“Parenting is the hardest thing I have ever done. I tried to find the balance between the strict, traditional Chinese way I was raised, which I think can be too harsh, and what I see as a tendency in the West to be too permissive and indulgent. If I could do it all again, I would, with some adjustments.” IfsThinkingWayDoneBalanceWestRaisedHardestTraditionalTendenciesChineseIf I CouldHarshStrictHardest ThingAdjustment Author:Amy Chua
“I think there are many ways to raise great kids. From what I can tell, Ayelet Waldman's kids are interesting, strong, and happy, and if that's the case, that's good parenting.” IfsThinkingWayI CanKidsStrongInterestingCasesRaisesGood ParentGood Parenting Author:Amy Chua
“Western parents try to respect their children’s individuality, encouraging them to pursue their true passions, supporting their choices, and providing positive reinforcement and a nurturing environment. By contrast, the Chinese believe that the best way to protect their children is by preparing them for the future, letting them see what they’re capable of, and arming them with skills, work habits, and inner confidence that no one can ever take away.” WayTryingBelieveChildrenChoicesPassionParentEnvironmentHabitProtectSkillsCapableWesternIndividualityBest WayPursueChineseContrastProvidingPreparingNurturingReinforcementTrue PassionWork HabitsPositive Reinforcement Author:Amy Chua
“I was raised, myself, by extremely strict but also extremely loving Chinese immigrant parents. To this day, I believe that their having high expectations for me, coupled with love, was the greatest gift that anyone's ever given me. And so that's why, even though my husband is not Chinese, I try to raise my own two daughters the same way.” WayTryingBelieveTwoMotherGivenI BelieveParentMy OwnHusbandExpectationsDaughterRaisesRaisedChineseImmigrantsMy HusbandThis DayStrictGreatest GiftsHigh ExpectationsTwo DaughtersImmigrant Parents Author:Amy Chua
“Genghis Khan decreed religious tolerance for all of his conquered peoples. So I think he definitely would approve of our constitutional protections of freedom of religion. I think he would also approve of the way the U.S. has been able to attract talented people from all over the world.” PeopleThinkingWorldWayHas BeensAbleReligiousProtectionToleranceFreedom Of ReligionReligious Tolerance Author:Amy Chua
“Once you get to the Enlightenment, the way that powers get to be hyperpowers isn't just by conquest. It's through commerce and innovation. Societies like the Dutch Republic and the United States used tolerance to become a magnet for enterprising immigrants.” WayStatesUsedUnitedUnited StatesEnlightenmentInnovationToleranceImmigrantsRepublicCommerceConquestDutchMagnetEnterprising Author:Amy Chua
“Tiger parenting is all about raising independent, creative, courageous kids. In America today, there's a dangerous tendency to romanticize creativity in a way that may undermine it.” WayMayKidsTodayAmericaCreativityCreativeDangerousIndependentTendenciesCourageousTigersAmerica Today Author:Amy Chua
“Westerners often laud their children as 'talented' or 'gifted', while Asian parents highlight the importance of hard work. And in fact, research performed by Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck has found that the way parents offer approval affects the way children perform, even the way they feel about themselves.” WayFeelsChildrenHardFactsFoundParentHard WorkOffersResearchImportanceApprovalGiftedAsianPsychologistHighlightsCarolsWesternersStanford Author:Amy Chua
“When I'm not the Tiger Mom, I'm a professor at Yale Law School, and if one thing is clear to me from years of teaching, it's that there are many ways to produce fabulous kids. I have amazing students; some of them have strict parents, others have lenient parents, and many come from family situations that defy easy description.” IfsWayYearsKidsSchoolLawEasyParentSituationClearOne ThingTeachingStudentsProduceMomDescriptionProfessorsStrictTigersFabulousLaw SchoolYaleLenient Author:Amy Chua
“I worry that by losing my temper so much and being so harsh and yelling so much that, by example, I will have taught my daughters to be that way, and I'm now constantly telling them not to do that.” WayMotherWorryExampleTaughtLosingDaughterMy DaughterTemperHarshYelling Author:Amy Chua
