Written by Bethany & Deb Lew
Tiger Mom and Her Cub is AsAmNews' new monthly column.I'm Bethany Liu
Also known as Tiger Cub. I'm a sophomore in high school in California.
Tiger mom. My mother was born in New York and raised in a small town in the South.
Carolina has immigrant parents. My grandparents came to live in America.
The American dream, and they expected her to follow the path they had set for her.
Turnip:
My mother graduated at the top of her class and went on to university, so she feels a lot of Tiger pressure.
Graduated from Duke in engineering and Stanford University in business school. she is sitting on the board
I worked for a nonprofit and wrote a book. She is the CEO of a large company.she did everything
My grandparents wanted that, and now they want the same for me.
In addition to extracurriculars, you are expected to earn straight A's in all honors and AP classes. I practice for the ACT on the weekends, but my mom complains that I started in 10th grade.
Not 8th place like my brother who got a perfect score. her mother is talking about
I never got less than an A in high school, but I complain about my two B's.she
I remember that I had a dream of becoming an engineer.I don't know what I want to do, but I do
Engineering is definitely not for me.
I have a different outlook on life than her, we both
As a product of my generation and as a result of the culture I was raised in.
My mother believes that the path to success is very narrow and tough.
Then I think there is another way.I don't think this path is suitable for me
everyone. Not everyone is interested in books and suited for an academic environment.
College.
There's value in encouraging people to chase their dreams, even if that's not the goal.
parents' dreams.There is more than one path to success in life.
everyone. People can arrive at the same place through various journeys,
Sometimes passion and fun are more important than material things.each
We have different definitions of what a successful life looks like, and I believe
We believe that modern parenting should reflect this concept.
My mother is against this, e.g.
My mother forced me to play the piano for seven years, but she only let me quit after my teacher had almost given up on me.I don't think the piano has really changed.
I don't think it added anything but stress to my life.
mother:
The purpose of piano is not an end in itself, but to teach continuous learning.
Something that takes a long time. True expertise is
Patience and diligence, important skills for the future.life is not like that
It's easy to learn to persevere even when things are difficult.
Valuable skills gained.
Turnip:
Acknowledge disagreement.I don't think forced piano lessons are the only way to teach
These skills.allow someone to learn to endure something of themselves
Being passionate is much more valuable than forcing someone to continue
Playing an instrument that you are not interested in.
mother:
Remember what that experience taught you other than hatred for your mother?
I'll nag you. Even if you don't feel close to it,
That you can learn. It taught me that with enough time and patience, you can:
Be able to do anything, even if it's not something you would have chosen.
Turnip:
To be honest, I don't think I would have chosen the piano on my own, but in the end I ended up choosing the piano.
Learn something, but I wish it didn't take you seven years to yell at me.
I'll do that.
We started this column to help others who are experiencing mother-child tension.I
I hope it will also help improve our relationship.
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