Crazy Asian moms rock!

By now you must have read Amy Chua’s controversial Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior article in Wall Street Journal. You know, the one in which the Yale Law School professor proudly boasts about calling one daughter garbage for being disrespectful and forcing another to master a piano piece by means that bother on child abuse.

Chua has reportedly received death threats for her extreme views! To be honest though, I found her hilarious and somewhat inspiring. In fact, I’m becoming a bit of a groupie.

Sure the article was a stereotypical piece exaggerated to get a response. But I think we can all see shades of our own mothers in Chua – and we turned out fine.

My mom was a milder version of Chua but nonetheless, a formidable Chinese mother who had her brood well under her control. The cane was wielded not as an empty threat but to make an impression and teach a lesson. Any challenge to her authority was neither appreciated nor acknowledged. Hurtful, so-called self-esteem damaging words were not spared. And yes, she thinks we owe her everything and she knows best.

Was any damage done? Maybe. Do I think it was a good way to raise a child? Not then since I was said child! But now that I’m a parent, I’m not so sure anymore.

It’s a flawed system, I’ll give you that, but underlying this so-called tyranny is love, really. The fact is our parents did right by us when they taught us that life is unfair, that things don’t always go your work, and if you want something bad enough, you should work for it.

I think today’s young parents could learn a thing or two from Chua about getting our balls back and showing our kids who’s the boss!