parenting...

it is apparent... I am a parent
it is a pleasure... it is a pain

it is not as easy as I thought it would be
even with its difficulties I enjoy it

my children are a joy to me
if you know me... you know this

there is a buzz going around about this author of a book; Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by A
my Chua


NPR: Tiger Mothers: Raising Children the Chinese Way
www.npr.org

Wall Street Journal (WSJ): Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior

http://online.wsj.com


although I did not agree with her tactics... she does get results
here is an excerpt from the WSJ article that I agreed with


"What Chinese parents understand is that nothing is fun until you're good at it. To get good at anything you have to work, and children on their own never want to work, which is why it is crucial to override their preferences. This often requires fortitude on the part of the parents because the child will resist; things are always hardest at the beginning, which is where Western parents tend to give up. But if done properly, the Chinese strategy produce
s a virtuous circle. Tenacious practice, practice, practice is crucial for excellence; rote repetition is underrated in America. 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."