Patty Chang Anker and her immigrant family knew one path to success — the academic one. So when she discovered her adopted daughter had special needs, she learned to step back, let go and just breathe.
ISSUE: Summer 2011
DEPT: My Story
STORY: Patty Chang Anker
“I’m not going to college,” G de- clares. She is 9 years old.
“What?” My voice sounds calm, but I’ve stopped breathing. “Why?”
“I’m not going, and I don’t want to talk about it.” She walks away.
“Oh, yes you are!” I want to shout after her. But I don’t. Instead, I let the flood of questions, worries and heartache come.
It seems like everyone has an opinion on Tiger Mom these days. Including me (I guess).
I’ve been invited by The Today show (not that one), China Radio International’s flagship news magazine program to participate in a special panel discussion inspired by the Amy Chua’s controversial book, “Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior” to speak on “Eastern” vs. “Western” parenting styles.
Being a product of a Chinese mother myself, I guess I have some personal experiences to form an opinion on the subject.
You won't catch this across my chest
Other speakers include:
Anna Lau, a clinical psychologist UCLA and Ming Lai, co-founder of Peekabook House, an English-Chinese Children’s Library in Beijing.
The roundtable will be broadcasted on:
Thursday, January 27, 6pm-7pm US Pacific Time and Friday, January 28 from 10am-11am Beijing Time.
For the web-savvy (which I know you all are), check the broadcast out here:
http://english.cri.cn/cribb/index.htm
And it will be archived here:
http://english.cri.cn/cribb/programs/today.htm
For more info, check out the Today show site here.
BTW: What are YOUR thoughts on this whole deal?
