Amy Chua/Tiger Mom, "Didn't Expect this Level of Intensity!" 1/26/2011

Growing up, I always did what my parents (especially my mom) wanted me to do. I played piano, I got good grades, I volunteered at the hospital. My mom told me what college I should go to, she picked out my major. And I blindly went along with it. She even applied for a job at her hospital on my "behalf", despite knowing that I wasn't sure I wanted to work. But I went for the interview and I got the job. By sophomore year I was burnt out. Between the 15 credit hrs and 40 hr work weeks I didn't have time to do much else. What was I even doing? I didn't want to be a doctor, I decided I was done listening to my mom. I changed my major and my job. I finally know what I want to do with my life, and when I think about my future, it's without the pit in my stomach. But sometimes she'll say things like "we need to start looking at graduate schools". No. This. Is. My. Life.

Asian parents are very loving but what they lack is empathy. They do everything for you but do not really understand how you feel.

"Birds born in a cage think flying is an illness." -Alejandro Jodorowsky

My mum was everything this woman described in her book and a lot more. She administered a mandatory daily dose of beatings as well. I used to have bruises and cuts on parts of my body that could be hidden away under clothing like my torso and upper thighs. Once things got out of hand and I had cuts on my left forearm which festered. That was when my teacher had a talk with my mum. It was the 1980s so she was let off with a warning. From then on, she was extra careful not to leave any marks on parts of body not covered by clothing in public spaces. I grew up getting outstanding grades that made national headlines. I got degrees from top universities. I eventually ran away from my mum but I am forever damaged and suffer from severe PTSD and mental health problems as I grow older.

My mom was not strict, but that forced me to hold myself responsible for planning my time and getting things done. Not having her breathing down my back while I did homework helped me get really good at motivating myself. I'm so grateful for my mom.

My dad used to be a tiger parent but when his children go through bullying at school to the point of depression and also some of us started showing signs of rebelling and were like "bitch we won't hesitate to run away" he started to soften lol. For our own mental health, we started to forcefully eliminate any kind of fear we have towards him.

Asian mom: "You Doctor yet" Asian son: "paused" Asian mom: "Ok, talk to me when you doctor"

Their perception of children are more like trophies to them rather than a life form with emotions and feelings

"Dont assume your child is weak.." Totally agree with it.

I will never forgive Amy Chua for wanting to burn the doll's house of her daughter just because she refused to practice piano THAT long

I am Asian parent, this lady is crazy.

i like how the interviewer was lowkey throwing shade LMAOO and amy chua's like: I care about my kids :) i don't care about a's :) and the interviewer is like: .....really bitch :/

I can't believe anything she say. Her face is so unsettling

There has to be a balance. You definitely don't want to be to lenient like a lot of western parents, but being overly strict may cause your child to resent you and they may go wild once they hit 18. My parents were strict and till this day I don't really have a loving relationship with them.

The book was about her journey trying to implement tiger mom parenting to her kids and finally learning from it and learning how to humble herself and listen to her children. Most of the judgements about her being "abusive" or too strict referred to those times she had done in the past. It's much harder to judge now because she's probably changed by those experiences. And I too had ill judgements against her while first reading her book. But then I realized that she had no ill intentions and basing it from her perspective, she was trying her best. I'm just happy that towards the end, she learned something from her kids.

One only needs to hear Amy Chua's account of getting her daughter to play a piano piece to know what an abusive mother she is. She even abuses her husband, calling him weak because he tries to protect his daughter from her sadistic bullying, but clearly the father left his balls on the altar. As punishment for not playing a piano piece perfectly, Amu Chua spent the entire evening shouting at her daughter until she was hoarse; she would not let her eat, or go to the bathroom. The supposed victory of the daughter finally playing the piece correctly and being really happy is merely the relief of a child whose mother has stopped shouting at her and may allow her to eat and sleep.  Anybody who thinks this somehow represents great parenting needs to go get some therapy and read up on Adverse Childhood Experiences and see where they lead. When 500 Chinese school students commit suicide each year it doesn't take a genius to see that this method of parenting is cruel, destructive and doesn't work. A wall full of certificates and prizes is surely bitter comfort for mothers like Amy Chuan whose children killed themselves rather than face another day being her little obedient trophy doll.

"I didn't expect this level of intensity" ....ummm really? As an educated person as herself, making an unscientific assertive subjective opinion didn't expected intensity? I'm glad she's not my mum, unfortunately my mum was like that!

this chopped this interview up completely. wth ? and did you hear when the mom was trying to express her sympathy for children raised with "tiger parents" the interviewer immediately changed the subject to put her back on the defensive and describe her as a bad person. too biased for me 

Ultimately, the little tigers tiger moms raised turn out to be made of paper. Being smart and getting good grades are important. But too many Asians grew up socially awkward and totally lacking in interpersonal skills and in the world of big business out there, that is a skill that is indispensable and that is where their white counterparts will climb ahead of them.

Amy Chua always has a great response to every question