tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56842181528350697902024-02-20T15:54:35.553-08:00Anonymous 6th GraderMichael Weisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00296754758111928693noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684218152835069790.post-68129809726943748252011-01-11T14:34:00.000-08:002011-01-11T14:36:00.019-08:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">THIS IS NUTS!! I FEEL SPOILED AND AT THE SAME TIME REALLY REALLY DUMB. ALSO I FEEL <i>LUCKY!!!!!!</i></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">Can a regimen of no playdates, no TV, no computer games and hours of</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">music practice create happy kids? And what happens when they fight</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">back?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">By AMY CHUA</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">Wall Street Journal, January 8, 2011</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">A lot of people wonder how Chinese parents raise such stereotypically</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">successful kids. They wonder what these parents do to produce so many</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">math whizzes and music prodigies, what it's like inside the family,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">and whether they could do it too. Well, I can tell them, because I've</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">done it. Here are some things my daughters, Sophia and Louisa, were</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">never allowed to do:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">• attend a sleepover</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">• have a playdate</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">• be in a school play</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">• complain about not being in a school play</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">• watch TV or play computer games</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">• choose their own extracurricular activities</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">• get any grade less than an A</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">• not be the No. 1 student in every subject except gym and drama</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">• play any instrument other than the piano or violin</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">• not play the piano or violin.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">I'm using the term "Chinese mother" loosely. I know some Korean,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">Indian, Jamaican, Irish and Ghanaian parents who qualify too.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">Conversely, I know some mothers of Chinese heritage, almost always</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">born in the West, who are not Chinese mothers, by choice or otherwise.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">I'm also using the term "Western parents" loosely. Western parents</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">come in all varieties.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">When it comes to parenting, the Chinese seem to produce children who</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">display academic excellence, musical mastery and professional success</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">- or so the stereotype goes. WSJ's Christina Tsuei speaks to two moms</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">raised by Chinese immigrants who share what it was like growing up and</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">how they hope to raise their children.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">All the same, even when Western parents think they're being strict,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">they usually don't come close to being Chinese mothers. For example,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">my Western friends who consider themselves strict make their children</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">practice their instruments 30 minutes every day. An hour at most. For</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">a Chinese mother, the first hour is the easy part. It's hours two and</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">three that get tough.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">Despite our squeamishness about cultural stereotypes, there are tons</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">of studies out there showing marked and quantifiable differences</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">between Chinese and Westerners when it comes to parenting. In one</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">study of 50 Western American mothers and 48 Chinese immigrant mothers,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">almost 70% of the Western mothers said either that "stressing academic</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">success is not good for children" or that "parents need to foster the</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">idea that learning is fun." By contrast, roughly 0% of the Chinese</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">mothers felt the same way. Instead, the vast majority of the Chinese</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">mothers said that they believe their children can be "the best"</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">students, that "academic achievement reflects successful parenting,"</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">and that if children did not excel at school then there was "a</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">problem" and parents "were not doing their job." Other studies</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">indicate that compared to Western parents, Chinese parents spend</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">approximately 10 times as long every day drilling academic activities</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">with their children. By contrast, Western kids are more likely to</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">participate in sports teams.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">What Chinese parents understand is that nothing is fun until you're</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">good at it. To get good at anything you have to work, and children on</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">their own never want to work, which is why it is crucial to override</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">their preferences. This often requires fortitude on the part of the</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">parents because the child will resist; things are always hardest at</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">the beginning, which is where Western parents tend to give up. But if</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">done properly, the Chinese strategy produces a virtuous circle.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">Tenacious practice, practice, practice is crucial for excellence; rote</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">repetition is underrated in America. Once a child starts to excel at</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">something—whether it's math, piano, pitching or ballet—he or she gets</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">praise, admiration and satisfaction. This builds confidence and makes</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">the once not-fun activity fun. This in turn makes it easier for the</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">parent to get the child to work even more.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">Chinese parents can get away with things that Western parents can't.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">Once when I was young—maybe more than once—when I was extremely</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">disrespectful to my mother, my father angrily called me "garbage" in</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">our native Hokkien dialect. It worked really well. I felt terrible and</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">deeply ashamed of what I had done. But it didn't damage my self-esteem</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">or anything like that. I knew exactly how highly he thought of me. I</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">didn't actually think I was worthless or feel like a piece of garbage.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">As an adult, I once did the same thing to Sophia, calling her garbage</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">in English when she acted extremely disrespectfully toward me. When I</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">mentioned that I had done this at a dinner party, I was immediately</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">ostracized. One guest named Marcy got so upset she broke down in tears</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">and had to leave early. My friend Susan, the host, tried to</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">rehabilitate me with the remaining guests.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">The fact is that Chinese parents can do things that would seem</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">unimaginable—</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><wbr style="line-height: 1.22em;"></wbr></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">even legally actionable—to Westerners. Chinese mothers</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">can say to their daughters, "Hey fatty—lose some weight." By contrast,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">Western parents have to tiptoe around the issue, talking in terms of</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">"health" and never ever mentioning the f-word, and their kids still</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">end up in therapy for eating disorders and negative self-image. (I</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">also once heard a Western father toast his adult daughter by calling</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">her "beautiful and incredibly competent." She later told me that made</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">her feel like garbage.)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">Chinese parents can order their kids to get straight As. Western</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">parents can only ask their kids to try their best. Chinese parents can</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">say, "You're lazy. All your classmates are getting ahead of you." By</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">contrast, Western parents have to struggle with their own conflicted</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">feelings about achievement, and try to persuade themselves that</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">they're not disappointed about how their kids turned out.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">I've thought long and hard about how Chinese parents can get away with</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">what they do. I think there are three big differences between the</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">Chinese and Western parental mind-sets.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">First, I've noticed that Western parents are extremely anxious about</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">their children's self-esteem. They worry about how their children will</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">feel if they fail at something, and they constantly try to reassure</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">their children about how good they are notwithstanding a mediocre</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">performance on a test or at a recital. In other words, Western parents</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">are concerned about their children's psyches. Chinese parents aren't.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">They assume strength, not fragility, and as a result they behave very</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">differently.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">For example, if a child comes home with an A-minus on a test, a</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">Western parent will most likely praise the child. The Chinese mother</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">will gasp in horror and ask what went wrong. If the child comes home</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">with a B on the test, some Western parents will still praise the</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">child. Other Western parents will sit their child down and express</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">disapproval, but they will be careful not to make their child feel</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">inadequate or insecure, and they will not call their child "stupid,"</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">"worthless" or "a disgrace." Privately, the Western parents may worry</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">that their child does not test well or have aptitude in the subject or</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">that there is something wrong with the curriculum and possibly the</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">whole school. If the child's grades do not improve, they may</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">eventually schedule a meeting with the school principal to challenge</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">the way the subject is being taught or to call into question the</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">teacher's credentials.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">If a Chinese child gets a B—which would never happen—there would first</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">be a screaming, hair-tearing explosion. The devastated Chinese mother</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">would then get dozens, maybe hundreds of practice tests and work</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">through them with her child for as long as it takes to get the grade</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">up to an A.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">Chinese parents demand perfect grades because they believe that their</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">child can get them. If their child doesn't get them, the Chinese</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">parent assumes it's because the child didn't work hard enough. That's</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">why the solution to substandard performance is always to excoriate,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">punish and shame the child. The Chinese parent believes that their</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">child will be strong enough to take the shaming and to improve from</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">it. (And when Chinese kids do excel, there is plenty of ego-inflating</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">parental praise lavished in the privacy of the home.)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">Second, Chinese parents believe that their kids owe them everything.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">The reason for this is a little unclear, but it's probably a</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">combination of Confucian filial piety and the fact that the parents</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">have sacrificed and done so much for their children. (And it's true</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">that Chinese mothers get in the trenches, putting in long grueling</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">hours personally tutoring, training, interrogating and spying on their</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">kids.) Anyway, the understanding is that Chinese children must spend</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">their lives repaying their parents by obeying them and making them</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">proud.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">By contrast, I don't think most Westerners have the same view of</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">children being permanently indebted to their parents. My husband, Jed,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">actually has the opposite view. "Children don't choose their parents,"</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">he once said to me. "They don't even choose to be born. It's parents</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">who foist life on their kids, so it's the parents' responsibility to</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">provide for them. Kids don't owe their parents anything. Their duty</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">will be to their own kids." This strikes me as a terrible deal for the</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">Western parent.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">Third, Chinese parents believe that they know what is best for their</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">children and therefore override all of their children's own desires</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">and preferences. That's why Chinese daughters can't have boyfriends in</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">high school and why Chinese kids can't go to sleepaway camp. It's also</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">why no Chinese kid would ever dare say to their mother, "I got a part</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">in the school play! I'm Villager Number Six. I'll have to stay after</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">school for rehearsal every day from 3:00 to 7:00, and I'll also need a</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">ride on weekends." God help any Chinese kid who tried that one.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">Don't get me wrong: It's not that Chinese parents don't care about</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">their children. Just the opposite. They would give up anything for</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">their children. It's just an entirely different parenting model.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">Here's a story in favor of coercion, Chinese-style. Lulu was about 7,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">still playing two instruments, and working on a piano piece called</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">"The Little White Donkey" by the French composer Jacques Ibert. The</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">piece is really cute—you can just imagine a little donkey ambling</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">along a country road with its master—but it's also incredibly</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">difficult for young players because the two hands have to keep</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">schizophrenically different rhythms.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">Lulu couldn't do it. We worked on it nonstop for a week, drilling each</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">of her hands separately, over and over. But whenever we tried putting</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">the hands together, one always morphed into the other, and everything</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">fell apart. Finally, the day before her lesson, Lulu announced in</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">exasperation that she was giving up and stomped off.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">"Get back to the piano now," I ordered.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">"You can't make me."</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">"Oh yes, I can."</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">Back at the piano, Lulu made me pay. She punched, thrashed and kicked.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">She grabbed the music score and tore it to shreds. I taped the score</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">back together and encased it in a plastic shield so that it could</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">never be destroyed again. Then I hauled Lulu's dollhouse to the car</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">and told her I'd donate it to the Salvation Army piece by piece if she</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">didn't have "The Little White Donkey" perfect by the next day. When</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">Lulu said, "I thought you were going to the Salvation Army, why are</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">you still here?" I threatened her with no lunch, no dinner, no</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">Christmas or Hanukkah presents, no birthday parties for two, three,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">four years. When she still kept playing it wrong, I told her she was</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">purposely working herself into a frenzy because she was secretly</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">afraid she couldn't do it. I told her to stop being lazy, cowardly,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">self-indulgent and pathetic.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">Jed took me aside. He told me to stop insulting Lulu—which I wasn't</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">even doing, I was just motivating her—and that he didn't think</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">threatening Lulu was helpful. Also, he said, maybe Lulu really just</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">couldn't do the technique—perhaps she didn't have the coordination</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">yet—had I considered that possibility?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">"You just don't believe in her," I accused.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">"That's ridiculous," Jed said scornfully. "Of course I do."</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">"Sophia could play the piece when she was this age."</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">"But Lulu and Sophia are different people," Jed pointed out.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">"Oh no, not this," I said, rolling my eyes. "Everyone is special in</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">their special own way," I mimicked sarcastically. "Even losers are</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">special in their own special way. Well don't worry, you don't have to</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">lift a finger. I'm willing to put in as long as it takes, and I'm</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">happy to be the one hated. And you can be the one they adore because</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">you make them pancakes and take them to Yankees games."</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">I rolled up my sleeves and went back to Lulu. I used every weapon and</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">tactic I could think of. We worked right through dinner into the</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">night, and I wouldn't let Lulu get up, not for water, not even to go</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">to the bathroom. The house became a war zone, and I lost my voice</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">yelling, but still there seemed to be only negative progress, and even</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">I began to have doubts.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">Then, out of the blue, Lulu did it. Her hands suddenly came</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">together—her right and left hands each doing their own imperturbable</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">thing—just like that.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">Lulu realized it the same time I did. I held my breath. She tried it</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">tentatively again. Then she played it more confidently and faster, and</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">still the rhythm held. A moment later, she was beaming.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">"Mommy, look—it's easy!" After that, she wanted to play the piece over</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">and over and wouldn't leave the piano. That night, she came to sleep</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">in my bed, and we snuggled and hugged, cracking each other up. When</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">she performed "The Little White Donkey" at a recital a few weeks</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">later, parents came up to me and said, "What a perfect piece for</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">Lulu—it's so spunky and so her."</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">Even Jed gave me credit for that one. Western parents worry a lot</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">about their children's self-esteem. But as a parent, one of the worst</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">things you can do for your child's self-esteem is to let them give up.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">On the flip side, there's nothing better for building confidence than</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">learning you can do something you thought you couldn't.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">There are all these new books out there portraying Asian mothers as</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">scheming, callous, overdriven people indifferent to their kids' true</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">interests. For their part, many Chinese secretly believe that they</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">care more about their children and are willing to sacrifice much more</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">for them than Westerners, who seem perfectly content to let their</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">children turn out badly. I think it's a misunderstanding on both</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">sides. All decent parents want to do what's best for their children.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">The Chinese just have a totally different idea of how to do that.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">Western parents try to respect their children's individuality,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">encouraging them to pursue their true passions, supporting their</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">choices, and providing positive reinforcement and a nurturing</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">environment. By contrast, the Chinese believe that the best way to</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">protect their children is by preparing them for the future, letting</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">them see what they're capable of, and arming them with skills, work</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">habits and inner confidence that no one can ever take away.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">—Amy Chua is a professor at Yale Law School and author of "Day of</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">Empire" and "World on Fire: How Exporting Free Market Democracy Breeds</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">Ethnic Hatred and Global Instability.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><wbr style="line-height: 1.22em;"></wbr></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">" This essay is excerpted from</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">"Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother" by Amy Chua, to be published Tuesday</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">by the Penguin Press, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. Copyright ©</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><br style="line-height: 1.22em;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">2011 by Amy Chua.</span>Michael Weisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00296754758111928693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684218152835069790.post-21079466416533915982011-01-03T04:49:00.000-08:002011-01-03T04:49:48.140-08:00I WENT TO VIRGINIA OVER BREAK<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMHtcQ9gRD8ZtnRItF_uYpVHvls2S9kiskevX9bLOto0IepKMpnQcGpLA-y72imCM0sJjnGlGSijaecOXxaOTM4GfOsg9mp9eOLYSNEY5OIgqPPWse1eDCCi021MuRkLITfT0pHU7n4Fyo/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMHtcQ9gRD8ZtnRItF_uYpVHvls2S9kiskevX9bLOto0IepKMpnQcGpLA-y72imCM0sJjnGlGSijaecOXxaOTM4GfOsg9mp9eOLYSNEY5OIgqPPWse1eDCCi021MuRkLITfT0pHU7n4Fyo/s1600/images.jpeg" /></a></div>i went to this really cool arcimboldo exhibit in dc and i saw this...<br />
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its my favorite because its the four seasons... can you tell which is which?Michael Weisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00296754758111928693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684218152835069790.post-54954938508839944112010-12-28T11:38:00.000-08:002010-12-28T11:38:24.162-08:00I AM ON WINTER BREAK!!!!!yay! all i've done is eat and lie on the couch with my dog reading! <b>YAY! </b>i've read <i>Each Little Bird That Sings, The Unfinished Angel, Love, Stargirl, (</i>the sequel to <i>Stargirl) and Out of my Mind. </i>wow i'm lazy!<br />
December 28th 2010<br />
from my Dad's laptop<br />
<br />
TO ALL READERS OUT THERE:<br />
<br />
Do you have any suggestions?<br />
<br />
Your loving poster,<br />
<i>Anonymous 6th Grader</i><br />
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<i><br />
</i>Michael Weisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00296754758111928693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684218152835069790.post-85490322364965334922010-12-12T14:02:00.000-08:002010-12-12T14:02:14.558-08:00BANANASbananas are so good and gushy and a perfect way to celebrate randomness!!!<div>(i will not take credit for this awesome idea i just found it http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://mytko.org/random/banana.jpg&imgrefurl=http://random.mytko.org/2007/02/go-bananas.html&usg=__IBuAEoM8dpV5Um8lPuakLa6x0TU=&h=375&w=500&sz=54&hl=la&start=0&sig2=2PLp_Lv1yDKGnZn0dxaPFA&zoom=1&tbnid=UVeuWBnds3ZUpM:&tbnh=142&tbnw=178&ei=EkYFTe-tCoGClAeWiJTkCQ&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbanana%26um%3D1%26hl%3Dla%26client%3Dsafari%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Den%26biw%3D1295%26bih%3D730%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=928&vpy=377&dur=613&hovh=190&hovw=253&tx=119&ty=134&oei=EkYFTe-tCoGClAeWiJTkCQ&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=26&ved=1t:429,r:17,s:0)</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ODB2Q0c9-9Tvs_Ezrxhv6TYicCyAgjbgmHIRBmturirf-syaRYgr1MzGmBGeYbobA1wUy9RPLERScmytnqYlGN-XNiLD0mRaeBYu4z0J8VDPGhLcjRvd1nbVdnyuBuWeKx4tQhhrNTqR/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ODB2Q0c9-9Tvs_Ezrxhv6TYicCyAgjbgmHIRBmturirf-syaRYgr1MzGmBGeYbobA1wUy9RPLERScmytnqYlGN-XNiLD0mRaeBYu4z0J8VDPGhLcjRvd1nbVdnyuBuWeKx4tQhhrNTqR/s1600/images.jpeg" /></a></div><div><br />
</div>Michael Weisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00296754758111928693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684218152835069790.post-19609774157969855952010-11-07T07:47:00.000-08:002010-11-07T07:47:08.951-08:00IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRDNlMTwvSvbEVqViP6j_KCoj8ekh-yuvJxjOrJZUgz_Qhd9njr4JJXmbsQ6mNLc5Ix-dCHsZbrVc7_fAAPLnz9aXrzFmmTXxPDt8LY0ZXw62oePiCF3dA536_Nlw4qHDW16Qib8uwFQdU/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRDNlMTwvSvbEVqViP6j_KCoj8ekh-yuvJxjOrJZUgz_Qhd9njr4JJXmbsQ6mNLc5Ix-dCHsZbrVc7_fAAPLnz9aXrzFmmTXxPDt8LY0ZXw62oePiCF3dA536_Nlw4qHDW16Qib8uwFQdU/s1600/images.jpeg" /></a></div>IT'S MY BIRTHDAY HOORAY!!!!Michael Weisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00296754758111928693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684218152835069790.post-49041259329045001852010-10-29T19:13:00.000-07:002010-10-29T19:13:15.728-07:00HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfJbSC00gXN-ww7QVYbkY82NDTr9D-pqiXl2z3jExPS_ydr3EnPbo2_Hcsz4wNoxWhqs9LiSoiDuC2iRmSf8boW3Zm-H9_VdiBjS5ArFLmGmO7mEoO3Y5kz7R8POsDdh6iUpgf9lPe35uE/s1600/DownloadedFile.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfJbSC00gXN-ww7QVYbkY82NDTr9D-pqiXl2z3jExPS_ydr3EnPbo2_Hcsz4wNoxWhqs9LiSoiDuC2iRmSf8boW3Zm-H9_VdiBjS5ArFLmGmO7mEoO3Y5kz7R8POsDdh6iUpgf9lPe35uE/s1600/DownloadedFile.jpeg" /></a></div><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukFv5UkUvNA">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukFv5UkUvNA</a>Michael Weisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00296754758111928693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684218152835069790.post-76488757081324057392010-10-16T15:22:00.000-07:002010-10-16T15:22:10.017-07:00YIPEE!YEAH I GOT THREE FOLLOWERS!!!!!!!Michael Weisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00296754758111928693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684218152835069790.post-63478383438150694132010-10-11T07:52:00.000-07:002010-10-11T07:52:10.723-07:00YEAH!Yeah I get waffles 4 breakfast!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN58rMFWgbcTFDl9VChnyNKP6hUaba7pXpICIeKVDASAokodTyPSdgEHmIdiqsnWbYG4OJ17kZTObyb1Bo1HH2KSGKWqGLwPrR0ToddeVnc-YxxXctfVUrn6pPxsoPUT6ZVxkFTSFxjJoE/s1600/images-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN58rMFWgbcTFDl9VChnyNKP6hUaba7pXpICIeKVDASAokodTyPSdgEHmIdiqsnWbYG4OJ17kZTObyb1Bo1HH2KSGKWqGLwPrR0ToddeVnc-YxxXctfVUrn6pPxsoPUT6ZVxkFTSFxjJoE/s1600/images-1.jpeg" /></a></div>Michael Weisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00296754758111928693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684218152835069790.post-66600211764309018862010-10-11T07:47:00.000-07:002010-10-11T07:47:21.468-07:00OMG I SLEPT IN!!!OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG I SLEPT UNTIL 10:30 2DAY!!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIE93LZx592OzMI2K1lf_NblJfPzRakhJypVf7L7QtbEQ1Tcy9PzD2p6icGA88BMIuv0z9horHkqaXTWqqMX9SzgPUwoLHVKMloeGuO1glHQogmckr4Hv3DWVpiXYTDHoaoWEQn7INpu2k/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIE93LZx592OzMI2K1lf_NblJfPzRakhJypVf7L7QtbEQ1Tcy9PzD2p6icGA88BMIuv0z9horHkqaXTWqqMX9SzgPUwoLHVKMloeGuO1glHQogmckr4Hv3DWVpiXYTDHoaoWEQn7INpu2k/s320/images.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>Michael Weisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00296754758111928693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684218152835069790.post-20910056749355447642010-10-09T05:51:00.000-07:002010-10-09T05:51:49.623-07:00Happy Birthday John LennonYou may notice as you google things or go on youtube that the 'o' has taken a peculiar shape. This shape is John Lennon. Today, October 9th 2010, is his 70th birthday. Take time to remember him. Listen to one of his songs or just simply think about that wonderful person.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh2IuxoPYZBDLX_CnF2PYjeeEhXVEDnQTe1MKP5TpSSn8d9P05ldGE0CCQZJ5__NkggEHZsG3p3Cx3rfUStAbQAyT3jetwMTdr3TdsQg2NjAZRgzX5ffVXzbR9-co0AnVJ9oCS5iFAbC-y/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh2IuxoPYZBDLX_CnF2PYjeeEhXVEDnQTe1MKP5TpSSn8d9P05ldGE0CCQZJ5__NkggEHZsG3p3Cx3rfUStAbQAyT3jetwMTdr3TdsQg2NjAZRgzX5ffVXzbR9-co0AnVJ9oCS5iFAbC-y/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></div>Michael Weisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00296754758111928693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684218152835069790.post-50778524477238091232010-10-09T05:42:00.000-07:002010-10-09T05:44:48.556-07:00THE MILK SONG!!This is SOOOOOOOOOO cute even though I don't speak Korean! Watch it!<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIMFWRhdJD0">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIMFWRhdJD0</a><br />
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THE COWS!!! LOLMichael Weisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00296754758111928693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684218152835069790.post-1373074910744354342010-10-08T17:39:00.000-07:002010-10-08T17:39:31.683-07:00I LOVE ME!!! I LOVE ME!!!!!!! Do you love you? You should, unless your mean like my bus driver who hates my guts! If you don't love you, you must be very sad unless you're not and I can't understand why anyone would be happy if they don't love themself! So have a happy day! Make yourself happy and love you!Michael Weisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00296754758111928693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684218152835069790.post-58261107643118326582010-08-28T09:09:00.001-07:002010-08-28T09:09:19.449-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNtf32x0fZ4sKBl5RY7kCcY_2L6yPcbcnOG53EQgQGQKNhVVV7eOqqVp93ydWldGJuwu3GUAZU-37b6_GEWcMThjFOgmYE27gAwRHpOgH4k_hv1hKVlb3BCBmkWc4kmjJgjyaTHwF0wjjZ/s1600/DownloadedFile.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNtf32x0fZ4sKBl5RY7kCcY_2L6yPcbcnOG53EQgQGQKNhVVV7eOqqVp93ydWldGJuwu3GUAZU-37b6_GEWcMThjFOgmYE27gAwRHpOgH4k_hv1hKVlb3BCBmkWc4kmjJgjyaTHwF0wjjZ/s320/DownloadedFile.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>Michael Weisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00296754758111928693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684218152835069790.post-40564524527190557142010-07-07T09:40:00.000-07:002010-07-07T12:08:58.040-07:00My 8-year old friend EMMA Emma is an spunky little girl I know. I've known her since before she was born! She requested to be on my blog, so here you are EMMA!<br />
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Emma is HILARIOUS<br />
Example: Along time ago I was at Emma's house and she was playing with a toy screw-driver. Emma was pretending to screw almost everything in the house. "Screw the table, screw the couch, screw the chair", she chirruped. With the screw-driver still in hand Emma pranced up to her mother, a sweet smile on her face. Emma lifted the screw-driver and said "SCREW YOU MUMMY!"Michael Weisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00296754758111928693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684218152835069790.post-6662626724949513902010-07-04T12:34:00.000-07:002010-07-04T12:34:15.538-07:00Attention Beatle-Fans!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvysWm_rNw16CwNdNkiuP8QompbnIuhtpsNHulsIxYPV4G9lMJpH2-uo7eiKSIGvJawacaFeIRlz5q5ABUUtEP230sxEAEhntsWlAhDnnjOno2yartJAajGSNGfEFcVOC2BFjxecRud-Uu/s1600/images-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvysWm_rNw16CwNdNkiuP8QompbnIuhtpsNHulsIxYPV4G9lMJpH2-uo7eiKSIGvJawacaFeIRlz5q5ABUUtEP230sxEAEhntsWlAhDnnjOno2yartJAajGSNGfEFcVOC2BFjxecRud-Uu/s320/images-1.jpg" width="308" /></a></div><br />
Some people say that Yoko broke up the Beatles, but can we really believe that? I am curious to find out! If you happen to share my interest please comment with some helpful info or just a thought!Michael Weisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00296754758111928693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684218152835069790.post-83685375030500534322010-07-03T12:26:00.001-07:002010-07-03T12:26:43.364-07:00Vive La Paris Review A while ago I read this great book called the Vive La Paris. It is a great book about a girl- Paris Mcray who's big brother-Michael Mcray is being beat up by a girl three years younger than himself. This girl happens to be in Paris' class, but Michael doesn't want Paris to pick a fight with her. Michael believes in the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr method of not fighting. Paris is more like Malcom X. <br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Join Paris as she and her saintly brother and crazy piano teacher make friends with an enemy!</span><br />
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</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">My Rating: 9.9</span></span></div>Michael Weisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00296754758111928693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684218152835069790.post-60749082281349591372010-07-03T12:17:00.001-07:002010-07-21T05:13:49.314-07:00LatinPiggyLatinPiggy is a really cool blog made by one of my best friends who is super cool!Michael Weisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00296754758111928693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684218152835069790.post-33975542520638552812010-06-27T15:51:00.000-07:002010-06-27T15:51:20.964-07:00I am sad!Dear Person Reading This,<br />
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I am sad and feel like my blog isn't doing well! If you like my blog please leave a comment saying what you like or think I could improve and/or become a follower if you aren't already!<br />
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If you don't like my blog please leave a comment saying what you didn't like about it and I will try to meet your needs the best I can!<br />
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Thanx alot!<br />
Anonymous 5th GraderMichael Weisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00296754758111928693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684218152835069790.post-84808586409580624122010-06-13T08:57:00.000-07:002010-06-13T08:57:41.173-07:00Secret of Kells ReviewOn June 12th I watched the <i>Secret of Kells</i>. This movie is about the creation of the Book of Kells. It has amazing artwork and beautiful colour! I loved it!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">My Rating: 9.5 </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">http://www.traileraddict.com/trailer/secret-of-kells/trailer</span>Michael Weisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00296754758111928693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684218152835069790.post-38382852559949875452010-06-13T08:52:00.000-07:002010-06-13T08:53:50.534-07:00Babies Review On the 9th of June I watched a documentary about 4 babies who live in 4 different places: Mongolia, Namibia, Japan, and America. In <i>Babies</i> you watch the babies develop and notice the differences. I liked this movie, because of the tremendous differences among the 4 tots.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">My Rating: 7.5</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vupEpNjCuY</span>Michael Weisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00296754758111928693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684218152835069790.post-1002049233645140642010-05-18T15:03:00.001-07:002010-05-18T15:03:52.346-07:00You know what REALLY bothers me? When the cover of a book has the author's name bigger than the title! UGH!! I just hate it! :(Michael Weisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00296754758111928693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684218152835069790.post-59454611237251040032010-05-18T14:17:00.000-07:002010-05-18T14:17:56.099-07:00HAPPY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYBKo2_tF2G_S7Ya9TQL071p3bjMSrUNMlDRcjJDlBe7yvSbtf5P_imSfjEubtkjq8LsXSG_k1L2Q4hQOXqNqNueHuOIwCQeuSK6eIVWm_viXA2rs-jAgJhAGgGvllyhWlzyp3fLXDVBz4/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYBKo2_tF2G_S7Ya9TQL071p3bjMSrUNMlDRcjJDlBe7yvSbtf5P_imSfjEubtkjq8LsXSG_k1L2Q4hQOXqNqNueHuOIwCQeuSK6eIVWm_viXA2rs-jAgJhAGgGvllyhWlzyp3fLXDVBz4/s320/images.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>Michael Weisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00296754758111928693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684218152835069790.post-6258185224076890192010-05-09T17:10:00.000-07:002010-05-09T17:10:44.252-07:00Why is a Raven Like a Writing Desk?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj74osI0-9o3BVT-DQX2Pe9xF7bnCLhsAxnfo6fuGvY6D8qcF5w_wH05w96q4ARN4NAD28y8I4bGas04INQkHk3Zr-pYSxT01Un8x8fbobJcbexNw0IKiRaxBo5E0N5NlTq85UlNwrw8sXC/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj74osI0-9o3BVT-DQX2Pe9xF7bnCLhsAxnfo6fuGvY6D8qcF5w_wH05w96q4ARN4NAD28y8I4bGas04INQkHk3Zr-pYSxT01Un8x8fbobJcbexNw0IKiRaxBo5E0N5NlTq85UlNwrw8sXC/s200/images.jpeg" width="133" /></a></div>Why <i>is </i>a raven like a writing desk. Well, Lewis Carol (the creator of that) didn't intend for there to be an answer, but somewhere along the line someone came up with a hilariously clever one: Edgar Allen Poe wrote on both of them!! :) Michael Weisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00296754758111928693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684218152835069790.post-62497900770889197382010-05-09T15:09:00.000-07:002010-05-09T17:15:56.402-07:00My Favorite Beatle (WHO IS YOURS?)My favorite Beatle is Paul McCartney. He has the best songs. WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE BEATLE?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaTaTm_VCFEpc4aY2zzArjbIKcC0bMTCxEmvd1t7kVchG9FWWSPd2Xn_cV-AG7LIVXqH1thXbl3_3w3NwZuKjDxHIcw9aPnfph-sYDu3GSz0NMF7D5iQ_wU5gMVprTEmtGTTYXEdg0e9q2/s1600/images-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaTaTm_VCFEpc4aY2zzArjbIKcC0bMTCxEmvd1t7kVchG9FWWSPd2Xn_cV-AG7LIVXqH1thXbl3_3w3NwZuKjDxHIcw9aPnfph-sYDu3GSz0NMF7D5iQ_wU5gMVprTEmtGTTYXEdg0e9q2/s320/images-1.jpg" /></a></div>Michael Weisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00296754758111928693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684218152835069790.post-89656455852295682282010-04-21T04:05:00.000-07:002010-04-21T04:05:48.315-07:00My Pet Peeves<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyv4vwnNj4GvaEOerWin-17sb4J3rpPi5FHwZ-VFDGSVHD7J30U7gVaB49gq_JL9haZ6Bv3G0zDrbSElQ3d7442vXCiMT2GzAXL3rHjwVR72rXwGSRiqSKq62zolXfMbf8Ey1zGXeb-Mqn/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyv4vwnNj4GvaEOerWin-17sb4J3rpPi5FHwZ-VFDGSVHD7J30U7gVaB49gq_JL9haZ6Bv3G0zDrbSElQ3d7442vXCiMT2GzAXL3rHjwVR72rXwGSRiqSKq62zolXfMbf8Ey1zGXeb-Mqn/s320/images.jpeg" /></a></div>Does anyone have strange pet peeves? I DO!! Yesterday I was just complaining about how much I hated all tissue brands! I mean like <i>Kleenex </i>what a corny name! Why is it so great and famous! And then there's all those store brands! Those really are annoying! I don't like tissues either! I suppose if they had better brands I might though! <i> </i>Michael Weisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00296754758111928693noreply@blogger.com