I am currently reading Amy Chua's `Battle Hymn of the tiger Mother'. I do realise that I am probably the last person on this planet reading it. A lot has been written and said about the book. It is basically about a Chinese mother trying to raise her two daughters the `Chinese way' instead of the usual American way, which is where she lives. It is an extremely honest and well written book.
It made me think of the shoddy job I am doing as a mother. I am not making my daughter practice Violin or Piano (or even Casio) for six hours everyday (it is amazing Amy didn't have a nervous breakdown herself!!). Though an above average kid, my daughter does sometime get A- or even B+ and no, I don't recall fainting at the sight of her report card. I don't go in depression if her teacher tells me that she talks a lot (this is the usual complaint). I even let her watch TV everyday and the day there is a Harry Potter movie, she has the license to eat dinner before TV and not on dinning table. She reads Percy Jackson besides some classics that I insist on.
Though I am mid-way the book, I have started wondering if I am too mild as a mother. Is it possible that I don't insist on A+ all the time because I never myself consistently got them. Do I worry too much about her self esteem and don't push her to her limits? Am I encouraging mediocriacy by being an average person myself? Let's be honest, I haven't really achieved anything great in life, so maybe deep down I am okay with average performance from my kid. I also have started wondering if I need to ask her opinion about everything in stead of saddling her with mine? And finally the moot question: do I really, really need to be her friend instead of a parent?
If the book is making me think, you can be rest assured, it is a good book. However, I suspect it will appeal only to the parents. Grab your copy now, if you haven't already read it.
It made me think of the shoddy job I am doing as a mother. I am not making my daughter practice Violin or Piano (or even Casio) for six hours everyday (it is amazing Amy didn't have a nervous breakdown herself!!). Though an above average kid, my daughter does sometime get A- or even B+ and no, I don't recall fainting at the sight of her report card. I don't go in depression if her teacher tells me that she talks a lot (this is the usual complaint). I even let her watch TV everyday and the day there is a Harry Potter movie, she has the license to eat dinner before TV and not on dinning table. She reads Percy Jackson besides some classics that I insist on.
Though I am mid-way the book, I have started wondering if I am too mild as a mother. Is it possible that I don't insist on A+ all the time because I never myself consistently got them. Do I worry too much about her self esteem and don't push her to her limits? Am I encouraging mediocriacy by being an average person myself? Let's be honest, I haven't really achieved anything great in life, so maybe deep down I am okay with average performance from my kid. I also have started wondering if I need to ask her opinion about everything in stead of saddling her with mine? And finally the moot question: do I really, really need to be her friend instead of a parent?
If the book is making me think, you can be rest assured, it is a good book. However, I suspect it will appeal only to the parents. Grab your copy now, if you haven't already read it.
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