so, i'm reading this book more than a year late i guess (after all the "publicity" it had received in the Wall Street Journal and on TV has long since settled down). even though people call Chua a monster, criticizing her parenting style, even going as far as calling her a child abuser (tiger mothers are pretty extreme in their strict parenting)... i have to say, i could really relate to her family. i'm not saying that i'm a tiger mother, at least not now, but there is a real tender part of my heart that is going to remain so grateful for my own parents. i am 100% sure that i would not have the education and successes i've had so far in life if it hadn't been for them and their tiger-ish parenting (my mom is far too much of a pushover to be a tiger mother; my dad makes up for any gap there). i am the person i am today because of their hard work.
with that said, i also recognize that there are flaws in the tiger mothering approach (as there are flaws in every approach of parenting in our fallen world). and with candid experience and dry humor, Chua lays it all out there, highlights and lowlights for everyone to see [and criticize]. i actually think it took a lot of humility and bravery on her part to be so transparent throughout the book. she is passionate, so smart, and sometimes, well a lot of times, slightly irrational and over-reactive, but always self-aware and focused. i like her.
it's hard to disagree with data that says that tiger mothers produce highly successful kids.
i liked her dissection of western and eastern cultures. i think that, having grown up korean american, i have a lot of my american and korean culture rolled up into a messy ball of yarn. i don't know which is which and i find it sometimes difficult to articulate well what i think about the differences and which culture is actually at my core. add into the mix that discussions about *my* culture are usually with others who may either be quietly judgmental toward korean culture or strangely intrigued by [exotic] korean culture. it's very strange. so, it was kind of refreshing to hear Chua's take on things, because especially in the beginning of the book, she was very clear that Chinese parents are superior. i don't know, i don't usually hear that perspective, especially spoken so frankly and so articulately and in such an informed way (she also grew up in the States, so she was able to contrast western and eastern with real examples).
anyway, i do believe i've written a lot. i hope you decide to read at least a little bit of this book. and keep in mind that she's funny, so you don't take her so seriously. i think it would be less offensive that way.
lovelove,
what-kind-of-mom-am-i-going-to-be?
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