Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Parenting and Advocacy Why Chinese Mothers are Superior.....(WSJ article)

Hi,
I'm from a country with a Chinese majority. Yes, the moms here do push the kids very hard. I do not do that. DH and I have been resisting the pressure to do the same. It is not easy. The education system here is so competitive. It is not about doing anymore, it is about outdoing others. The fear of losing out to others, not getting into the best schools, makes many parents send their kids for tuition after school doing more math, science and languages.

For us, we believe in training our kids to have the right attitudes and good moral values the first 12 years of their lives. In the course of guiding them in their school work, we teach them work ethics, time management, task perseverance. we believe if these foundation are set right, all other things will fall nicely in place.

It has not been easy trying not to follow the Jonses. I do get jitters sometimes seeing my kids' friends going for all the expensive enrichment classes that are suppose to soup up their grades. I always remind my kids that they have to help themselves by learning to learn, pay attention in class and take every piece of homework very seriously.

Glad to say we think we have done the right thing and am very proud of our courage to have faith in our kids. Both, 14 and 11 are now very independent learners.

Thanks Sujuan, for your perspective. I agree that it is very hard to have the personal intergrity to go against the crowd, but I wanted to note

- on the other hand -

that there is an advantage to your children in having an 'overall atmousphere' of valuing academic hard work that families in the U.S. don't usually get. I think that your children have the best of both worlds.

Good Character, to whatever extent we parents can actually provide this, is, I think, the best gift we can give our children. Keep choosing what's right while you Jitter!

Love and More Love,
Grinity