Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior

Anyone else read 'Why Chinese Mothers are Superior' by Amy Chua (article published in Wall Street Journal last week)?  What was your reaction?

It is certainly a thought-prokoving article. Although a bit unfair that WSJ slapped that title on the story and didn't provide more context about how the excerpt fits in with the rest of her book.  See Amy's response to readers' comments here.  This article also provides an interesting perspective: 'In Defense of the Guilty, Ambivalent, Preoccupied Western Mom'.

Personally, I'm enjoying reliving all the small marvels and excitments of being a kid again, vicariously, through parenting. The thought of spending so many hours practicing stuff over and over again with my kids to help them excell sounds ... to be blunt ... boring!  But I can see how believing in your kid and showing them they really can do something if they try hard enough can be rewarding for both parent and child.

^^ agreed.

There was an article in a recent treasures mag along similar lines, about parenting in different cultures. Most of the woman said they couldnt believe how laid back NZ was. I think the chinese woman said she didnt understand why the grandparents werent more involved.

Some things to think about in that link there.

thanks

What about when all that pressure is too much? The time I spent in Japan, they put a lot of pressure on being successful and it seemed like people were committing suicide left, right and center!

I do have Asian friends here who did experience most of those things growing up but not all, and to get anything lower than the highest grade simply wasn't acceptable and so things like sleepovers, going out etc were banned (and this is someone who was over 18!)

My family is Western and I was raised for the most part quite similar to most of the points on the Chinese article.