Are Chinese mothers really more superior?

"Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior" by Amy Chua
The article above, printed in the Wall Street Journal on January 8, 2011, has created a firestorm of responses to the strict parenting tactics used by Amy Chua and previous Chinese Mothers before her.  When I look back on how my parents raised my siblings and I, I would say that they were pretty strict, but not a fearful way.  Although I was never spanked or ridiculed by them, I was afraid of disappointing them.  How did they do that?  They were very loving, encouraging, and nurtured us in finding our own paths in life.  Is being strict and setting boundaries such a bad thing?

Here is another take...
"In Defense of the Guilty, Ambivalent, Preoccupied Western Mom", by Ayelet Waldman

Ayelet Waldman puts it best when she writes, "Amy Chua and I both understand that our job as mothers is to be the type of tigress that each of our different cubs needs".  Thank you Amy Chua for giving us the Chinese Mother's perspective.  You can read all 8000+ reactions to Chua's article on the http://www.wsj.com/ site.

"All Joy and No Fun"...do parents really hate parenting?

A good friend, and fellow working mom, directed my attention to the article below from New York Magazine. Do you hate parenting? I wouldn't necessarily say I hate parenting. I think "hate" is too strong of a word to describe the emotionally exhausting, sleep depriving, stressful work that is only part of the act of raising children. I will say, however, that my patience for parenting sure has waned since the temperature here has risen above 105 and the dew point seems to be stuck at 55 degrees (that means it's humid here in the desert), thus keeping the kids inside and underfoot. Why don't they play together? ...Seriously..., I'm asking you all,... why won't they play together in their awesome play room?! My children are close in age -20 months apart. Many people told me when I was pregnant for the second time, so soon after my first baby, that it would be fine. They told me they would be each other's best friend. Well, they don't seem to be best friends yet - not even close. I can't leave them alone for more than 5 minutes without my daughter, the youngest, screaming in tears after my son has surely done something naughty to her. I witness them kicking, hitting, biting, and sitting on each other all the time. Tears are aplenty around here...most often it being the kids who are crying. On the other hand, my son is the only one who can make my daughter laugh...like real deep down belly laugh. It's those moments, and of course, many, many, many others that bring me the most joy and confirm that having kids is worth all the work...dark circles under my eyes included.

All Joy and No Fun