But Lulu saw it differently. “I have no friends. No one likes me,” she announced one day. “Lulu, why do you say that?” I asked anxiously. “Everyone likes you.You’re so funny and pretty.” “I’m ugly,” Lulu retorted. “And you don’t know anything. How can I have any friends? You won’t let me do anything. I […]
Entries Tagged as 'parenting'
“Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother” – Amy Chua
February 28th, 2012 · Comments Off on “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother” – Amy Chua · Uncategorized
Conquering Juliet – “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother” – Amy Chua
February 27th, 2012 · Comments Off on Conquering Juliet – “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother” – Amy Chua · China, Music, Parenting
As promised, here’s the ending of Sophia’s essay on “Conquering Juliet”: I didn’t quite understand what was happening until I found myself backstage, petrified, quaking. My hands were cold. I couldn’t remember how my piece started. An old mirror betrayed the contrast between my chalk-white face and my dark gown, and I wondered how many […]
Tags:China·Essay·Music·parenting·Performance
I Reject This Birthday Card – “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother” – Amy Chua
February 27th, 2012 · Comments Off on I Reject This Birthday Card – “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother” – Amy Chua · China, Parenting
I grabbed the (home made birthday) card again and flipped it over. I pulled out a pen from my purse and scrawled “Happy Birthday Lulu Whoopee!” I added a big sour face. “What if I gave you this for your birthday, Lulu—would you like that? But I would never do that, Lulu. No—I get you […]
He Went Back to Korea – “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother” – Amy Chua
February 26th, 2012 · Comments Off on He Went Back to Korea – “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother” – Amy Chua · China, Parenting
Once, Sophia came in second on a multiplication speed test, which her fifth-grade teacher administered every Friday. She lost to a Korean boy named Yoon-seok. Over the next week, I made Sophia do twenty practice tests (of 100 problems each) every night, with me clocking her with a stopwatch. After that, she came in first […]
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Lazy, Cowardly, Self-indulgent, and Pathetic – “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother” – Amy Chua
February 26th, 2012 · Comments Off on Lazy, Cowardly, Self-indulgent, and Pathetic – “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother” – Amy Chua · China, Parenting
Finally, the day before her lesson, Lulu announced in exasperation that she was giving up and stomped off. “Get back to the piano now,” I ordered. “You can’t make me.” “Oh yes, I can.” Back at the piano, Lulu made me pay. She punched, thrashed, and kicked. She grabbed the music score and tore it […]
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Hey Fatty—Lose Some Weight – “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother” – Amy Chua
February 25th, 2012 · Comments Off on Hey Fatty—Lose Some Weight – “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother” – Amy Chua · China, Parenting
The fact is that Chinese parents can do things that would seem unimaginable—even legally actionable—to Westerners. Chinese mothers can say to their daughters, “Hey fatty—lose some weight.” By contrast, Western parents have to tiptoe around the issue, talking in terms of “health” and never ever mentioning the f-word, and their kids still end up in […]
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Nothing is Fun Until You’re Good At It – Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother – Amy Chua
February 24th, 2012 · Comments Off on Nothing is Fun Until You’re Good At It – Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother – Amy Chua · China, Parenting
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.
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Verbatim – “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother” – Amy Chua
February 24th, 2012 · Comments Off on Verbatim – “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother” – Amy Chua · China, Parenting
According to Sophia, here are three things I actually said to her at the piano as I supervised her practicing: 1. Oh my God, you’re just getting worse and worse. 2. I’m going to count to three, then I want musicality! 3. If the next time’s not PERFECT, I’m going to TAKE ALL YOUR STUFFED […]
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Prosperity – “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother” – Amy Chua
February 24th, 2012 · Comments Off on Prosperity – “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother” – Amy Chua · China, Parenting, Quotes
There’s an old Chinese saying that “prosperity can never last for three generations. I think I actually agree with this one. At least understand it.
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The Special Olympics – “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother” – Amy Chua
February 23rd, 2012 · Comments Off on The Special Olympics – “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother” – Amy Chua · China, Parenting
When I was little, my parents had no sympathy for disabled people. In much of Asia, disabilities are seen as shameful, so when my youngest sister Cynthia was born with Down syndrome, my mother initially cried all the time, and some of my relatives encouraged us to send Cindy away to an institution in the […]
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