Thank you, KIBU. I don’t understand any parent that would push kids to such extremes. While the article describes the Asian mother pushing her daughters in studies and the piano, I see similar incidences w/Americans and sports. There are plenty of dads (even some moms) that push their kids to play football or baseball or soccer. Sometimes the kids don’t want to do it.
The kids either have an innate talent and desire to do it or they don’t. Some are gifted and some aren’t. Pushing them into doing it doesn’t always mean they’ll be a star. They could just suck and end up resenting the parent. I mean if the kid says, “I love playing baseball” (or whatever) certainly give him (or her) all the support. Win-win. But pushing the kid to do it doesn’t seem like the ideal situation.
Maybe Lulu wasn’t meant to play the piano. Maybe she has the voice of an opera star and the mom is too focused on the piano to even notice the kid’s voice. It might be in everyone’s interest to find out what the kid actually is naturally good at and encourage him to thrive.
Example. Jackie Evancho. The girl has a gift. She loves to sing. The parents supported her. Win-win. An Asian mother might not realize other talents the child may possess b/c it’s not a violin or piano. Doesn’t strike me as success. I think it’s a shame.
I understand all parents want their kids to succeed. I just think if you want to really do that, take the time to find out what the kid likes to do. Sometimes the kid might not even know. Then help the child discover things, expose them to a variety of things, see what sticks. Steering them in a certain direction is one thing. Forcing them is another. JMO.
To me it would be wrong if a parent always wanted to play the violin and was not any good, to then push the kid to do it. Same thing w/regard to forcing them to play an instrument b/c that’s *the* status instrument to play. You can learn discipline practicing any instrument, not just the violin or piano.
