"Why Chinese parenting is superior.."

[Relic]

I've been following this story now for a few days. Author Amy Chua has come out with a new book. The basic premise is that Chinese parenting is superior to that of Western parents.

After reading some excerpts, I think that this lady is nuts. Now, in all fairness, the book is not a "how to" and nor is it claiming that all Chinese parents are better than Western parents - in fact it kind of shows her trying the Chinese "tough love" style of parenting then backing off a bit. Regardless, nuts or not in some ways I think she makes some great points.

Here's a WSJ article on it:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...528698754.html

Now, conversely, here's a counter argument from another Asian-American writer, Lac Su that equally as interesting:

http://www.cnn.com/2011/OPINION/01/2...ex.html?hpt=C1

I find this sort of thing very fascinating as even in my own household there's a marked difference in parenting style which can sometimes make things tough.

[fenderhutz]

I take anything about parenting from a country that kills off female newborn because they'd rather have a boy with a grain of salt.

[MakiSupaStar]

The mom in the first article is hot.

[Relic]

Originally Posted by MakiSupaStar

The mom in the first article is hot.

I saw an interview with her the other day. She's kinda wrinkly but still smoking in a "middle-aged, cute, Chinese chick" sorta way.

[bass12]

Yuck. That woman sounds horribly tyrannical. I wonder if her kids have ever known how joyful it can be to actually be a kid...

[KeithBMI]

Once a child starts to excel at something—whether it's math, piano, pitching or ballet—he or she gets praise, admiration and satisfaction. This builds confidence and makes the once not-fun activity fun. This in turn makes it easier for the parent to get the child to work even more.

Show me a kid that enjoys math and I will show you a future serial killer.

[StayLow]

As usual, the truth lies in the middle.

On one end there's acceptance and enabling of delusions, excuses and laziness, and on the other there's terrorism and self-hate coming out as a parenting style.

Fat kids should be made to lose weight, TV is almost nonstop crap, and our school system is a complete joke.

On the flipside, I'll bet Sophia and Lulu quit piano after they leave home. If they ever leave home.

[shadowtippy]

Originally Posted by MakiSupaStar

The mom in the first article is hot.

I appreciate the fact that Maki always sticks to the topic at hand.

[MakiSupaStar]

Originally Posted by Relic

I saw an interview with her the other day. She's kinda wrinkly but still smoking in a "middle-aged, cute, Chinese chick" sorta way.

Yeah, she just needs all that silly Chinese disciplinarian stuff humped out of her. Somebody hold my coat, I guess I gotta go in and get this job done right. Have a cold one for me when I'm done.

[StayLow]

Originally Posted by KeithBMI

Show me a kid that enjoys math and I will show you a future serial killer.

I know a few guys who love math, and they couldn't be nicer or more docile people. They engineers, of course.

Music is math, by the way.

[MakiSupaStar]

Originally Posted by KeithBMI

Show me a kid that enjoys math and I will show you a future serial killer.

My son enjoys math.

[Floyd Eye]

Originally Posted by StayLow

I know a few guys who love math, and they couldn't be nicer or more docile people. They engineers, of course.

Music is math, by the way.

Everything is math.

[KingofPizza]

I know these people, parents and kids. The kids are students at the school I work at. Mom is a whack job. The girls arr lovely, nice kids. Smart, talented, and social.
When I first read the article a couple of weeks ago I was amazed at how well adjusted these kids seem after apparently growing up under this red storm of abuse by good old mom. Maybe they like it, or they've given up, I don't know. But I would almost bet that when they get to college (if they're not chained to a radiator in the basement) they will set records for booze and bong abuse, among other things.
Perhaps I'm wrong, but it seems keeping kids under thumb like that may have severe consequenses down the line. My kids were raised to make decisions, be responsible for those decisions, work hard and stay out of trouble. Sometimes they stumble, but thats ok. Being down their throat 100% of the time seems more like torture, not motivation.
My .02

[macaroni tony]

I enjoyed math

[Relic]

Originally Posted by MakiSupaStar

Yeah, she just needs all that silly Chinese disciplinarian stuff humped out of her. Somebody hold my coat, I guess I gotta go in and get this job done right. Have a cold one for me when I'm done.

HAHA! Damn you! I now have coffee in my freaking nose. It burns!!

[Relic]

Originally Posted by macaroni tony

I enjoyed math

personally I HATED math, but thank god 2 out of my 3 kids enjoy the heck out of it

[macaroni tony]

Originally Posted by StayLow

As usual, the truth lies in the middle.

I agree with this. Lac Su sounds like a whiny complainy pants, and Chua sounds like an evil succubus of children.

[fenderhutz]

This makes the psychotic pageant mothers look tame.

[macaroni tony]

Originally Posted by fenderhutz

This makes the psychotic pageant mothers look tame.

Honestly IMO....I don't really know what could make those pageant mothers look tame. Maybe Kim Jong Il. I'm almost tempted to start another thread on that crazy world

[Lesfunk]

well, good keyboardists are hard to find.