Caucasian dad's answer to Tiger Mom

[mainer]

Read it and laugh:

"One useless activity some cultures foist upon their young is learning a musical instrument. Why? You don't become CEO by butchering Beethoven on a baby grand. You become CEO by stepping over colleagues after stabbing them in the back. Besides, we have Guitar Hero IV on Xbox, so we got the music thing covered.

The most important thing any parent can do is prepare their children for this digital age. To develop their tech chops, my children must play video games for two hours every evening. After that, I make them surf the Internet for two hours, with frequent BlackBerry breaks to hone their texting skills.

Do they complain? Yes, of course. "But Daddy," Captain Batman Skywalker will say after only an hour of Grand Theft Auto IV, "I want to go outside and play." "But Daddy," Princess iCarly Montana will say after only an hour on YouTube, "I want to read a book."

Do I enjoy denying my children fresh air, exercise and literature? No, I don't. But parenting isn't about giving children what they want. It's about giving them what they need. It's about preparing them for the future. It's about distracting them with electronics so you don't have to interact with them."


http://www.ottawacitizen.com/life/Caucasian+fathers+superior/4151789/story.html

[struggle4progress]

1. Why I love my strict Chinese mom (Sophia Chua-Rubenfeld)

The teenager at the center of NYC’s hottest controversy speaks out in defense of her mother
Last Updated: 11:36 AM, January 18, 2011
Posted: 11:29 PM, January 17, 2011

Dear Tiger Mom

You’ve been criticized a lot since you published your memoir ...They think .. Lulu and I are oppressed by our evil mother. That is so not true. Every other Thursday, you take off our chains and let us play math games in the basement ...

http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/why_love_my_strict_chinese_mom_uUvfmLcA5eteY0u2KXt7hM

[FedUpWithIt All]

5. This just blows my mind....

Everybody’s talking about the birthday cards we once made for you, which you rejected because they weren’t good enough. Funny how some people are convinced that Lulu and I are scarred for life. Maybe if I had poured my heart into it, I would have been upset. But let’s face it: The card was feeble, and I was busted. It took me 30 seconds; I didn’t even sharpen the pencil. That’s why, when you rejected it, I didn’t feel you were rejecting me. If I actually tried my best at something, you’d never throw it back in my face.

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/why_love_my_strict_chinese_mom_uUvfmLcA5eteY0u2KXt7hM#ixzz1C54FNwA8

Rejected birthday cards from her children?!

[FedUpWithIt All]

6. Oops. Wrong place

[immoderate]

9. It's not child abuse if they like it.

I think the key phrase in reading Chua is "...be in a school play; complain about not being in a school play;..."

Lot's of DUers, and some of my friends, have given up TV. the kid's life was structured, but apparently not beyond their capabilities, and they were appreciated.

I wouldn't raise my kids like Chua, though I strongly endorse the piano as a base for music, and music as a base for intellectual development. But as Caucasian Dad satirically points out there can be other paths to what she achieved. And I would let my son marry her daughter. She seems delightful.

Sophia Chua.

--imm

[comsymp]

10. Your son & her daughter - might suck for their eventual kids, though...

But no doubt you'd have a lock on being the favorite grandparents!

[immoderate]

12. Not if they like it. LOL.

There could be worse moms. And they would keep each other occupied. :)

OTOH, how would Chua be as a mother-in-law? :scared:

--imm

[bif]

2. Very funny!

Thanks for the laugh.

[Mz Pip]

3. That was funny

I guess I'll have to read the whole Tiger Mom article. That first paragraph was a duzy. No sleepovers? No playdates? No wonder this guy was making fun of her.

[Chimichurri]

4. Almost didn't click this - so glad I did. Very funny and most unexpected!

[FedUpWithIt All]

7. Thanks for the link.

Very humorous.

[progressoid]

8. rofl

If life were a sport in the Summer Olympics, I would win the gold medal. You would be Canada.

Read more: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/life/Caucasian+fathers+superior/4151789/story.html#ixzz1C5FgRfdP

[LisaL]

11. There is a part of truth in every joke.

Frankly, most children who are made to learn how to play a musical instrument do not end up as professional musicians. So what exactly is the point of making them to practice it for hours and hours each day?

[immoderate]

14. Control? You always know where they are?

Seriously, many things involved in intellectual organization are affected by learning a musical instrument. There's lots of documentation for this.

The purpose of learning an instrument is not to be a professional. It's to make music. I've never met anyone who can play the piano who says they wish they could forget how to do it. This is a skill that will enrich their life.

I acknowledge that this won't work for every kid. But most kids won't get to be professional video game players either.

--imm

[LisaL]

15. I am not talking about learning to play a piano.

I am talking about making the kid practice hours and hours each day. What is the point?

[immoderate]

18. Well Chua's kid played at Carnegie Hall.

I'm sure it doesn't work that way for every kid. Not all parents have the motivational skills. Not all kids have the talent or patience or perseverance. But I don't blame her for setting high goals.

Parents should have backup plans.

--imm

[mainer]

16. Mastery. That's the point.

And it always feels good to master something.

One thing about playing music -- it's something you can enjoy for the rest of your life. Unlike most team sports, which American kids spend way too much time doing.

[LisaL]

17. I remember my mother was trying to make my sister to practice the piano.

I will just say it didn't go very well. Not everybody is blessed with obedient children like the "tiger mother."

[Ikonoklast]

21. Mastery. That's the point.

My poor daughter who is a gifted athlete that got a free ride for her college education because she excelled at one of those team sports American kids spend way too much time doing would agree with you.

And if you think she still doesn't play, even after her college career is now over, or won't for the rest of her life, well, you'd be wrong.

When you excel at something you tend to keep doing it.

[mainer]

22. How many 70 year olds still playing football?

vs.
how many 70 year olds still playing piano?

Individual sports I can see continuing (tennis, etc.) because whether you continue into your dotage relies on how well you yourself keep in shape and you're not dependent on a whole team of other 70-year-olds to participate.

But I've yet to see a squad of old guys tackling each other on a field.

It's nice that your daughter got a scholarship for athletics. But I still contend that mental skills (chess, music, etc.) are more likely to be enjoyed well into old age than a sport that requires young knees and hips. Even most ballerinas must retire by 50.

[xchrom]

13. Very funny! Nt

[white_wolf]

19. I'm sorry

but I think she is way too strict. I think its important for children to be able to have fun. As long as they do their homework and keep their grade up I think its important for them to hang out with friends and yes even have sleepovers. Social interaction is very important for success in life and personally and I think people should enjoy life.

[Kalyke]

20. Bi-polarism at it's least.

Neither hard-ass Mom nor dumb-ass Dad are good for children.

[CRK7376]

23. What a Hoot!

Love this posting.