Are You a Chinese Mother?

According to the essay in Saturday's Wall St. Journal, Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior, by Yale professor Amy Chua, the moniker can be applied to any culture. Her premise, however, is that "Western parents try to respect their children's individuality, encouraging them to pursue their true passions, supporting their choices, and providing positive reinforcement and a nurturing environment. By contrast, the Chinese believe that the best way to protect their children is by preparing them for the future, letting them see what they're capable of, and arming them with skills, work habits and inner confidence that no one can ever take away." Pretty provocative stuff. While I'm not entirely comfortable with what seem like sweeping generalizations in the piece, there is certainly some truth in Ms. Chua's words as well.