Will there be adult supervision? Is there a possibility that drugs, alcohol, or sex will be involved? The important thing is to know your child, to have raised her properly, and to spend the time to understand the specific situation. Parenting involves a continuum of choices; the right answer is sometimes "No," sometimes "Yes," and always, "It Depends."
Perhaps the secret of American success is much easier to define?
Once, all citizens knew three documents were essential:
1. The Declaration of Independenc.
2. The Constitution.
3. The Bill of Rights.
They knew that freedom of person and property were the reason the citizen could create and accumulate. They knew that a marriage between an man and a woman living on their own land, raising their children, dying in their own bed in their home, and bequeathing their assets to their children was the basis of America.
Generations of Americans gradually built the accumulated wealth which, in just one lifetime, has been squandered by Commies/Liberals/Progressives.
The only thing the “Tiger Mom” way of parenting that I disagree with is not allowing kids to play in sports. By and large kids who play organized sports get better grades and learn early on how to manage time.
I also feel that there are times you have to lie to your kids. Example...son asks me dad did you ever smoke pot? Son I have made a lot of mistakes in my life but that wasn’t one of them. He was looking for a yes answer so if I ever caught him smoking pot he would say “Well so what you did it too”. I wasn’t about to give him any advantage.
The eastern method produces great technicians, not creative geniuses.
RE: The only thing the “Tiger Mom” way of parenting that I disagree with is not allowing kids to play in sports.
Not sure if this applies to every Asian in the USA. Haven’t these Tiger moms heard of Michele Kwan, Kristi Yamaguchi and Michael Chang (just to name a few)?
“The only thing the “Tiger Mom” way of parenting that I disagree with...”
There are several things that I don’t agree with. For example, if my child hands me a handmade card, I don’t hand it back and say it is trash. I put it on my fridge for all to see and then I keep it. I don’t force my children to get straight A’s. I expect them to do their best but not every student is capable of perfection. I hug, kiss, and tell my kids each day that I love them. In today’s world, I like to think that they know they are loved no matter what happens. I allow them to socialize with friends. I don’t force them to play either the violin or the piano. In short, I love them for who they are... not what I demand them to be. Thus far, I have very bright kids who excel in school, have a sense of humor, love their country, have high expectations for themselves and believe in God. They are kind, helpful and great kids. Just a thought.
You could have just said that you didn’t inhale. :)
What you said.
Proverbs 22:6 is a teaching that reasonable people, Eastern or Western intuitively ought to know.
God’s principles are UNIVERSAL.
The whole thing is freaking stupid, the woman just wrote and sold a damn book. Then in walks the idiots.
Nice.
We've pretty much modeled the "Mary Poppins" way of raising our kids.....strict, but with an element of fun behind every lesson. In our house, it is good humor and fun that takes the "sting" out of the mundane, the difficult and the downright painful moments in life, and our children have blossomed into thoughtful,creative, hard-working and downright wonderful young adults--including one who, had she lived in any other household, would long ago have been given some "little blue pill" of some sort to modfy her behavior.
I know we're on the right track with our techniques when we reach out to other kids we come into contact with (our nieces and nephews, the kids we teach at church, our kids' friends). They react to it as if it's a drug they just can't get enough of .....and consequently, we are quite well received by our children's friends. They can't believe the difference between the relationship they have with their own parents and the one we have with our girls.
As for MGD and I--it's been nothing but a joy and pleasure raising these exceptional beings....we have truly enjoyed every step of the way. It's frustrating, however, to see parents harp and moan and struggle with their kids, when with a few simple tweaks, everyone wins.
This Tigermom stuff is all bogus, sure do that and your kids will come out like dysfunctional robots - I’ve know many Asian kids, smart but socially retarded and obnoxiousness - and they lack any compassion whatsoever. The only thing that matters is the bottom line.
Nice.
Whoa....defensive, aren’t you? I did not attack, I merely asked for clarification, since you said you “agreed with Tiger Mom except....” Tiger Mom herself admitted that her methods included those things I listed.
You left the most important one off your list:
The Holy Bible
For the century before the creation of those important documents and for the century that followed, the Bible was at the heart of American education, know-how and work ethic.
The Bible is foundational to liberty and property rights as well.
Wow, I like that! Cuz she had me feelin all guilty about my own mothering skills, or lack theerof!
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